The key to housetraining success is being able to predict when your puppy needs to go, getting her outside in time, and then rewarding her for doing the right thing in the right place. This gets her in the habit of pooping and peeing outdoors.

To prevent mistakes, make sure your puppy is closely supervised when she's not in her crate or playroom--no running loose in the house, or even in the yard, for the first four to six months of her life. Even one mistake can set back the housetraining process.

In order for housetraining to work, everyone who handles your puppy must understand and follow the same program. Inconsistency will easily confuse your pup.

Note: If your puppy has an accident, don't punish her; it's your fault for allowing it to happen. Just clean up thoroughly and be sure to watch her more closely next time.

Steps to fail-proof housetraining

1. Take your puppy out of her crate every one to two hours to pee. Put her on a leash to take her outside so she's less likely to be distracted.

If she goes right away:
Praise and reward her immediately by giving her high quality treats (we recommend three liver treats-you don't want to under reward), and take her off leash so she can play freely.

If you don't have a fenced in yard, let her let play inside your home for a while. Keep a close eye on her because activity can stimulate the bladder and you'll want to run her right back outside if she shows signs of wanting to go to the bathroom again, like sniffing or circling.

Once she's had some time to romp, put her back in the crate with her chew toy until the next bathroom break in another hour or two.

If she doesn't go:
Give her some water and put her back in the crate for 15 to 30 minutes before taking her out again.

Note: Don't leave your puppy in the crate for more than two hours at a time during the day, or overnight for more than six or seven hours.

2. Gradually increase the time your puppy stays outside her crate--but only if you're willing to watch closely and run her outside as soon as she shows signs of wanting to go again, like sniffing or circling.

3. Put her in her playroom if you have to leave for more than an hour. When you get home, immediately take your puppy outside. If she goes to the bathroom, reward her with supervised free time in the house or yard. Then put her back in the crate, and start the cycle over again until it's bedtime for both of you.

DogTime tip: If you're gone from 9 to 5 most days, follow the crate training program at the beginning and end of the day and on weekends. When you can't be there, she can stay in her roomier playroom.

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