House Training 101 

It is vital that you feed your pup on regular basis.  Resist feeding by leaving food out all day as this is rather counterproductive, for the most part.......  This is because it will only server to keep your animal's system in constant function.  There will never be times his system is empty and thus it becomes nearly impossible to control the bathroom times. This is a difficult situation indeed....

Now if your dog happens to have a gassy stomach then you might wish to look at changing his/her dog food.

Another thing to consider about food is the amount of filler in the form of wheat and corn.  The top premium dog foods simply have no corn or wheat in them, including no corn meal.

I would try Premium Dog food formulated by Life's Abundance

or another good premium brand which is not on the recall list.

Take your puppy out early each morning, if at all possible.  Take him to your specified location designed for potty time.

Give him or her about fifteen minutes to do the business, or bring back and place in the crate.

·       Bathroom visits should take precedent over all else at this point.  No play is important to keeping your pup from becoming too distracted and forgetting why he is there in the first place.

·       You definately don't want to give your dog the benefit of the doubt here.

·       Placing back in the crate eliminates the option of going in the house and teaches him there is a task first.

·       Not allowing him free access will keep him from going where ever and when ever he wants.

You will only be leaving him there for about 5-10 minutes, then take him back out again.  Repeat this until he goes outside.  Your time schedule will tell you what he should be doing at what time.

Once he goes outside, tell him "Good Boy" in very pleased tone (because you really are) and bring him back into the house.  At this time he gets free time, fed and played with for 20-30 minutes. Then back into the crate.

Set your timer to alert you to the next out time.  This way if you get busy and forget, the timer will remind you.

Set the timer to as close as possible for the next "out" time.  Your time frame will tell you what this should be.

Do not give the pup treats for going outside.  Many dogs do will not understand what they are being treated for and think being outside or coming back in is what get them the treat.  These dogs grow up to be very annoying door dogs, barking to go and come in a hundred times a day just to get a treat.

His reward will be free time in the house.  He will learn that going outside gets him free time, not going outside removes him from the house.  The pup will understand what gets his four paws in the house and what does not!

·       Putting him back in the crate prepares him for the next out time.  This is where you are building physical control.

·       Teaches him to quiet and settle down.

·       Prevents having in between accidents.

Follow you schedule.  Your pup will be in and out of the crate through out the day.  Have play time, sleep time and learn House Training rules of the road.

As your pup gets older and develops more control, this time frame will change accordingly.

  There will be more free time, the outside runs will lessens and before you know it the dog is going out when you need it to and your house will potty free.

Jeanne Perciaccanto is a Professional Dog Trainer with 25 years experience in creating proper behaviors.  She also holds a degree in Health Education with 20 years experience in the education field.

For more information on puppy raising visit: www.caninehealthy.com