House training is usually understood to mean teaching a dog to urinate and defecate (pee and poop) in a place convenient to the owners.

This should be a very simple process, dogs are 'house trained' by their mothers while still only a few weeks old. Mum will encourage her puppies to eliminate on a surface different from the one they rest and sleep on. It is instinctive in all dogs not to mess in the sleeping area, so as soon as they are physically able, they will move away to pee.

All the new owner has to do is continue this to predict when puppy wants to pee or poop, give him access to two surfaces, and two surfaces only– his preferred sleeping surface (ie what he likes to sleep on) and the owner's preferred toileting surface (usually, but not always, grass). As often these two surfaces are not available in the same place, owners can either supply puppy with both surfaces in the house, although this allows puppy to learn that they are allowed to eliminate indoors, or never leave puppy alone long enough so that they can't be taken outside when they need to go.

It is usually most convenient to use newspaper, although this means housetraining twice – once to teach puppy to pee on paper, and also what surface to pee on outside. They are usually done at the same time, which means it will take longer. The puppy will also continue to pee indoors as long as there is paper on the floor.

How do we Know When the Dog Wants to 'Go'?

Dogs, especially puppies, will want to pee, and possibly poop, after:

• Sleeping
• Eating
• Drinking
• Playing
• Training
• Any excitement such as owners returning home, or visitors arriving

Depending on the size and age of the dog, if none of these things happen for some time, puppies and small breeds should be taken outside to toilet every 1-2 hours. Older dogs, and once they are past a few weeks old, larger breeds every 2-4 hours while house training is in progress. Dogs fed dry food will drink more water, and so may need to toilet more often than dogs fed on a diet that includes moisture in the food. Dogs do not gain full control over their bladders until around 8 months of age, so do not consider them fully house-trained until this age.

After any of these events, at the time specified, or if you see your dog doing lots of sniffing, turning in circles, or both together, take your dog outside, on a lead if necessary and wait. If they are very reluctant or don't seem interested or understand what they should be doing, scatter some bits of food in a circle. The sniffing and circling action will encourage them to go. If they have peed or pooped anywhere else, using rubber gloves carefully transfer some of the mess to your preferred surface and let them have a good sniff. As they are going to the toilet, give them a word such as 'be quick' 'get busy' 'toilet' or 'hurry up'. If this is repeated each time they will soon learn to go on command. While your puppy is limited to the garden, this is an ideal time to teach them that toileting on command leads to lovely things – if you get it right at this young age you will never have to worry about picking up poop on a walk, or your dog peeing up every lamppost or going to the toilet somewhere they shouldn't. They can learn that being taken out for a walk is the reward for going to the toilet – not the reason!

Never tell your dog off for toileting in the wrong place. This is never your dog's fault! They learn what they are taught, and if they are taught nothing they will make their own decisions. Dogs do not understand the difference between your best Persian Rug and the grass outside, except that it is not where they sleep and therefore it's an appropriate place to toilet.

Very young puppies will not be able to hold it all night. Owners should be prepared to get up and let the dog out to toilet, or allow them a surface to toilet on while they are left alone. If this is the preferred method, puppy's overnight accommodation should be two thirds sleeping surface (carpet with a blanket on, for example, where water bowl and any toys can be left), and one third a surface not usually found in a home, for example newspaper, for puppy to toilet on. This should have no food, toys, bowls etc on it at all. Nothing should ever be put in this area, so some way of making sure toys, if puppy is allowed them overnight, or blankets cannot roll or be pushed onto the paper. This is also the ideal set up for a breeder. If the breeder has kept the puppies on one surface, mum won't have been able to start the house training process, making your life much more difficult.

Do not be tempted to remove water during the evening or overnight. Toilet training goes hand in hand with a new puppy and needs to be dealt with.

Older dogs can also be house trained in this way – if done correctly it should take less than a week, unless a previous home has completely messed the dog up.

Hiccups in the Training Process

If you catch your dog going to the toilet in the wrong place, they can be interrupted. Don't just let them finish! Either gently move them physically or startle them with a sharp 'No!', and take them outside to finish (waiting with them if necessary). Never punish the dog, and ideally, don't clean the mess up with the dog in the same room.

Don't use ammonia based products to clean the area, as this will encourage your dog to revisit the scene of the crime. Pet shops sell products specially designed to clear up pee and poop, both stains and smells, although the scent of a new smell in the house can make some dogs decide to cover it up with their own smell again. In these cases the ideal cleaning product is a biological washing powder with the same scent as the one used for your own laundry. This smell is already in the house so the dog won't notice more of it, and as it is biological it will break down whatever is left in whatever surface the dog chose to toilet on.

Older dogs who have learned it's okay to mess their sleeping area will be very difficult to get out of the habit and professional help may need to be sought. Start a diary of elimination times, exercise times, your dogs preferred toileting surfaces etc. Your chosen specialist will be able to use this to help you cure the problem.