Let's face it, housebreaking isn't just about taking the dog for a walk.

Housebreaking is about limiting space, and a commitment to crating, and sticking to a toilet schedule, and a feeding schedule, but it does pay off if you're consistent.

Here's a list of the top ten things to remember when you're housebreaking your puppy:

1. Limit the dog's space. Crating is a great way of speeding up the process of housebreaking a puppy. Dogs are naturally included to keep their "den" clean, so they're not likely to have accidents in their crate. When it's time, you can take them out to their designated toilet area.

2. Take your puppy out after each meal, nap, or if puppy has been playing. Teach the puppy a phrase such as "hurry up" or "do your business."

3. Each time you take your puppy out, you should quietly repeat the phrase. When your puppy eliminates (in the designated area), make sure you praise her good behavior ("good hurry up").

4. When introducing your puppy to new rooms in the house, make sure you supervise her. Look for signs like excessive sniffing or circling, and take her out immediately, if you notice this type of behavior.

5. Never clean up accidents in front of your puppy. The puppy thinks it's great fun to watch you clean up, while chasing paper towels around. This sends the wrong message! Crate the puppy while you clean up.

6. Clean all accidents with an odor neutralizer such as Simple Solution. If you catch your puppy having an accident, don't panic, gather her up and bring her out to toilet area.

7. Always accompany your puppy out to make sure she is doing her business. If you bring your puppy out, and she do not do her business, bring her back in and crate her, or watch carefully. Try again in fifteen minutes and repeat if necessary.

8. Each time you take your puppy out, talk to her, and use a phrases such as "do you need to go out.

9. Never scream at your puppy for making mistakes. She is learning. Do not rub her nose in it, that's just plain mean.

10. If your not using a crate, please reconsider.

Feeding Tips

While you're working so hard on your puppies toilet schedule, you'll need to keep track of when and how much she eats.

Here's a list of feeding tips:

- Make sure your puppy has access to water whenever she is out of the crate. Puppies at the age of up to five to six months should eat three times every day. After the sixth month, you can cut back to twice per day.

- Offer food for 20 minutes, then pick it up even of she hasn't finished it. This encourages her to eat during set times, which helps you with her toilet schedule.

- Give her dry puppy food with a little warm water, and that should be fine. Do not add extras unless you're dealing with a special situation (the puppy who refuses to eat for days, for example).

- Using high quality dog foods means you'll feed her less per meal, and without the need to for supplements; it also means less stool pickup. If you switch brands, do so gradually, so as not to upset your puppies stomach.

- Excessive stool per day (5 or more) or loose stool can indicate worms or over-feeding. If this happens, bring stool sample to your vet to have it checked. If there no worms, cut back on the amount of daily feeding.

- If you have other pets, make sure their food is not available to your puppy, including litter boxes.

- Adding ice cubes in the water bowl helps with over drinker and bowl diggers.

- If your pup urinates constantly and cleans herself excessively, bring a urine sample to your vet. Many female puppies get urinary-tract infections which requires medication.

Last updated on 6/18/00.

A schedule is essential when you're housebreaking your puppy.

Here's one that I recommend:

6:00 AM
-Bring your puppy out to the designated toilet area.
-If she goes, bring her back inside to play or take her for a walk.
-If she does not, crate her and then try again in 10 to 15 minutes.

6:15 AM
- Feed her in the crate.

6:30 AM
- Bring her out to toilet area for second time; after she eliminates, you can take her for an exercise walk, play, or socialize in the kitchen.

7:00 AM
- Crate or put puppy in a proofed room while you finish getting ready for your day.

7:30 AM
- Bring to toilet area, and then let her follow you around until you leave.

11:30 AM
- Bring to toilet area, and then feed her.

11:45 AM
- Exercise walk, play, let her follow you around.

12:30 PM
- Crate.

3:30 PM
- Bring her to toilet, then walk, play, and back in the crate.

5:30 PM
- Bring to the toilet area. Feed in crate.
- Bring back to toilet area. Walk, play, and let her follow around.
- You can crate her during dinner for now. Also, for time-outs when you need to get something done.

7:00 PM
- Bring her to the toilet area.
- Pick up all food and water.
- Outside a few more times before crating.

10:00 PM
- Bring her to the toilet area, and then back in the crate overnight.

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