Until housetrained, your pet has no idea of what you want him to do and needs your help in learning the rules. During this time, you will need to be consistent and patient. The process will require your full attention for a few weeks, but the effort you put in will last for the rest of your pet's life.

One of the first steps to housetraining your dog is to limit his space. Dogs naturally want to keep their "den" clean. If your dog is old enough to "hold it," he is not likely to have accidents in a small confined area such as a crate or utility room. Until your dog is housetrained, he should never be allowed to walk freely around the house. Limit your dog's space at all times unless you are interacting with him in some way.

Make sure you take your dog out after every meal, after playtime, after naptime and the first thing in the morning. Pay attention to your pet's behavior so you can develop a schedule that works for you and your pet.

When your dog does go where you want him to go, reward him for his success by enthusiastically repeating something like "Good Dog!, Good Dog!"

Remain consistent. Do not allow your dog to do something one day and not the next. This will confuse him.

To encourage your pet to get down to business quickly, you may want to teach him to eliminate on command. Whenever he is in the act of eliminating, repeatedly say something like "Go Potty", in an upbeat tone of voice.

When introducing your pet to new rooms in the house, supervise him closely. Look for signs like excessive sniffing or circling, as these are signs your dog is ready "to go."

Clean all accidents with a natural bacterial enzyme product like OUT!™ Stain and Odor Remover. Bacterial enzyme products actually digest stains and odors instead of just covering them up. This is very important so that your pet doesn't smell the odor and want to return to the same spot.

During the housetraining process, if you are training your pet to eliminate outdoors, make sure to accompany your dog outside to make sure he actually eliminates. If he does not, bring him back in and confine or watch carefully. Try again in fifteen minutes and repeat if necessary.