Before you ever bring your new puppy home, you need to provide a safe and comfortable place for him to sleep. Often people overlook this step, but if you want a well-behaved dog in the future it is crucial to get him used to his new sleeping place as soon as possible. You should place his bed in a location that is out of the way but still close to you and your family.
If you choose to crate train you new puppy, you will need to provide a comfortable crate with a divider so that he is able to grow into the size that he will need to be able to be comfortable. Make sure that the crate is big enough that he can stand up, turn around and lie comfortably but not too big that he can eliminate in one corner and sleep in the other.
The idea is that your puppy will not potty where his sleeping area is. This will help him learn a schedule and help him learn to hold it until he is taken outside. Start off by placing his bed at one end and a towel at the other, then gradually move the towel closer to the door as time goes on.
When you see your puppy taking his naps inside, you need to place the soiled towel back in the bedding area and repeat the procedure with the puppy’s bedding area, slowly moving the towel all the way to the outside. This method is a bit more complicated, but provides a simple way for the puppy to learn his potty schedule.
The towel will eventually learn to signal your puppy that it needs to go potty, thus eliminating the mess. Only once your puppy is going to the bathroom outside should you allow him to roam the house without his crate. This should also be practiced with the crate over the long haul.
A tip I got from a friend who owns a commercial Roof Replacement Tennessee company and has two poodle puppies, “When you go into the house, be sure to place his food and water in the same place. Then observe his behavior. If he is getting ready to potty, take him outside. Keep repeating until he goes. Then reward him with a treat and praise. He will soon learn that potty time is coming up, and soon you will be able to enjoy your house-free puppy.”
Crate Training and house-breaking your puppy is best done without a kennel, but if you do decide to use one, make sure it is big enough that he will not be able to find a far corner to eliminate in. The idea is that the puppy believes he has gotten so much attention that it is time for him to take a nap. The kennel needs to be just big enough for him to lie down, but not big enough that he can walk around it. If he does, he will soon believe that it is okay to potty anywhere.
Puppies have a natural inclination to keep their bedding clean, but for a period of time after they are weaned this may not be possible. The best way to accommodate this is to feed the puppy inside the crate. Since he is in a confined space he won’t want to potty where he eats or sleeps. This helps him to train himself to go potty and get used to a schedule.