Bringing a new puppy home is a wonderful, joyful time. But amidst all the fun and games, there’s important work to be done. I’m talking about house training, and unless you want to share your home with an animal that can’t control his toilet habits, it’s something you’ll have to do.

Fortunately, in most cases, it is easy. Choose a method, implement a plan, add a bit of patience, and you’re done.

In fact, all you have to do to ensure success, is to tap into your dog’s natural behavior. For starters, dogs are, by nature, clean animals and will never “do their business” close to where they eat and sleep, except in extreme circumstances.

Secondly, dogs are born with an innate desire to please and will do whatever it takes to make their human companions happy.

Remember these two principles as you house train your dog, as they are the secret to success regardless of the method you employ.

Here are the most common puppy house training methods;

Supervision Method

Crate Training Method

Paper Training Method

Litter Box Training

The method you choose is entirely up to you, but my favorite is crate training. I have trained many dogs using this method and I am always blown away at how easy it is. This is probably because it taps the two aspects of dog behavior I mentioned earlier.

Crate training takes full advantage of your puppy’s natural behavior, and that has to be a better way than trying to force the dog to make his toilet in a specific area.

Don’t feel you have to go with crate training though, because the other methods also work. Just choose the one you feel comfortable with. Whichever method you choose though, you will need to remain consistent, patient and positive. Shouting will achieve nothing other than making the dog afraid of you.

Never forget that she’s just a baby. You wouldn’t punish a baby that messed her diaper, or scream at her and rub her nose in it. So why would you do that to a little dog?

The puppy doesn’t yet know that she has done something wrong. But persist with your training and she’ll soon get the picture. Dogs are a lot smarter than we give them credit for. So stick with it and you’ll see results.

Want to get even faster results?

Then give credit where it’s due.

Your puppy will do just about anything to gain your approval. Praise her when she does her “business” outside, or on the paper, and she’ll be encouraged to do this again, and again.

I don’t just mean a little pat on the head either - really lay it on thick - lots of praise, lots of enthusiasm, maybe even a game or a treat. Do this every time and before you know it you’ll have a house trained puppy on your hands.

Later, when you move on to basic obedience training, your pup will already understand that when she does what you ask, she gets praise and rewards. So house training actually lays the groundwork for all your dog training efforts.

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