Congratulations! Now that you have a new puppy, one of the most important things your puppy needs to learn is the difference between inside and outside. Housetraining does not need to be difficult, but it does take time, patience, and consistency. Just like potty-training children, teaching your puppy where he can go to the bathroom and how to notify you of his need is an important part of pet ownership.

Housebreaking means teaching your puppy to go to the bathroom outside, not on paper or "puppy pads". Following these guidelines should help you house train your puppy easily and with minimal clean up. Keep in mind, however, that patience and routine are extremely important for your puppy to learn in a timely manner.

• Take your puppy to the same area every time. Choose an accessible spot and your puppy will soon associate this area with doing his "business" as be begins to recognize his scent from previous trips.
• Use a prompt command such as "go potty" to help him associate this command with going to the bathroom. This comes in handy if it's cold or rainy.
• Stay with your puppy while he goes to the bathroom so you can praise him in the proper location. He soon learns to go in your presence and the appropriate area to do so.
• Praise him vocally or with a treat to show how pleasedyou are.
• Stick to a schedule! Initially you need to take your puppy out every 1-2 hours. This is a potty break only. Do not teach your puppy to associate play or exercise with going to the bathroom. This should be done later. As your puppy learns, you can extend the periods in between going outside.
• Keep your pup on a routine food and water schedule. Most puppies need to go out within an hour after eating. Offer food two to three times daily at the same time each day. By establishing a routine, your puppy not only learns where it is appropriate but when it is appropriate to relieve himself.

Keep in mind that even if you follow these guidelines to the letter, your puppy is inevitably going to leave a present for you somewhere in the house. How you handle these mistakes is important. The number one mistake owners make is to correct the puppy after the fact. Even if only a few seconds have passed since your puppy's accident, it is useless to discipline, as your pup is not going to understand. Only if you catch your pup in the act of having an accident should you reprimand him. A loud NO and a quick trip to his designated area, followed by praise for completion of his potty break outside, is the best method. Until your puppy is 100 percent housebroken for at least two weeks, you should ALWAYS be watching him when loose. Make sure you clean the mess and the area well in order to remove any odor. It is preferable to use an odor-neutralizing product that can be purchased from a pet product supplier.

Remember that all puppies learn at their own speed. Mistakes definitely happen. Too much punishment and/or inappropriate punishment is going to thwart your success. Positive reinforcement is integral to teaching your puppy to eliminate outside. With patience and consistency your puppy can soon be a housetrained member of your family.