Spot’s understanding of human language will increase throughout his life with you. In the beginning, keep it simple.

Two Commands All Dogs Should Learn: "No!" and "Enough"

All dogs should learn to understand two words, “No!” and “Enough. “No!” means, “Stop that immediately and don’t ever do it again.” Use of the word “No!” should be reserved for really bad behavior such as chewing the chair leg. Your sharp tone and intense attitude when you bark out the word “No!” will not be lost on Spot. However, if he ignores you and continues chomping the chair, go to him and repeat your sharp “No!” while shaking him mildly by the scruff of his neck with a slight downward pressure. He will understand this, because it’s similar to what his own mamma might have done to teach him the limits of her tolerance. Before long, Spot will respect the “No!” word. When he responds to your “No!” by immediately stopping the undesirable activity, praise him with a sincere “Gooood boy.”

“Enough” means “What you are doing is just fine sometimes, but you have been doing it too long (or too hard), so stop now.” Use “Enough” when you don't want to throw the tennis ball anymore but Spot is still depositing it on your lap. Say “Enough” when the game of tug gets too rowdy, or when your dog continues barking long after the meter reader leaves. Say “Enough” firmly, but without anger. “Enough” should work on dogs, as well as on the children that are playing with them.

Housebreaking

Dogs are basically clean creatures who try to avoid soiling their living, eating, and sleeping area. During housebreaking, take advantage of this fact by confining Spot to a small, safe area, such as a dog crate, or one room of the house (an easily cleaned room, such as the kitchen or bathroom) every time you are away and he is left unsupervised. As soon as you arrive home, take Spot outside and praise him for doing the right thing. Use the same door every time as that will help Spot learn where to wait to let you know he has to go outside. If Spot soils his crate or his playroom, clean it up immediately. Besides being dangerous to his health, putting Spot back into a wet or dirty crate teaches him to learn to live with his mess. That attitude will hinder, not help, the housebreaking process.

During this period of housebreaking, it is vital that Spot be on a regular feeding, watering, and exercise schedule.

Morning

First thing in the morning, take him outside on lead for several minutes and always praise him for a job well done. Use a lead in the beginning even if you have a fenced yard. It works best because you can take him to the same area every time, you’ll know if he relieved himself and you’ll have the opportunity to praise him. Later, when he is reliably housebroken, you can simply open the door and let him out.

When you bring Spot in, offer him a drink and allow him to follow you around during your morning routine. Confine him when you leave the house, or even when you are at home but can’t keep an eye on him. (If Spot is under a year old or a tiny adult, feed him twice a day; morning and evening and take him outside when you get up, and again after you feed him.)

Afternoon

Take Spot outdoors again at lunch time and give him a drink. Then confine him if you are leaving for the afternoon or are too busy to watch him.

Evening

When you arrive home in the evening, take Spot outdoors and enjoy a nice long exercise period with him. Then let him watch as you prepare dinner or join you for the TV news. Spot should have access to fresh water while outside playing and for a couple hours after dinner. Feed him around 6:00 p.m., and by 8:00 p.m., remove his water bowl until morning. Take Spot outside when he finishes eating. Praise him after he relieves himself and let him spend the evening outside his crate and in the same room with you. Take him outside again just before you crate him for the night and go to bed.

Housebreaking Hints

Sometimes (especially when he is new and nervous), Spot may have to relieve himself more often than this schedule allows. When housebreaking, prevention usually works and correction usually doesn’t, so watch him closely. Take him outside immediately if he begins walking in circles and sniffing the floor, if he starts panting when he hasn’t been exercising, or if he suddenly leaves the room. Also, most dogs have to relieve themselves after heavy exercise, so if you played hard on the rug, get Spot off the rug and outdoors as soon as play time is over.

Most dogs, even housebroken ones, make a mistake or two in a new house. If you get home too late and Spot already had an accident, don’t make a big deal over it. Never yell at Spot or punish him for anything unless you catch him in the act. Dogs don’t relate punishment after the fact to something they did hours ago. Consequently, Spot won’t understand why you are so angry at him when he was so glad to see you, and that will lead to far worse problems. So, if the dirty deed was done before you got home, take Spot outside anyway and he will eventually learn to expect the opportunity to go outside, and wait for it. Have patience and realize that Spot may still be too insecure or nervous in your absence to control himself for the amount of time you are away. Clean up the soiled spot as soon as you can using an odor neutralizer or plain white vinegar. Never use anything containing ammonia, as the odor of ammonia causes dogs to seek out the same spot to go potty again.

If you catch Spot in the act, you may be able to stop him with a loud noise, like stamping your foot or clapping your hands. Then take him by the collar, snap on his lead, hurry him outside to right spot, and praise him if he finishes what he started. (If he’s small enough, pick him up and secure his lead as you hasten outdoors.) Contrary to popular belief, spanking Spot with a rolled-up newspaper or rubbing his nose in his mess won’t work. Such punishments only teach a dog to urinate or defecate where he thinks the evidence of his act will go undiscovered. Harsh physical punishments never accomplished anything in dog training and never will.

Once Spot is housebroken, keep him on a regular routine. Just because a dog is housebroken it doesn’t mean he can “hold it” for unreasonable lengths of time. If Spot starts making mistakes after months, or even years of never soiling the house, have him checked by your veterinarian. Perhaps he has a kidney or bladder infection.

The keys to successful housebreaking are a regular routine and an alert trainer. A housebroken dog is simply a dog with a habit—the happy habit of eliminating outdoors.