Puppy Training Tips that are Fun and Easy for the Whole Family

TELL YOUR PUPPY WHEN HE'S DONE IT RIGHT. That's all there is to it folks. No magic secrets here. (For more information, keep reading.)

Think about it. There are about a gazillion wrong places for your puppy to go potty in the house. How many right places are there? ONE. Your puppy's designated potty spot outside. Have you shown him where it is? Does he know how much fun the potty spot can be? Do you?

Let's say you catch your puppy going potty in the house. You freak out and yell and scream and rub his nose in it. Ugh. Puppy doesn't learn anything except that going potty around you is a BAD idea. This is a major bummer because now housetraining will become MUCH harder.

Many puppy parents say, "He knows he did something wrong because he did it behind my back." Well duh! Look what happened to him last time! I wouldn't want to be around you either!

Instead, if you catch your puppy having an accident in the house make a startling noise ("EEK!" is usually a good one) followed by "OUTSIDE!" Scoop him up and take him outdoors to his potty spot. If you're going to yell at anybody, yell at yourself because it's YOUR FAULT for not being on top of his potty schedule.

When you take puppy outside to go potty TAKE HIM ON LEASH (note the capital letters folks--this is not optional) to his designated potty spot. If things are desperate, take out the dirty paper towels you used to clean up his last mess inside and set those down in his potty spot to get his senses stimulated.

When puppy goes potty act like THIS IS THE MOST EXCITING THING THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED TO YOU. Puppies love to see their owners happy. Turn into a squeeky toy. Your neighbors know you have a puppy so they probably won't think you're too weird.

You have to do all this the SECOND your puppy goes potty. For added value give him a treat he doesn't get anytime else. Something like cooked chicken, turkey, cheese or liver. Forget those store-bought treats. Those are too boring. Give him that immediately following your verbal outburst. He'll look forward to doing this again and again.

You have now taught your puppy the ONE right place to go. Most importantly, you have taught him the RIGHT WAY. Wasn't that better than yelling and screaming and getting all stressed out and rubbing noses in the carpet?

Your puppy agrees.