Bringing home a new puppy is always a fun and exciting time, and one of the most important parts of puppyhood is housetraining. Housetraining can be frustrating (and messy!) , but it is a skill that all puppies can learn with enough time and patience.

The easiest way to housetrain a puppy is keep him confined to a small area whenever he cannot be observed closely. This takes advantage of a dog's natural instincts; wolves and wild dogs will find a cave or other similar confined space to use as their den. They do not want to soil their den, because obviously there will be no one to clean it. Likewise, when a dog is kept in a confined area, he is motivated to learn to wait to urinate and defecate, because when he soils the area he will have to put up with it until someone cleans up after him. If he is allowed free access to the entire house, or even a room such as a laundry room, he will have enough room that they can pick a corner to use as his bathroom and still have plenty of space. Therefore, there is little motivation for him to learn to wait. A crate is an excellent tool for housetraining, because not only is it small enough to motivate a puppy to learn, most puppies will also come to see their crate as their home, and feel very secure in it. Then it can be used when traveling as their "home away from home," and make the trip less stressful.

The key to housetraining is to take your puppy outside very frequently initially, even every 1-2 hours if necessary, and to praise him very enthusiastically every time he urinates or defecates outside. If you catch him having an accident in the house, take him outside immediately and then praise him when he finishes outside.

Positive reinforcement is much more effective than punishment with housetraining, because it shows your puppy exactly what you want him to do. This is why it's important for someone to be able to watch the puppy carefully anytime he is not confined, so he can be "caught in the act" and corrected.

One common problem owners will have with their puppies is that when they take the puppy outside, he will spend all of the time sniffing and playing, but then as soon as he is brought inside, he has an accident on the floor. It can be very frustrating sometimes, but whenever possible, it is best to keep your puppy outside until he urinates and/or defecates, but then allow him to play a little longer before he is brought back inside. When a puppy is brought inside immediately after using the bathroom, he may see it as a form of punishment, because in his mind his playtime is being cut short. Therefore, he will learn that he can extend his playtime by waiting as long as possible to relieve himself. However, when he is praised for relieving himself outside and allowed to play for a little longer, he is more likely to see it as a positive experience.

Housetraining takes time, patience, and sometimes a sense of humor, but even though it can be frustrating, it is one of the most important skills your dog will learn.