Potty training basics in any age

It is an undeniable fact that our pets have to go potty. Puppies especially come to us with a basic thought, *If I have to, then I have to.* This pertains to eating, sleeping (ever see a pup fall over asleep in mid-play?), play AND going potty! Puppies do not understand anything more than that. It's up to us to develop that level of understanding to make life with a puppy fun not troublesome. Humans are the ones with all the rules, not them. Puppies are simply happy to take care of their needs the way they already know.
The most successful potty training methods consist of four steps:
1. Confinement
2. Training
3. Timing
4. Praise

Confinement
Puppies (or dogs who have never been housebroken) need to be confined in order to facilitate the easiest potty training. The most effective place to confine is in a crate or cage. In the beginning, don't leave anything on the bottom of the crate (blanket, newspaper, etc.). Your pet make make a project out of destroying it. Most dogs do NOT want to eliminate where they live, therefore the crate needs to be just large enough for your pet to turn around, stand up comfortably, or lay down. Anything larger will encourage your pet to potty at one end and sleep in the other. For large pets or puppies who will growto big big, use a crate that is sized for a larger pet and partition it to a smaller size using a homemade insert or a crate insert made by the crate company to fit your crate.

Training and Praise
When I teach a new dog (or puppy) where to potty, I use a leash. Leashes keep your dog close to you, where you can supervise and control everything that happens. Puppies, especially, are easily distracted. A blowing leaf, new flower, stick, another animal - all can take a puppy's mind off the matter at hand. If you are near the puppy (or dog) with the leash in hand, a gentle tug will redirect away from the curiosity. Leashes are also good to help teach an area to potty (behind the garage, etc.). With a leash, you just take your pet to the exact same area every time. Our pets are creatures of habit. they will learn to use the same spot if so directed in training.

I also teach words for elimination. This way, when the puppy understands what the words mean, he will understand WHAT I want as well as WHEN I want it to happen. My words are "go potty" for urination and "go poopie" for defecation. Your choice can be ANY word or phrase you want to use consistently (such as, hurry hurry, do your business, get busy, etc.). Remember when you choose your word or phrase that you will be repeating it over and over. Don't keep changing your words or you will just confue them so pick a phrase or a word that you are comfortable using.

As I take my dog outside on a leash, I start to teach him the word outside. "Let's go OUTSIDE!". "Do you have to go "OUTSIDE"? In time, the dog will learn that the word OUTSIDE is associated with going potty. Eventually you will be able to ask the dog "do you have to go OUTSIDE?" and get a response like barking, running to the door or tail wagging.

TIMING
The command or phrase should never be said in a firm or angry way and not in a soft or pleading way either - it is usually said in an encouraging tone. When elimination occurs, use a happy tone and repeat "GOOD Go Potty! Yay! Go Potty!". I choose to use words only to reinforce elimination, because petting or treats can interrupt the act. Verbal praise needs to happen DURING the act, not after! Usually dogs will urinate first, then defecate. You need to become familiar with your dog's habits so you can wait for defecation and use a command for it.