by Rhonda Erickson

Created on: June 10, 2008   Last Updated: April 04, 2009

"Keeping the Puddles Outdoors Not on the Floors."

Dogs enjoy a clean and unsoiled environment. They will keep their " den area" clean, but this is usually only a small space. The goal, we are aiming for, is to teach the puppy that the entire house, and every single room in it, is "our den" and the same rules apply.

Start by removing any odors that may have been left by "accidents" from a previous pet or from the current one you are trying to house-train. These smells can easily confuse your puppy and make the house-training task more difficult. A solution of ten parts water and one part bleach is very good to use on floors you can mop. Carpets can be more difficult, and may take cleaning several times with a good odor eliminating product. Be careful of the cleaning supplies you use, make sure they are safe for use around your pets, and be kind to the environment by disposing of excess properly.

The house-training method I recommend is crate-training. There are other methods available that work well also, but I am the most familiar and have had the best success with crate-training. Dogs do not like to eliminate where they sleep. Crates come in many sizes and styles now days, and can be used in other ways during training for your puppy. Start potty training as soon as you get your new puppy.... the sooner the better to get him on the right track.

Find a crate big enough for the puppy to turn around and lie down in, with some room for future growth. Basically, place your puppy in the crate. At first, when left alone, he is going to whine.... and yelp... rather loudly at times, so making a decision where to place the crate inside your house needs to be selected accordingly. Don't let the puppy out just to keep him quiet. Otherwise, he will perceive this as his reward for loud yelping. Do the opposite, and only let him out after he is quiet for at least fifteen minutes.. slowly increase the time you leave him in the crate, and always praise him good behavior. Using the crate method can decrease the time you spend cleaning up after your puppy, and helps him learn bladder control when his isn't being monitored.

At first, you can use news papers or puppy training pads to put in the crate for easier clean up with a new puppy in training. Food and water should not be put in the crate at first, unless you are away for long periods. Younger puppies, and especially smaller breeds like Chihuahuas and other teacup varieties, have extremely small bladders and cannot hold it for

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