House training a puppy or an adult dog requires patience, routine and diligence. Instinct tells your dog not to urinate or defecate in his "den." This means your dog wants to go outside to do his business. Unknowledgeable trainers blame the dog if he has an accident; enlightened trainers realize it's really the human's fault. Most accidents occur when you get distracted and you don't notice your dog telling you he needs to go.
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Timing
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Knowing when dogs and puppies need to go outside is the key to preventing accidents. Ensure your dog goes outside when she first wakes up in the morning and after she takes a nap, after she eats and before she goes to sleep at night. Giving her breaks on a routine schedule is also important. When you begin house training, take your dog out every couple of hours during the day if possible. Puppies can't hold their bladders for even this amount of time at a very young age.
Signs
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Knowing the signs that your puppy or dog has to go to outside will aid you in preventing accidents and help him learn where it is he is supposed to do his business. When a dog or puppy needs to go, he will sniff the floor and begin circling around the "perfect" spot. If your dog is suddenly restless, pacing and/or whining, this is also a good indication that he may need to be taken out. Getting him outside before he does his business helps to reinforce that outside is the place to go.
Outside
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Establish a phrase to indicate to your puppy the reason you are going outside. This might be "go potty" or "go outside." Always take the pet to the same spot for his potty break. When your dog does his business outside, praise him and give him a treat immediately after he's finished. The treat should be given outside. It is not effective if you wait until you get back indoors.
Accidents
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If your dog has an accident, accept that it's your fault, not hers. You should have gotten her outside more quickly. Do not smack her with a newspaper, yell at her, hit her or rub her nose in the mistake. All you'll do is frighten your dog, confuse her and destroy the bond you have with her. This will only hamper your success in house training. If you catch your dog in the act of having an accident, try to get her outside before she has finished. Once she's outside and doing her business, praise her lavishly for going outdoors and give her a treat. When you clean up the accident, don't let your pet see you doing it. White vinegar is good for getting out the odor. If the odor remains and the dog can smell it, she is likely to go back to that spot to do her business.
Jingle Bells
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A popular trick is to hang a set of jingle bells near the door where you take your dog out. Each time you go outside for a bathroom break, ring the bells. Most dogs will begin to ring the bells themselves when they need to go out.
Troubleshooting
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If you're having a hard time and your dog has not been spayed or neutered, schedule the procedure, which will help. Your pet may need to see a veterinarian regardless of whether she's altered if she's old enough to be house trained and still having accidents inside. There are some medical and behavioral problems that will cause a dog to go indoors. These include urinary tract infections, submissive urination, separation anxiety and phobias.
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