A quick overview

You should provide constant access to the toilet area. If you are home, take your puppy there every 45 minutes or less.

If you are not home or for some reason cannot take care, then you must make sure he cannot make a mistake.

Confine your puppy to an area and line the entire floor with papers. If the weather is nice, the area safe, you can confine the pup to a small pen outside. But never leave your pup out in the sun, wind, heat or cold. Be sure to provide shelter and water in the confinement area. The idea is that no matter where the puppy eliminates while confined, it is on something that resembles his toilet area. Your goal is to never allow your puppy to eliminate on carpet, tile, hardwood, or anything that resembles the flooring in your home. Once a habit is established, it is difficult to break, therefore, do not let your pup form bad habits in the first place.

Praise and reward your puppy each and every time possible for eliminating in his toilet area.

Feed your puppy at regular times. If his feeding is scheduled, then elimination will also be the same. Use a crate to help your puppy develop self-control. Be patient. It can take until the dog is 6 months old for him to be housetrained. Do not reprimand your puppy for mistakes. This will have a negative effect on your training.

Do not leave food and water out all day and night for your puppy to eat and drink at whim.

Use some common sense here. Obviously if the weather is hot, it is appropriate to give the pup access to water, but if this is the case, then you need to be more alert to the possibility of the pup needing to urinate more frequently.

Do not give your puppy free unattended run of your house.

Your puppy’s state of health will affect his ability to be successfully housetrained (housebroken).

Which is why, it is important for him to be seen by a vet within 48 hours of his coming home from the breeder or animal shelter. If your puppy does not receive a “clean bill of health”, it is important that any physical conditions that can impede successful housetraining (such as cystitis, bladder infection) be properly treated. A fecal check will determine whether worms or internal parasites are present. (There are several types of worms that are not visible except under a microscope. Also, fleas can cause tapeworm.)

Puppies need to urinate shortly after they eat, drink water, play, chew, or sleep. For most puppies over 10 weeks of age, that means somewhere between 5 and 10 times a day! Adolescent dogs (from 6 to 11 months. old) will need 4 to 6 walks a day. Adult dogs need 3 to 4 walks a day, and elderly dogs need at least 3 to 4 walks daily (incontinent dogs will need more).