Every puppy should be housebroken, and there are few exceptions to the rule that every puppy can be housebroken. There are many books written on this subject, and you can talk to your vet, breeder or friends about successful methods for housebreaking.

The following are a few suggestions to help you get started:

Before 14 weeks of age:

You can't expect much in the way of housebreaking until your puppy is 14 weeks old. This is because the puppy doesn't have full sphincter muscle control until then. The puppy can not hold bladder and bowel movements for long periods of time so they get the urge and go almost immediately. Up to this age, it is up to you to keep a close watch on your puppy to prevent accidents.

It is impossible to watch the puppy all the time so the solution is to confine him to a room that has a floor which can be covered with newspapers and disinfected with ease. Restrict him by blocking off a small area within the room (about 3 by 5 feet or so depending on the breed), make him a comfortable bed in one corner. Be prepared to clean up all his little accidents. Do not be harsh or strict with the puppy at this age.

After 14 weeks of age:

Once your puppy is about 14 weeks old, you can start formal housebreaking. Regularity and consistency are essential parts of housebreaking. From the first day you bring home your puppy you should establish sensible eating habits. Feeding your puppy regularly will speed up housebreaking, because what goes in on schedule should come out on schedule, too.

Confine the puppy to a den where he won't want to releive himself. Since dogs don't like to go to the bathroom where they sleep, a crate can be used successfully at this stage. The crate can be either plastic or wire. It is not cruel to keep the puppy in such a crate, in fact most puppies like to have 'a place they can call their own'.

Follow a strict outdoor walking schedule. You can either bring your puppy off your property to relieve himself or set aside a place in the garden for the puppy to use. If you bring your puppy for a walk, make sure you carry a plastic bag to pick up after your dog. This is not only law, it is also an important part of responsible pet ownership. If you use the garden, keep your puppy on leash unless there is a fence.

Give plenty of praise. When your puppy goes outside to mess , tell him that he is the best, smartest dog in the world. You can not give too much praise. On the other hand, don't punish, or yell at your puppy for making a mistake in the house. If you catch him in the act, immediately pick him up and bring him to the place you want him to use. Once there, give him praise, and eventually he will get the idea. Punishing your puppy after the fact does no good, because he won't know why he is being punished.

Get rid of odors promptly. Dogs have a much keener sense of smell than we do, so you have to clean up a mess right away. Use a product that disinfects and deodorizes.

As your puppy gets more trustworthy he can be allowed more freedom in the house. By being consistent you will have a perfectly housebroken puppy in no time at all.