One of the biggest challenges in being the new owner of a puppy is teaching it when and where to go to the bathroom. Every dog owner you talk to has their own methods for properly house training a dog. The trick is to find your own way which works best for you and the new puppy. Keep in mind that in order to properly house train you’re the puppy, it is important it is shown exactly what an acceptable behavior is and where the correct place for it to relieve itself is.

Some owners use dog crates as a tool for housebreaking the puppy. The reason is dogs are very hygienic creatures and won’t purposely defect in close proximity to their food and water bowls or their bed. A dog crate teaches them that if they have to relieve themselves they have to go outside to do so.

Another way to correctly house train your puppy is watch its eating patterns. You are supposed to take the dog outside, specifically the spot where it is allowed to relieve itself, for a walk after each meal you should take your dog to. Younger puppies should be taken outside in two hour intervals and regularly during the night, as well.

Never leave the dog outside by itself during its bathroom breaks. You are supposed to go with it and encourage it to do its business, even if he or she does more sniffing than eliminating. Once the dog successfully goes potty, be sure to give it lots of praise before you go back inside together. If the dog doesn’t do anything but sniff and smell, take it back inside and try again in another fifteen minutes or so.

Never yell at the dog for having an accident indoors. It doesn’t help the situation and only makes it worse since the dog won’t accurately recognize the verbal punishment with the accident. Instead it only causes them to become scared of you, which is something I’m sure you don’t want. A more productive alternative to yelling is to clap your hands or shout their name as a way to distract them from doing their business just long enough to swiftly and calmly get them outdoors. After the dog does what it needs to do outside, go back inside and clean up any mess that may have happened. However, it is advised to completely ignore the dog as you are cleaning, even if it comes over to you. This means no petting, speaking or acknowledging. Once the clean up is complete, act as though nothing out of the unusual has happened.