The prospect of a new puppy in the house is an exciting thing. Everyone loves these adorable little creatures. They are cute, cuddly, and even funny. Who could resist? What is not especially appealing is the fact that all new puppies who are brought into the home will, at some point, empty their bladders wherever they see fit. This could be your bed, your beautiful area rug, or your new sofa. Cleaning up these messes is definitely not what you had in mind when you brought your new puppy home. A process every new puppy owner must go through in order to save all of their niceties is housebreaking. This can be a relatively simple process if it is done right, and if you have some help and ideas on how to get it done effectively.

As humans, we have an instinctive nature within ourselves to relieve our bodies of normal functions within the confines of privacy, and we are taught that there is a proper place to do this. Dogs, however, do not come with any built-in mechanisms which teach them when and where to relieve themselves. It is up to the owners of these pups to basically "potty train" them, and this is what we call "housebreaking."

There are some basic facts that you must keep in mind before you begin this process. First of all, puppies are not able to keep themselves from relieving their bladders until about twelve weeks of age; however, it is wise to begin housebreaking as early as possible. Secondly, most puppies will probably, on average, need to relieve themselves about six to seven times per day. Thirdly, watch for signs that your puppy needs to go out, such as following his tail a bit slowly, or sniffing and circling a particular area. These are sure signs that he is about to do his business. Finally, because food puts pressure on a dog's bladder and colon, you should always take your puppy out immediately after he eats.

The first housebreaking lesson to be learned is to let your dog know that it is not okay to relieve himself inside the home. If you can catch him in the act, this is the best way to let him know. You do not need to spank or otherwise hit your dog to let him know. Simply use a loud and commanding voice, and a very strong "no" to get your message across. If you do not catch him in the act, you can always bring your dog to the location of the "accident", show it to him, and then use your forceful "no".

Another important lesson is to watch your puppy very carefully. If you see any signs that your puppy needs to relieve himself, you should immediately take him outside to a designated area to do his "business". As soon as he completes his task, make sure you reward him. You can do this several ways ' a treat, a pat on the head, a rub behind the ears, and always lots of praise.

Dogs are always eager to please their owners, so when your puppy sees that you are happy with his doing his business in the proper place, and that you are very upset when he relieves himself on the rug, it won't take him long to catch on. Therefore, you should always make sure your puppy knows you are happy with him when he does the right thing. You still need to do your part. Watch your puppy carefully, and you should be able to pick up on some regularity in his bladder routine. Once you do this, you can take him out accordingly and avoid accidents altogether.

Remember that communication, reward, and praise are the key to housebreaking your new puppy with great results, and very little mess.