1. Feed at set times. Do not vary your schedule, even on weekends. If you feed at 7:00 AM on a weekday, feed at that same time on Saturday and Sunday, at least until your puppy is housetrained.
2. Feed one diet and DO NOT vary it. DO NOT feed table scraps and do not give treats between meals during the housetraining period.
3. Watch your puppy’s stools- if they are loose, you may be overfeeding.
4. Have your veterinarian do a stool check for worms.
5. Take your puppy out on a regular schedule, stay out with him, and praise him when he goes. Take your puppy out after he has eaten or drank, after he wakes from a nap, after he has played, or when he begins to sniff in a circling motion.
6. When you take your dog out, go straight to the spot you want to make his toilet area and stand there. Teach him that this is the time and place to relieve himself.
7. Clean accidents with a cleaner designed for urine odor, or with white vinegar and water. DO NOT use an ammonia-based cleaner. Urine contains ammonia and such a cleaner would attract your dog to that spot again.
8. If you catch your puppy in the act of relieving himself in the house, say “STOP!” Pick him up, carry him directly outside to his toilet area, wait with him until he goes there and then praise him.
9. Keep a chart of exactly what the puppy does at what time, including accidents. You will notice a pattern and be better able to plan his schedule.
10. Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES, drag your puppy over to an accident to show it to him and scold him, or worst of all, rub his nose in it. If you don’t catch him and scold in the act, say nothing. PUT HIM IN ANOTHER AREA AND CLEAN IT UP.
11. CRATE TRAIN YOUR DOG.