As before, keep the training as part of your normal household routine. You want to always incorporate your existing pack in the training of the new puppy.

When the other dogs go out, the pup is taken as well, but is held so the rest of the pack can complete their individual task. While the pup is in your arms, ensure he/she is watching the others. Get excited and praise extensively when the other members complete their task. This shows the pup that this is the behavior you desire in everyone.

We have also learned by introducing the pup this way to the desired behavior, the adults get a break from the pup wanting to play. Trust me, I do believe they would thank you for getting the chance to actually take care of their business, without a little squirt bothering them.

Let the rest of the pack back in the house and then set the pup down. We use "Make Pee Pee" as our command to get our gang to initiate the desired behavior. Once the pup succeeds in eliminating, get excited, praise and pet the pup for doing a good "Make Pee Pee."

We also immediately give a very small tidbit for the good behavior. These tidbits should strictly be used for training and given at no other time, except with desired behaviors.

When you are home with the pup, keep to a regular outdoor schedule, first use every 2 hours and slowly increase over time. We work this increase in time over 4-6 weeks, from every 2 hours when you are home with the puppy, to 4-6 hours between potty breaks.

Now, of course, the pup is till going to have accidents indoors until he/she get the full idea that the only good behavior is eliminating outdoors. Indoors, we utilize washable training pads for the day pen and also by the door that we use to take dogs out. We found using disposables was just tempting for the pup to want to shred, since everything at this stage is "explore and destroy."

Two things to remember with accidents:

0. If you did not see it occur, take it in stride. I take the pup to the scene of the accident, simply point it out to the pup, and say this was a "bad girl/boy." Nothing more than a harsh "bad girl/boy" is all that is needed. Clean it up and place this on the indoor pads, show the pup again and state this is "good place, good girl/boy."
0. If you catch the pup initiating or in the process of the accident, immediately use your Negative command, we use a loud guttural "ECH" or "No." This will usually distract the pup for a second, take the pup preferably outside or to your indoor pad. Give the "Make Pee Pee" command and praise for being "good girl/boy" at the appropriate location.

If your pup is the only one you have at this time, we recommend taking an indoor pad to the outdoor area you want the pup to conduct his/her business This helps in transitioning the pup to go outside; the good place inside moves outside. Over a few weeks, the only place he/she sees the pad is on the outside and associates the outside as the only good place left to " Make Pee Pee."

Clarabelle. at 12 weeks old and only being in the house with her new pack for two weeks, is at 99% accuracy on going outside or to her pad when in the day pen.

Kennel training for bed time is another area to consider for housebreaking. I utilize a kennel that is large enough for the pup as an adult. The first few weeks, a disposable pad is folded and placed in the back of the kennel and a pillow in front for the bed. This gives the pup an immediate good place for accidents when kept in the kennel at night. After 2 weeks, I recommend removing this pad from the kennel, so the pup learns that this bed area is not going to be a location for elimination.

Expect a few accidents in the kennel, but we find after a few times of being so close to their own accident, the pup learns this is not a behavior they will tolerate.

Clarabelle only had her emergency pad for a week. She decided one night to use it as a way to overcome her boredom, and shredded the disposable pad. It has not been replaced and the pillow for her bed was changed from half a kennel to the whole kennel. She has not had an accident since, but she does like to get up at 6 a.m. to go outside.

Clarabelle and I hope our learning articles are of help to other pups and their human companions. Clarabelle agrees it is frustrating to get her human to respond appropriately at times, but worth the hassle of training. Till our next installment, be good boy/girl for your Clarabelle.