Housebreaking a Puppy

Anyone who has ever had a new puppy in the house knows that accidents are common. To keep wet spots off your carpet and in your yard, you'll need to housebreak your puppy. Here are a few tips.

When housebreaking your puppy, try the following:

• Don't punish a dog for going in the house. This could lead him to believe that relieving himself at all is bad. Instead of punishing him for going in the house, reward him for going outside. If your dog does go inside the house, walk over to him and say, "No." Then take your dog outside.
• When housebreaking, always go outside when your dog goes outside. This way you will be able to reward him each time he uses the bathroom outside.
• Keep an eye on your puppy at all times. This will allow you to notice when he needs to go to the bathroom. If you see your puppy looking for a spot to go, walk him to the door and usher him outside. Once he finished his business outdoors, praise him and offer him a treat.

Have any other tips on housebreaking a dog? Share them here.