Most new dog owners don’t look forward to the task of house training a puppy. It can be pretty confusing when you hear different advice from almost everyone you talk to.

Don’t despair. I’ve got six tips that you can use to make the house training process a lot easier on you and your new puppy.

Tip #1: Have a Consistent Feeding Schedule

Some dog owners like the idea of free feeding their dogs. This means they leave a bowl of food out all day, letting their dog eat whenever he’s hungry. While free feeding is convenient for you as a dog owner, it can create a problem when you’re housebreaking a new dog. It’s much easier to potty train a dog if you follow a schedule and feed him at the same time each day.

Most dogs need to go potty after eating. By having a set schedule, you can control when your dog eats and know when he will need to go potty. You’ll have fewer accidents if you follow this important tip.

Tip #2: Follow A Consistent Potty Schedule

Even though your puppy will be going potty after his meals, you will also need to take him outside as often as you can throughout the day. Create a potty schedule above and beyond meal time, and follow it – taking your puppy out at the same time each day.

This will help you to remember to take him out. And having a routine gives your puppy a sense of security. This is important in raising a puppy that is calm and confident. Without a set schedule, your new dog won’t ever know what to expect – which causes him to become anxious. Anxiety causes digestive problems in dogs, which can make potty training that much harder.

Tip #3: Choose A “Potty” Command And Use It Consistently

You’ll want to choose a verbal command to use when you want your puppy to go potty. This should be something you’re comfortable saying at any time – and in front of anyone. A few common ones are: “go potty” “tinkle” “potty” or “get busy.”

Now that you’ve chosen a command, you should use it every time you want your dog to go potty. When he’s learning the command, you should use it only when you are standing where you want him to go potty. Once your puppy is trained, you can open the door, say “go potty” or whatever command you use, and he’ll run right over to his spot and go potty – all on his own.

Tip #4: Never Scold Your Dog for Having An Accident

Almost every puppy has an accident while house training – some more than others. When this happens, always remain calm. Don’t scold him – and whatever you do, never rub his nose in it. This is not just outdated advice it’s also completely ineffective.

The truth is, making him feel bad about his mistake isn’t going to make training faster or easier. Your dog can’t help himself. If he’s had an accident, it’s probably because you didn’t stick to a schedule or weren’t paying attention to him. The best way to achieve success is to teach him that when he goes potty in the right place, good things happen. That brings us to Tip #5

Tip #5: Always Reward Your Puppy When He Gets It Right

Just as you would reward your puppy for sitting when you say “sit” – you should always reward him when he goes potty outside in the right place.

Puppies respond well to a combination of sincere praise and a little reward. This can be a show of affection, a special treat, or a short play session. The most important thing isn’t what reward you choose – the important thing is that he gets his reward immediately when he goes potty. This way he will connect going potty in the right place with getting praised and rewarded.

To start, be sure to praise him verbally while he’s actually going potty. Use a friendly, happy voice and say “Good boy! Good potty!” As soon as he’s finished, immediately give him the reward. You can toss his favorite ball for a game of fetch, or if you’re on a walk, bounce it and let him catch it. You could also give him a treat or belly rub.

Again, be sure to reward him immediately. Praise combined with affection, treats or play will make your puppy happy – and he’ll soon associate going potty at the right time and place with happiness and joy.

Tip #6: Reduce Accidents With Crate Training Your Puppy

While proper crate training is beyond the scope of this article, here is why you should seriously consider it when house training a puppy

Crate training lets you put your puppy in his crate when you aren’t able to watch him. Since dogs don’t like to soil their “dens” your puppy will naturally wait until you let him out to go potty.

The key is to never leave your puppy in his crate for long periods of time – and to take him out to go potty immediately when you let him out. What’s great is he will usually have to go potty when you let him out – and by taking him outside, he’ll be doing it when and where you want him to!

Your new puppy is going to love you unconditionally. In return, you should do your best to train him properly so he’s always a joy to be around. Potty training a puppy is a very important step in raising a dog that’s happy, healthy, and easy to love.