The Biggie: Housetraining
Until he's about 3 months old, your puppy has to relieve himself quite frequently. If you're not quite sure how to go about housetraining him, this might not bode well for your carpet. Understanding a few important factors can make for a much speedier and easier housetraining process.
· Timing is everything. Your young puppy will probably need to "go" right after eating or playing, right after waking up, and approximately every two hours during the day. Be prepared to walk him promptly at these times, before he has the chance to make a "mistake" in the house. Remember, keeping your puppy on a regular schedule of meals and walks will make housetraining easier for both of you. Here's a tip: Don't end the walk abruptly as soon as he relieves himself. This teaches him that relieving himself ends fun outing-- and he may figure out that "holding it" will result in more time spent outside!
· Always let your pup know when he's been good. On your walks, praise him lavishly (for example, say "Good puppy! Good puppy!" in a happy voice) as soon as he eliminates. The basis of speedy, easy puppy training is clear and immediate communication on your part. Use the same simple words and phrases to mean certain things. Don't expect your puppy to understand long, rambling sentences. Tone of voice is important, too. Your puppy will learn more quickly that "good boy" means you're pleased with what he's done if the words are said cheerfully.
· A watchful eye is key. Watch your puppy every minute that he's loose inside your home. If you notice him acting like he's about to eliminate, say "no" right away in a stern but calm voice, quickly take him out, then praise him when he relieves himself outside. Think of it this way: Every mistake your puppy makes in the house is a step backward in his housetraining-- and every time he relieves himself outside, it's a step forward.
· Never give "delayed punishment." You should never punish your puppy for mistakes he made in the house when you weren't watching. As with all training, they feedback that's communicated to your puppy--whether positive or negative--must always coincide with or immediately follow the puppy's action. This allows him to make a clear connection between the action and the feedback it causes, ensuring speedier learning. If you were to punish your puppy hours afterwards for a mistake he made in the house, he would probably hang his head and look sad while you admonished him. Many people who see their puppy act this way in such a situation think he is "acting guilty," and therefore they think he understands what he did wrong. But all this behavior really means is that the puppy knows, because of his owner's tone of voice and body language, that the person is angry and upset. It doesn't mean he understands why. Punishing a puppy for reasons he doesn't understand will leave him only confused and unhappy. This will lessen his trust in you and damage the bond that is developing between the two of you, and it will surely slow the housetraining process.
· Provide your pup with his own special place. Finally, until he is completely housetrained, it is most important to never let you puppy have the run of the house unattended. Have him stay in a confined area--a part of the kitchen fenced off with a baby gate, perhaps, or (ideally) a roomy crate or "den"--anytime you're not watching him. A puppy is naturally less likely to relieve himself in a confined space. Because of this instinct, he's more likely to wait until it's time for his next walk.
Something soft to chew on and pull (An old hand towel with a knot tied in the
middle works well). 
