If you are undertaking the ups and downs of house breaking a puppy you are, beyond doubt, interested in using the quickest and most result oriented techniques possible. This can be a particularly difficult time for many new pet owners because of the burden potty training a puppy can put on a family, especially if you start out incorrectly.

House breaking a puppy should start immediately, just after you bring him home. Even if he is only 7 or 8 weeks old, he wants to eagerly follow your lead.... it's important to use puppy housebreaking training methods that will help him develop the appropriate behavior. Your puppy will make the decision where and when he will relieve himself if he is not trained early and correctly. This, of course, is unacceptable. It is up to you to communicate where you want him to go. Puppies will learn very quickly when they understand what is expected of them.

Dogs have a natural instinct not to eliminate in their den area and, because of their strong sense of smell, are draw to go in areas where they or others have defecated or urinated in the past. There are several ways you can use these natural tendencies to your advantage.

Probably the most effective way to take advantage of these instincts is, first of all, to use a plastic dog carrier 'crate' as the pup's den or sanctuary. You should get him used to being secluded in the crate for short periods of time so that he comes to think of it as his refuge and is comfortable sleeping there.

The second way to use his natural instincts is to read the signs that he wants to go, i.e. your puppy is circling and smelling around, and then to react quickly by picking him up and taking him to the designated spot to eliminate.

The familiar smells in the designated area and your alert and consistent act of getting him immediately to the area will help him get the idea quickly. Success of the whole process can be moved along by being alert at times when he is most likely to go. Be ready to take him out when he awakens, after playing or exercise, and after he eats or drinks.