SIMPLE STEPS OF POTTY TRAINING
I found these tips on a facebook page:
Once you allow your pup to urinate in the house, he'll likely to return to the same spot the next time he has to relieve himself. Your puppy should be let outside just before you retire for the night. Likewise, as soon as he wakes up in the morning. Just like humans, the first thing your puppy will need to do is relieve himself. You should waste no time in taking him out as soon as he awakes. When your pup hears you get up in the morning, it will be his signal to wake up too so attend to him before going about your morning routine. Some pups may cry that they need to 'go' at the first sign of light and if you want a dry floor, it's necessary to immediately respond to their needs. Your pup will also need to relieve himself shortly after a meal and will need to urinate more often during the summer when his water intake is higher. As soon as you puppy finishes eating, take him outside for several minutes until he potties. At other times, you may notice him sniffing the floor for a suitable place to 'go'. He may whimper or start to squat. Scoop him up immediately and take him outside. Puppy housebreaking may be quickened if your pup sleeps in his crate. Dogs dislike sleeping in a soiled area and your pup will soon learn to wait until you take him out of his crate to do his business. Of course, it may take a few months before your pup is able to hold his bowels all night. As he gets older, he will have fewer accidents. Expect this and never scold him for accidentally soiling his area at night. If your puppy does have an accident during the day, only scold him if you catch him in the act. If you scold him even a minute afterwards, it will confuse him because he'll not know why he's being scolded. If you catch him in the act, pick him up and say "No" in a firm voice. Do not yell and immediately take him to the proper place. Never rub his nose in the mess or hit him, this will cause him to fear you and will make future training more difficult. Clean the soiled area with a product intended for housebreaking accidents. It should be formulated to remove the stain and odor so your puppy isn't tempted to soil in the same spot. Housebreaking pads help to quickly housebreak puppies. These pads are scented with attractants and will encourage your puppy to eliminate on the pad and not on your carpet. For the first few weeks when you can't watch you pup in the house, confine him to an area with an easy-to-clean floor such as the kitchen. Place the pad or newspaper on the floor. Your puppy will learn to relieve himself there. Eventually you can move the pad closer and closer to the outside door.
I came across this on another web site and I thought that I would pass it to you...
Potty training will go best when the crate training method is used. This means that you will use a crate (small wire
crate, or plastic pet taxi) to confine your puppy whenever you are not able to watch him for short periods of time.
The puppy will need to be taken out to go potty every 45 min. to an hour. Take the puppy through the same door
to the same spot in the yard each time. If you wish to litter, paper or potty pad train you puppy, take him to his
litter, paper or potty pad every hour. Puppies will by instinct wish to keep their eating and sleeping area (their
den) clean and will hold their potty as long as they can. By using the crate, the puppy's instinct will be working for
you, and he will be going potty when and where you want him to.
If you are going to be playing and interacting with your puppy, he would be free to be out of his crate as long as
you like. He will start to circle and sniff and look for a place to potty when he has to go and when you are
watching him, you can quickly take him to his potty spot. By watching closely, you will soon learn your puppy's
individual body language. Minimize your pup's chances of making a mistake by predicting when he will need to
relieve himself. The critical times to watch are : as soon as he awakens, as soon as he finishes a meal, first thing in
the morning, after a play session, and of course, as soon as you take him out of his crate. Do NOT let your
puppy run lose when your eyes are not on him....even for a couple minutes. Each time your puppy has an
accident, he is being trained to potty in that spot. Each time the puppy goes in the right spot, he is being trained
to relieve himself there. Consistent training will bring consistent results.
During the times you will be gone longer than the puppy can hold it, I recommend placing your puppy in an
exercise pen. Put the puppy's pet taxi/crate inside the exercise pen with the door open, or off. Cover the floor
inside the exercise pen with newspapers and leave water and food available for your puppy. He will get
accustomed to going potty on the newspaper when you are gone (he has no other choice as the whole area will be
covered), and will become paper trained during the times you are not at home. After a couple weeks, gradually
reduce the amount of the pen that is covered with newspaper. The puppy will be used to going potty on the
paper, and will continue to potty on the newspaper, even when you reduce the amount of the pen that is covered
to only one or two sheets of paper. When you are home, continue with the routine of crating your puppy, and
taking him out to potty every hour.