A dog crate (optional)

A leash

A flexible schedule for several weeks (so you can accommodate the dog's biological clock). Organized dog lovers work out the timing with their employers even before picking up the puppy.

Plastic bags for disposing of your dog's mess. Not only is it the law in most municipalities, "doggy-bagging" is the civil thing to do (if only as a courtesy to your garbage collectors)

At least three hours a day for a period of up to three weeks (yes, that's what you're in for)

Use the same door to take your puppy outside. He will learn to go to that door when he wants to go outside in the future.

To avoid nighttime accidents, put your puppy's water dish out of reach after about 7pm.

Never feed a puppy snacks. This will disrupt the all-important schedule and you may have an accident on your hands.

Puppies sometimes suffer from what is known as submissive urination, meaning they lose control of their bladders when they are scared or excited. When this happens, don't punish them at all. They have no control over the phenomenon, so punishment is counterproductive. Just grin and bear it.

2torial #0827: Learn2 Housebreak a Puppy Are your carpets dog-tired? What's the first trick every dog needs to learn? Not Roll-over or Fetch the Slippers, but the much more practical skill of Don't Go Inside the House. Fortunately, dogs are naturally amenable to, shall we say, bodily-need modification--but it still takes time, effort and patience to teach them the difference between shag carpeting and a patch of weeds. Housebreaking a dog requires more than simply laying down newspaper on the kitchen floor. The trick is to understand the way the canine brain works, and harness your dog's doggy nature to work for you. This 2torial shows you a time-tested way to do just that. Although a multitude of housebreaking methods abound, this approach is one that's easy to learn (for you and your dog) and easy to stick to. Accidents will happen, but after three weeks of consistent effort, you should be well on your way to having a well-trained pooch. Before you bring your puppy home in his swaddling clothes, make sure you know what's in store. Consider this list of minimum requirements for dog ownership: 1. Commitment: Dogs are demanding--not as much as babies, but definitely more than cats. For the first three weeks you have a puppy, plan to be home as much as possible. If you can't be there, make sure you have someone reliable who will. If neither of these is possible, consider tropical fish instead. 2. Consistency: Dogs are creatures of habit, and house-breaking is a process of creating good habits. As a result, you must be willing to stick to a strict schedule, at least for the first month or so, with regularly scheduled times for meals, walks, play and sleep. That means Saturday and Sunday morning, too--no sleeping in! 3. Patience: Your new puppy won't always hold back until he gets outside. Mistakes are inevitable, and they're going to tick you off. Slapping and shouting may temporarily relieve your frustration, but they contribute nothing to the process of housebreaking your dog. In fact, no form of reprimand is effective unless you catch the dog in the act, and anything more than a strong no and a firm shake is excessive. Understand your dog and his instincts Unless you see life through a dog's eyes, the housebreaking process may seem arbitrary. But if you enter into a puppy's world, you'll be a more sympathetic and effective master. You need to know some things about your new companion: Bladder control: Until puppies reach ten or 12 weeks, they have little say over their bladder or bowels. Don't scold the pup for something that's entirely out of his control. Instead, concentrate on getting your puppy outside at the times he's most likely to go. Creating good habits: A great deal of the housebreaking process is simply pairing certain conditions with certain responses. For example, when you know your puppy has to go, take him outside and put him on the grass. If you repeat this process enough, he'll actually associate grass with doing his duty. This is also why you always want to return to the same area for your pup's potty trips. Living for the moment: Puppies live in an eternal present. Unless you catch a dog in the act, don't scold him, especially if he's very young. Shoving his nose in the mess after the fact will do nothing except instill fear--of you! Sniffing and circling: When a dog has to go, he'll usually let you know by circling and sniffing--unless he's really desperate and doesn't have time. When you see this happening, stop him with a firm "No" and perhaps a tug at the scruff of the neck. Then take him outside immediately. Clean bed: Dogs have a natural instinct not to soil their beds. If you keep your puppy in a confined space when he's unsupervised--in a crate, for example--he'll hold it until you let him out (at least after he reaches about ten weeks). If at this point you take him straight outside, you're on your way to creating the right habits. Consider a crate Some dog-owners hesitate to lock their beloved in the cruel confines of a crate. Their