How to Housebreak Your Puppy Housebreaking a puppy is really quite simple; all it takes is determination and dedication.
Basically, your puppy has no idea where to do her business.
She figures she can just squat down wherever, and since she doesn't understand English, it's part of your responsibility to show her.
Remember to make this a calm and positive experience and if you lose your cool and get frustrated, as we all do, put the puppy in a safe place (like a crate or playpen) and give yourself a minute or two to calm down.
Think what it would be like if you were in a foreign country and didn't speak the language, but every time you needed to use the restroom, you were yelled at and spanked.
You would come out of the experience confused and hurt, and with no more of an idea of where it was appropriate to use the restroom than when you started.
This is how your puppy feels when you yell at him and spank him for peeing on your carpet.
He has no idea what he just did, and if you are yelling at him several minutes after he peed, there is no way for him to link the peeing with the yelling.
That said; there is a way to help your puppy understand where you want her to do her business and all it takes is constant supervision.
Watch your puppy like a hawk.
Never let him out of your sight.
After a while, you will get the feel for when he will need to go and you can anticipate the signs that he is looking for a good spot.
Right when he is squatting down, either to pee or poop, is when you need to say in a calm voice, "no, no, no" and pick him up and take him to where you want him to go.
This could be outside on a particular part of your yard, or even on a piddle pad.
Whichever it is, make sure you praise your puppy and tell her to "go pee" while she is doing her business.
This will help her to associate the words "go pee" with the act and will help you out later on when you need her to do her business before a car trip, or if you need to leave her in the house for a long period of time.
If there is a time when you cannot watch your puppy closely, then a playpen lined with puppy pads or a crate will come in handy.
If you need to take a shower or get ready for your day, use the playpen as a way to keep the puppy out of trouble and to ensure that all peeing is done on the pads.
If you are crate training your puppy, be sure to use a crate that is sized correctly so that the puppy doesn't pee inside of it.
The crate should be big enough that she can stand, and turn around, but no bigger than that.
If the crate is bigger, then the puppy will pee in one end and lay down in the other.
There are crates available that can grow with your puppy so that you don't have to continue to buy the next size up as your puppy grows.
Another thing to remember is to keep your puppy on a regular feeding and watering schedule.
This will ensure that her need to pee and poop will become predictable and you can take her to her "spot" before she even realizes she needs to go.
Use the command "go pee" and you'll be well on your way to a fully housetrained dog.
One thing to remember is that physically, no puppy will be fully and reliably housetrained before the age of six months.
So be sure that you have the time to dedicate to this task fully for at least four months after you get your puppy.
Good Luck and remember to make this a positive experience!