I have had dogs that were housebroken and some that were not. Those that were made much better pets and those that were not soon were. You may be wondering how I did it, so I will explain. There are very basic steps involved in housebreaking a dog.

To begin it is wise to keep in mind that you are dealing with a friend. Treat him that way. Consider how you would treat a friend you were trying to teach something. Sort of makes you think about things differently, huh?

So this friend is from a place that does not use a bathroom like you and I do. He/she has not been taught to wait until the appropriate time to relieve himself, it is not an easy task to make such an adjustment. Some will learn quickly and others very slowly, you will need to be very patient.

You must realize that your furry friend will need relief first thing in the morning, immediately after a nap, after meals, late in the evening, and before retiring. Of course some dogs learn to adapt to a restricted schedule according to the time the owner is home. This can be rather cruel if a dog door is not installed.

Back to housebreaking, keep constant watch over your dog and when you catch him in the act in the wrong place scold him and lead him to the right place. When he relieves himself in the right place praise him. He will soon make the connection and your dog will be housebroken.

You will recognize signs that your dog needs to go out. He may begin walking in circles, or sniffing, he may stare at you, go to the door, or even bark at the door. Each dog is slightly different but you will learn what your dog is trying to tell you. Respond to his message as soon as possible.

Try to put yourself in his position. If you had to ask someone to let you go to the bathroom every time you wanted to go it would be very frustrating, especially if you were ignored. Always keep in mind this is your friend that loves you!

Repetition is the key to your success. You must stick with this so your dog understands where he should relieve himself, that is, where he should always relieve himself. It is a good idea to have treats on hand to reward your dog initially.

Also, I suggest that you confine your dog to a small area at night so you do not have to worry about mishaps. Develop a schedule that works for you and your dog will eventually adapt to it. If possible you should install a dog door. This makes things more convenient for you and for your dog. I personally believe it is unrealistic to expect a dog to wait 8 or 9 hours to relieve himself while the owner is away at work.

I will just end with saying that dogs are wonderful companions if they are treated right. They want to please their owners; it is up to us to show them what we want in a way that they can understand.