Housebreaking Hints
 Dogs are easy to train because they are pack animals with strong instincts to follow a leader. Learn to understand your dog’s inherited behavioral instincts and work with – not against – them.
  1. Don’t expect to completely housebreak a puppy less than 14 weeks of age. Very young puppies can’t hold bladder and bowel movements for long periods of time.
  2. Feed your dog a nutritious diet on a consistent time schedule, and he will eliminate on a consistent schedule.
  3. During the training period, do not feed doggy treats or table scraps between meals.
  4. Teach control of bodily functions by creating a “den” and confine him to it, until it is time to go out. Supervise your puppy at all times when he is out of his den.
  5. Select one location outdoors as his toilet area. Use this location consistently.
  6. Take your dog to his toilet area first thing every morning, after every meal or drink of water, after naps, after play periods or excitement, and before bedtime.
  7. In between, stay alert for such signs as whining, acting restless, sniffing the floor, or going around in circles.
  8. Stay outdoors with the dog and praise him lavishly when (and every time) he relieves himself.
  9. Use verbal praise and petting, NOT FOOD, as a reward.
  10. Clean up promptly after your dog.
  11. Keep the dog clean and well – groomed
  12. Scold the dog verbally, if you catch him relieving himself in the house. Ruse him outside immediately. If you do not catch him, it’s too late for a correction to have any effect. (Note: if the dog does have an accident in the house, put him in another area while you clean up the mess. You are not his maid.)
  13. Follow a strict timetable. The more vigilant you are in the beginning, the more successful your training program will be. Many, many dogs can be housebroken in 7 – 14 days.     
 
The secret to housebreaking is to understand two things:
  1. That dogs are pack animals, a dog’s pack instincts allow him to respect and respond to a strong, clear leader.
  2.  That the dog is a den animal by nature, with an instinct to keep his den clean. So, the simplest and quickest way to housebreak is to take advantage of his instincts and housebreak the natural way using a crate to stimulate denning.
 Purchase and use a crate (metal or fiberglass) which the dog will learn to regard as his den. With very few exceptions, he will not soil his quarters unless he is ill and can’t hold it. And of course, you will need to set up a schedule that he is able to maintain. You will also take him from his crate directly outdoors before he relieves himself, and your house will stay clean too! Following are some sample housebreaking timetables to help you set up your own housebreaking schedule. You MUST use a strict but not hard hearted system.
 
Schedule #1 Sample is for owner that is home all day.
 
7:00am              Wake up, go out.
7:10 – 7:30am   free period in kitchen.
(supervised)
7:30am              Food and water.
8:00am              Go out.
8:15am              free period in kitchen.
8:45am              Confine in crate.
12:00 noon        Food and water.
12:30 pm           Go out.
12:45pm            Free period in kitchen.
1:15pm              Confine in crate.
5:00pm              Food and water.
5:30pm              Go out.
5:45 – 6:15pm   Free period in kitchen.
6:15pm              Confine in crate.
8:00pm              Water.
8:15pm              Go out.
8:30pm              Free period in kitchen
9:00pm              Confine in crate.
11:00pm            Go out. Confine in crate overnight.
 
Schedule #2 Sample for owner that works during the day
 
7:00am            Wake up. Go out.
7:10 – 7:30      Free period in kitchen.
7:30am            Food and water.
8:00am            Go out. Confine when owner leaves
6:00pm            Go out.
6:15 – 6:30      Free period in kitchen.
6:30pm            Food and water.
7:00pm            Go out.
7:15pm            Confine.
9:00pm            Food and water.
9:30pm            Go out.
9:40pm            Free period in kitchen.
10:10pm          Confine.
11:00pm          Go out. Confine in crate overnight.
 
Schedule #3 Sample for housebroken adult dog, owner working during the day.
 
7:00am            Wake up, Go out.
7:30am            Food, water supply limited during day.
8:00am            Go out. Confine when owner leaves for day.
6:00pm            Go out.
7:00pm            Food (if dog eats twice/day)
7:45pm            Quick walk (if dog eats twice)
11:00pm          Go out, Bedtime, remove water during night.