Are you having trouble teaching your new puppy that it shouldn't be using the floor in your home as a bathroom? Hard to figure out when puppy has to go out or not?

It does get tiring to have to constantly clean up the messes with the arrival of a new puppy into your home. Skidding through puddles on the floor is not a pleasant way to wake up in the morning, or for that matter it could be worse.

If you know what I mean.

Searching Behavior

Until you get used to your new puppy, it may be a little difficult to figure out what he or she is up to. Once you get used to some of their behaviors, you can usually tell what they normally will do before they actually do it.

One thing that I've noticed throughout the years is that all of our puppies start something I would call the searching behavior. Whenever a puppy has to go to the bathroom, they start searching or looking for something.

Once your puppy starts sniffing around the floor of your house in a kind of desperate or urgent way, it usually is a good idea to take him or her outside.

It may take awhile, but it doesn't hurt anyone. It may save you having to clean up a mess!

Most of the time this works and the puppy does actually go to the bathroom once they find that perfect spot. Outside the house that is!

Reward Your Puppy

Once your puppy does find the perfect spot to go when you are outside, reward him or her by giving praise.

Tell your puppy you are happy with this behavior by saying good boy (or girl) and say it with some enthusiasm, so your puppy knows this is a good thing to do.

Take a few minutes or so to play with your puppy as a reward too. It all helps to reinforce good behavior.

More Good Times

Although puppies do like to play, very young puppies usually sleep a lot. If you are bringing a puppy home that is only eight weeks old or so, you can expect it to sleep much of the time.

This means that although they sleep a lot, they also wake up quite frequently. Pretty much the same as any normal baby.

So, what does this have to do with teaching your puppy how to go outside to go potty instead of going on the floor? Think about it, what do you usually have to do when you first get up?

Well, once he or she wakes up, if you want to avoid a mess of some sort, bring the puppy outside right away.

Another good time to bring your puppy outside to try and go to the bathroom is after he or she finishes eating. It usually is not very long after a puppy has eaten and drank something that they have to go potty.

If you can, bring puppy outside to go potty as soon as it is done eating. Sometimes, this may take a little while and other times it does not take that long. Usually about ten to fifteen minutes is all it takes.

Tell your puppy to go potty every time you bring him or her out and wait for awhile. Let them sniff around.

Try to avoid distracting him or her too much though. Remember to praise your puppy once he or she does go potty.

When Will It Ever Learn?

Some puppies seem to understand potty training quickly while others may take some time to learn. Eventually, you will keep your puppy from making a mess on the floor. Have patience.

I know it's hard not to lose your temper, especially when you first get up in the morning only to find that you just stepped in something. It has happened to all of us at one time or another.

The best way to housebreak puppy is to pay attention to what he or she is doing and you will soon figure out its routine behavior that it does when it needs to go outside. Then give puppy praise for a job well done, and soon these accidents will happen less often.

Before you realize it, you will not have any more puppy accidents to clean up. So, don't give up just yet, your puppy will learn sooner or later.

Have fun with your new puppy!