The basics of house-breaking a puppy

You've just gotten a new puppy, and the two of you are about to set out on your most important adventure of all-housebreaking. It may take a few months, but with patience, consistency and praise, you and your pet will come back from the journey victorious.

Accidents happen

Before you embark, it's good idea to remind yourself that accidents are going to happen. As your puppy grows and develops muscle tone, she will be better able to control herself. Should you see her slip, pick her up and bring her to training pads or outside. Pile on the praise when she concludes her business in the appropriate place. Never rub her nose in it. This will only confuse her.

Start with a training crate

One of the most effective ways to teach your pup where and when to eliminate is the confinement method. First, get her set up in a training crate. This should be her own special den with some toys and a bed or blanket for sleeping. It's imperative that you take her out frequently so she never eliminates in her crate. If you are consistent, your pup will learn to associate her distaste for soiling in her special place with soiling in the house.

Another method to housetraining is training pads. If your schedule doesn't allow you to confine your dog every day, keep her in the bathroom or other small room when you're not at home. Put her training pads at one end and toys and bedding at the other.

When you bring your dog to training pads or outside to eliminate, keep her on a leash and collar. The idea is to get her used to you being around when she eliminates. If she doesn't get used to your presence, she may hold it until she can sneak somewhere in the house by herself. But until your puppy has finished her vaccinations at four months, you can bring her outside only if you have a fenced-in yard. Otherwise, you risk exposing her to infectious disease.

Confinement limits

It's unfair to confine your dog for longer than she is able to control herself. As a general rule, puppies can control themselves for one hour for every month of age, up to nine or ten hours. If you confine your eight-week-old puppy, for example, you'll need to take her out every 2 hours. Keep in mind that dogs usually need to eliminate after waking, eating and exercise.

Cleaning up accidents

And dogs tend to return to the scene of the accident, so be sure to wash immediately any areas of the home she's soiled.