Q&A for How to House Train a Puppy

You'll need to remove the opportunity to pee indoors and give your dog regular toilet breaks outside. Stay with the dog and praise him like crazy when he does pee outdoors.

Some dogs are slower to pick up house training than others. The important thing is to be consistent in her training. Re-read this guide and then check back with what you're doing. Has anything slipped, such as you don't stay outside with her or she goes too long between comfort breaks? Remember the golden rules which are to be there to praise her when she goes in the right spot and minimize the risk of accidents indoors

Dogs are most likely to poop within 30 minutes of eating. Take advantage of this by taking the dog outside 15 - 20 minutes after a meal. Then heap praise on him when he poops outside.

Yes. At eight weeks the puppy can only hold on for two to three hours, although at night when he's asleep this might be a bit longer. Set an alarm and plan on getting up every three to four hours to take him out for a comfort break. Puppies are hard work but worth it in the end!

A rule of thumb is 1 hour for every 4 weeks of age, plus another 1 hour. So a 3-month old should be able to hold it for 4 hours.

From around 8 weeks. Before this the pup has little bladder or bowel control and will get anxious if you attempt to start potty training.

When it seems to want to potty, tell it "go potty," but you have to teach it the command first, by stopping it when it seems to want to potty in the house, bringing it outside, and then rewarding it with a treat.

Dogs have a natural denning instinct, so if you make it cozy, he should readily adapt. Put in a blanket or pad and some toys, and give your puppy a treat for going into his crate. You can put in an item of clothing you've recently worn so the puppy has something with your scent on it, which will comfort him.

Leave toys and things he likes there, and place his bed in a comfy area in the house. Try using a ticking clock under or near his bed to simulate his mother's heartbeat, or you can use a towel or piece of clothing that smells like you. These will all help him to feel more comfortable by himself.

Its never too late to start. When dogs are older, it may be harder, but patience is key. In this case, your dog is still young so yes you can still potty train him. Work with a trainer for help.

Don't be afraid; dogs can sense fear and other strong emotions, so they can sometimes take advantage of that. Be firm when giving orders to stop or saying, "No". Also, don't show your puppy affection after being punished, and stop playing with them if they begin biting or breaking the rules.

Housebreaking means training a dog or puppy to use the bathroom in a certain area (usually outside) and breaking the habit of indoor accidents.

Pet stores sell odor and stain removal spray. Buy those along with paper towels, and start scrubbing!

Get a puppy training book out of the library and make sure you spend time every day working with your puppy. He needs to learn to trust and respect you.

You have to be firm, you have to show him you are the boss, not his playmate. When he pees and poops outside give him lots of praise, if he does it inside act disappointed with him.

Try using a treat or just leave the crate door open. Show your dog that you won't hurt it. Gain trust, and of course give treats. Treats are the best way to get a dog to trust and love you. Good luck!

Yes. Even though it may be hot, your puppy needs a place to sleep. You could let your puppy sleep on the couch or in your bed, but the best choice would be a bed of his/her own.

Use pee pads in his crate or play pen, and make sure you take him out to pee right before you leave, and praise him when he pees outside.

Of course you can. However, some puppies are hard to train. If your puppy doesn't go outside by five months of age, it may never learn.

You can train an older dog just as you would a puppy, it just might take a bit more time and patience.

Keep reinforcing the same spot, patience is key. Reward the puppy when it does use the right spot.

You don't have to, but it might be a good idea at first.

Check out this helpful wikiHow article: Bathe a Puppy for the First Time .

Yes, that's fine.

Try placing a treat or a toy that your puppy likes just past that point (try dragging it right in front of her nose). With some encouragement, your puppy shouldn't be afraid anymore. I tried this with my puppy on the stairs, and now she goes up and down them whenever she wants.

When going on walks, make your puppy walk behind you or directly next to your side. This often shows him that you are the boss and nothing changes that. You can also be more consistent with commands like “come”, “lie down”, “sit”, and “heel”. This often helps by teaching your dog to submit to you, but also have limited freedom without feeling like he has done something wrong.

Train him more and give treats when he does it outside. If he still does inside then put pee pads in the common place it pees.

You must first come to a conclusion on why your puppy does not want to go outdoors. There may be a few factors involved that are discouraging your puppy, such as gravel hurting its paws or the weather being too cold. Try to eliminate any factors that are causing discomfort, and associate outdoor time positively. Bring your puppy outside with you, and play with it so that it gets used to the environment. When it's time for your puppy to go to the toilet, bring it outside and wait with the puppy until it relieves itself. Once your puppy successfully goes to the toilet outdoors, give it plenty of praise and rewards to create a positive relationship.

Make sure that he has food that he likes and occasional treats. Scoop poop often and firmly tell him "No" if you catch him trying to eat it.

You can follow the same steps. Just make sure to have plenty of newspapers or puppy pads around the apartment in case of accidents.