There are several key rules to follow once you get your puppy home.
1) SUPERVISION IS SWEET. If you cannot be actively watching your pup, he should be in his crate, or tethered to your belt with a 6 foot lead. Puppies who are not completely supervised learn inappropriate behaviors that can cause problems later. Supervise, or confine. Use the baby gates to keep the pup in the room with you when he is not confined or tethered.
2) PENCIL IT IN. A regular schedule will help everyone. Get up at the same time, put the pup to bed at the same time, feed at the same times, and keep track of how many trips outdoors you are making. Puppies will need to go as soon as they wake, and depending on age, as often as every 2 to 3 hours during the day. It is YOUR JOB to see to it that the puppy is outside in the proper area each time he needs to eliminate. This sentence is so important, I'm going to write it again. IT IS YOUR JOB to see to it that THE PUPPY IS OUTSIDE in the proper area EACH TIME HE NEEDS TO ELIMINATE. It is not the puppy's job to let you you know. You must NEVER be unhappy with the puppy for eliminating in the house. IF this happens, it's your fault. Watch closer. Keep records of the puppy's elimination habits. Have the pup outside as often as he needs to go.
3) PERUSE THE POTTY PERIOD. Yes, this means that EVERY time you MUST go outside WITH the puppy. Keep tidbits of some sort in your pockets at ALL times when you have a puppy. YOU are the source of all things good, and the sooner your baby learns this, the better for all. EACH time you go out with the puppy for elimination, say excitedly, just before you open the door, "Do you want to go outside??" Once outside in your chosen potty area, keep quiet. Be still. Let the puppy concentrate and sniff. The INSTANT elimination starts, you should say your chosen potty word. I use "pee pee" for urinate, and "poop" for defecate. If you will name the action as it is occurring, your puppy will perform on command in a matter of days. This is permanent learning, and will come in handy for the life of the dog. As your puppy is urinating, for example, stand close, and quietly say Go Pee Pee. Good Pee Pee. Way to go PEE PEE. Until the pup is finished. Once finished, immediately stuff a nice tasty treat in his mouth, go back inside, and have play time, etc. If you have a normal puppy, and if you supervise, food reward, and verbally name all elimination, most puppies will be at least urinating on command within 10 days. Sometimes less.
4) ACCIDENTS WILL HAPPEN. Don't worry about them. Clean up matter of factly, and move on. If you catch the puppy in the actual ACT of eliminating, clap your hands, say AH AH!! OUTSIDE!!, pick the puppy up, and rush him outside. If he finishes out there, PRAISE PRAISE PRAISE, and then go inside and clean up. If not, oh well. The single most important thing with housetraining is to reward outdoor elimination, and supervise indoors, trying as much as possible to have the puppy outdoors when he needs to go. Punishing mistakes inside will only teach the puppy to go hide when he has to go.
5) CRATES ARE KIND. A crate trained dog has many advantages that his untrained counterpart does not. He can travel with you easily. He'll be welcomed back as he can be quiet and out of the way in his crate when visiting in a home or hotel. Crate trained dogs have less stress and recover more quickly if they have to be confined due to illness or surgery. They can relax and recover since they are happy in a confined area. Be a strong leader for your pup. Help him learn to relax in his own personal space. I like to keep several crates in the house. One in the kitchen area, one in the living area, and one by my bedside. Bedtime is the time to learn about the crate if the pup does not already know. When it's time for bed, put the pup in with a tasty treat, close the door, and go to bed. Make sure you have treats IN THE POCKETS of whatever you are going to put on when you get up. Keep the crate right beside the bed where you can dangle your hand and let pup sniff your fingers if need be. Correct all vocalizations. Corrections with puppies should be the VERY least required to interrupt the behavior. Start with verbal corrections. If correction for vocalization in the crate is necessary, say AH AH!! Immediately when the puppy is quiet, praise. GOOD QUIET. Puppy is learning a new word. Quiet. Good puppy. Covering a crate can sometimes help with whining or crying. As in all other training areas, be kind, firm, strong, and consistent. Never release the puppy from the crate when it's whining or crying. If you have to wait for him to take a breath, never open the door unless he is quiet. If verbal corrections have no effect, go upwards to crate tapping or thumping. As a last resort, use a spray bottle. In the morning when it's time to come out, PICK THE PUP UP (as long as you can) and CARRY him straight to his potty area. Most puppies can't hold it and will squat as soon as they are out of the crate if you don't.
Continued in Part 3
