The first thing to have when trying to house train your dog is “patience”. Keep in mind that when we were young, we also had to learn where and when we could go. The bad news is that we don’t have dog diapers, but the good news is that we don’t have to put our dogs on the toilet seat. Also, dogs are instinctively clean animals, they would prefer not to get dirty or soil their usual eating and sleeping areas. Depending on your dog’s age, they will naturally develop tendencies to go over certain surfaces like grass or dirt, use this as a springboard for a faster and more successful training cycle.

Set up the sitting area with your dog

Help your dog establish his living area in a small, confined space, perhaps a bathroom, part of the kitchen, or the garage. If you plan to keep your dog in a crate, make sure it’s an open environment. Some people think that putting the dog in a crate and closing the door helps them get used to their surroundings, but this is not the case. Using a crate is fine if you allow your dog to live comfortably by giving him some freedom to come and go as he pleases, unless you have to leave the house for a short period of time. Keeping them locked up for long periods of time is when you have to ask yourself if you’re really ready to get a dog.

Take the time to work with your dog to establish his living area. Spend time playing with them in their “room” and let them eat and sleep here. Do your best to make their room comfortable, perhaps give them a comfortable dog bed, a blanket, and a bowl of water in or near their space. They may still wet your space at first, but once they realize that your room is designed for comfort, they will do their best to avoid going into your space as long as they have regular opportunities to go to the bathroom on the paper or outside.

When your dog has had time to get comfortable with his room, you can move him and he will follow you wherever you decide to place him. It’s important to find a place that makes them part of the family environment but is equally convenient for you so you don’t feel like you’re “in the way.” A dog will become part of the family in no time, trust me!

Once your dog gets to the point of sleeping on your bed, feel free to confine him there by leashing him or closing the crate door to keep him in his room, just be aware of him and make sure you can keep an eye on him. It is not recommended to keep your dog on a leash unsupervised at any time. Also, if you feel like you want to keep an eye on them when they’re awake, simply keep your leash attached to his belt during your daily routine to help him spot any trends and help monitor his behavior.

Set up the toilet area with your dog

Help your dog establish his toilet area, at first it will probably be inside the house on some newspaper, just make sure he has access to this area when he needs it. If they don’t have access to this area they will go elsewhere and set up their own areas, the problem is this might not be ideal for you and your family. Until you are comfortable going to the designated area, it is important that you accompany your dog at all times.

The best way to gauge when your dog needs to go potty is to keep him on a regular feeding schedule. You will start to see that when they eat at a certain time they will need to go to the bathroom after an approximate time, this will give you a better understanding of when they need to go. A regular eating time means a regular potty time, this will help you plan your day without having messy accidents everywhere. If your dog is confined too long and has to leave, he will potentially walk into that space and it will become increasingly difficult to house train him.

If you get a new puppy, he has a harder time with bladder control, so you may need to take him a little more often, but healthy adult dogs should be able to control his bladder and bowels for about eight hours. Also, keep in mind that when new pups get excited they can make little mistakes, make sure you don’t scold them in this case, just let them know they did and show them the normal potty area. Every time they go to the right place, make sure you let them know that they did it right, this will reinforce what you are training for.

While you house train your dog, you should work with him outside, as that is where your dog will end up going. You have to read little signs to know when they are ready to use and, if convenient, take them outside immediately. Don’t expect a puppy to bark when he needs to go, he hasn’t arrived yet! He’ll know something’s up when your dog starts fidgeting or starts sniffing, he’s actually looking for a place to go. Just pick them up and take them outside, they will do the rest, you can goad them a bit with the command that you want them to leave. Once again, once they go, it’s important to acknowledge them in a positive way so they know that’s where they need to go. When they feel comfortable with this, they will start to ask out.

Some advices

* If you follow the instructions outlined above, your dog will be house trained in a short period of time. One way to speed up the process is to praise and reward your dog each time he successfully potties. It is equally important not to scold your dog for accidents and mistakes. Reprimanding your dog often confuses him and slows down the house training process.

* If you find that your dog continues to go to his assigned space, make a note of how long he was there. You may find that they were there too long or that your space is too big for them, giving them room to go into the corner of your space. You can remedy this by not leaving him there too long, set up a smaller resting area, and take him to the bathroom more often.

* If you find that your dog continues to sleep in your bed, this could be because he was confined there too long and couldn’t help himself, or he is still trying to understand that this is his space to sleep and get comfortable. Again, try not to leave your dog in his space for too long, and try taking him to the bathroom more often.

* If you find bedwetting continues for longer than you think is okay, you may want to watch your water intake. Many dogs drink water out of boredom or habit, be sure to limit their intake and take them out more often if possible. Also, try to keep your dog active to ensure good health and limited boredom, engage him in good habits. Also, keep in mind that ongoing mess can be due to unknown medical issues, like urinary tract issues for example, try the tips above first, it’s usually something simple that you might be overlooking.

* If your dog is not comfortable in his space and/or environment, you may notice signs of barking, chewing, some anxiety, or a lot of whining. If he senses this is happening, double check his method and make sure you make him feel comfortable and welcome as a member of the family.

Remember, love, due diligence, and patience on your part will make the transition smooth and “clean.”