HOUSETRAINING

House training, while conceptually isn't too difficult, requires incredible vigilance and can be very taxing on the trainer. All I remember from the two weeks of house training Riley was being really, really tired. (It is exhausting to never take your eyes off your puppy.) However exhausting, the more dilligent the trainer, the faster house training will happen. Here are the key points to guide you through housetraining:

LITTLE PUPPIES CAN ONLY "HOLD IT" ABOUT TWO HOURS.

As they get older it is about an hour for every month. Adult dogs can hold it around 9 hours. If you are crate training you need to get them out often enough so they don't soil the crate. If they sleep in their own waste they no longer have the desire to separate where they live from where they poop and then they will be next to impossible to house train.
Go outside with your puppy and when he goes potty praise lavishly and give a treat. Do not put pup in the yard for a half hour and assume he's gone. I recommend no free time in the yard until they've gone potty outside. After they go potty the leash can come off and they can have playtime in the yard.

WATCH YOUR PUPPY EVERY SECOND THEY ARE UNCONFINED IN THE HOUSE.

It is a wise idea to tether your puppy to you so they can't sneak away as you glance at the TV or answer the phone. If they start to potty on the rug give them a ?NO!? to startle them and stop the process (don't yell too loud or you'll scare the p*$$ out of them) Pick them up and run outside to finish. Whey they go outside praise them wildly and give their favorite reward.

CLEAN UP ALL ACCIDENTS WITH A CLEANER DESIGNED TO ELIMINATE THE ODOR.

If the smell is there the next time the pup sniffs it nature will call before he knows what's happening. (For this reason it is good to have one "potty spot" outside. When you bring them there the smell will stimulate the process.)

TAKE PUPPY OUTSIDE AT EVERY ACTIVITY TRANSITION.

Chewing, playing, and other activity stimulate the bladder. Take puppy outside after:

• Naps
• Meals
• Playtime (mid playtime if it is long or vigorous)
• Chewing chew toys