sympathy is understandable, but is the crate really cruel? Experts claim that dogs, especially puppies, like small, confined, warm places. As long as they get enough time for exercise and bonding, they're actually quite happy and relaxed in their crate and spend most of their time sleeping. Most importantly, the crate will give you more control over when your puppy relieves himself, allowing you to instill the habit that outside is the place to go. Just make sure you take him outside as soon as you open the crate. These tips will make crate use as smooth as possible: Make it a comfortable, cozy environment. Put down a soft blanket, and make sure it's in a warm room (but not too warm). Make sure the crate's not too large (otherwise the puppy will treat part of it like a bathroom). It should be just large enough for him to stand up, turn around and lie down again. Include a piece of your own clothing that has your scent. This will make the dog feel more at ease and at "home." In addition, leave toys that he can chew on and play with. Never use the crate as punishment. It's supposed to be a safe, comfortable environment, not a prison. When you first get a puppy, put him in the crate for half an hour at a time, even when you're home. This way the dog doesn't associate the crate with your absence (and thus punishment). Lavish praise on the dog when he gets in and out of the crate. Feed him a small treat so he has good associations with it. When the dog is out of the crate, leave the door open. You may find that he goes into the crate voluntarily. Again, this will help him think of the crate as a home, not a penitentiary. Use praise, not blame In nature, dogs tend to form hierarchical social groups, and when they're domesticated, you're considered the leader of the pack. As a result, they very much want your approval. If you dole out praise at the correct times, you'll reinforce desirable behavior. So when your puppy gets in and out of his crate, tell him how perfectly wonderful he is. When he does his duty in the right place, act like he's just broken the four-minute mile. And when he's been naughty? A very firm "No!" is far more effective than a rolled-up newspaper. Remember, dogs are people-pleasers. If you stay on their good side, they'll naturally want to do right by you. Set up a routine Dogs, especially puppies, thrive on routine. If you stick to a strict schedule of meals, walks, sleep and play, both you and your dog will know what to expect. You'll know exactly when your dog will most likely need to go, and you'll be prepared to get him outside in plenty of time, thus avoiding accidents and--even more importantly--instilling good habits. As you set up your schedule, remember that puppies run like clockwork, and they have to relieve themselves at specific times: 1. When they first wake up in the morning or after a nap 2. Within 20 minutes of eating 3. After active play 4. Before they go to sleep If at any time you take your puppy out and he doesn't go, put him back in his crate and try a little later. Here's an ideal schedule (remember not to vary it on weekends): Deal with accidents Accidents happen--especially when you've got a new puppy in your home. Until your dog reaches six or eight months, you can expect him to slip up occasionally (trainers would say it's you who's slipped up, either by changing his diet or walk schedule abruptly). Remember not to punish him unless you catch him in the act--it simply won't work otherwise. If you do catch him, give him a firm "No" and take him straight outside. When he does make a mess, it's important to clean it up quickly and remove any trace of odor. When odors linger, they're a signal to your dog that it's a place to go. To remove odors, use a commercial cleaner, odor neutralizer or simply white vinegar, but be sure not to use an ammonia-based cleanser. Ammonia is a component of urine and can actually attract the dog's attention. Start taking risks Of course, your puppy can't expect your rapt attention for the rest of his life. After two to three weeks of a strict schedule, you can start to introduce some flexibility. Think of this as an experiment: at certain points, you might find the pooch needs more time. Here are the steps of the weaning process: Try stretching out times between walks by 30 minutes a week, or even an hour. Your dog will let you and your carpet know when you're going too fast. Give your puppy more and more time outside the crate (though preferably in a room with an easy-to-clean floor such as the kitchen). However, continue to put him in the crate both at night and when you leave the house unattended, until he's earned your total trust. Slowly introduce him into other rooms in the house, though always under strict supervision. Stick to one brand of dog food, and if you do switch brands, have a transition period. Changing foods can cause diarrhea. Your puppy will inevitably slip up (just as most children do), but don't be discouraged. If you're a diligent and dependable master in the first few months of your puppy's life, you'll be rewarded with a lifetime of good behavior. -end- Learn More!