How to Potty Train Puppies That Poop in a Kennel

Relax. Dogs are smart. Your dog can be house-trained within a week if you just have patience. Know there may be setbacks and occasionally, if the dog is scared or sick, he may have an accident. Expect to take two steps forward followed by one step back.

Keep in mind the only thing our dog wants to do is make us happy. Keep this in mind when she does something good. Instead of scolding for bad behavior, always praise for good behavior. Now also remember the only way to teach him the difference between bad and good is when he actually makes a bad choice, which means going to the bathroom in the house.

Kennel your dog. You will need a kennel to correctly house-train your dog. The kennel should be large enough for her to stand up and turn around in a circle, but no larger. If the kennel is too large, it will be difficult to train the puppy to not poop in the kennel because there will be room for the puppy to stay away from the feces. However the kennel needs to be large enough for the dog to stand and turn around in a circle.

Choose a word that you want to use to signify going to the bathroom. The word can be "outside" or "potty" or "tree." Many people use the word "outside."

Watch him every single minute, for the next three days, when he is not in a kennel. You will gradually learn the signs that he is about to squat or lift his leg. Sometimes dogs sniff the ground (in this case maybe carpet) and sometimes they turn in circles -- usually before making a bowel movement. The moment you see her begin to squat, gently and quietly go to her as quickly as possible. Scoop her up (or grab by the collar) and immediately take her outside. The whole time you are walking toward the door, say "no." Repeat "no no no no" until you reach outside. At this point, say your word whether it is "outside" or "potty." The first thing you should do when you let him out of the kennel is take him outside.

Repeat the word "no" should you catch him in the act of urinating or defecating in the house. As you repeat the word "no," escort him outside. Once outside, use the chosen word for bathroom.

Add a shoebox, pillow or towel to the back of the kennel to make the living space smaller, if your dog is still pooping in the kennel. When you make the living space smaller, the dog will be less likely to defecate. In fact, it would be surprising if he did. Dogs are protective of their territories and are rarely known to go to the bathroom in that living area.