old newspapers.

It calls for patience, commitment, and above all,

consistency.

Hi, I'm Kathy Santo for Iams with Howdini.

And today we're going to talk about how to

house train your puppy.

A trusting and consistent relationship is fundamental to

successful house training.

The more consistent you are, the faster

your puppy will learn.

House training a puppy can take several weeks and

sometimes longer with smaller breeds.

The first step to house training your puppy is to

establish a routine.

Puppies did best on a regular schedule, because it teaches

them that there are times to eat, times to play,

and times to potty.

As a general rule, a puppy can control his bladder about an

hour for every month of age.

So if your puppy is only three months old, he can probably

only hold it for about three hours, if not less.

Make sure to take him right out after he wakes up, during

and after play time, and after eating or drinking, because

these are times he's most likely to have to go.

If you work and are unable to take your puppy outside as

often as needed, you could hire a dog walker to give your

puppy his necessary breaks.

I recommend picking a specific bathroom spot outside and

always taking him there first when he's on a leash.

While your puppy is going, say something like "go potty" so

that you can eventually use that phrase to

remind him what to do.

You should take him out for a walk or play time after he's

gone potty, or he might just learn to hold

it to keep you outside.

Reward your puppy every time he goes potty outdoors with

praise or a treat, but make sure to do so immediately

before he goes back into the house.

Rewarding correct behavior is the best way

to teach your puppy.

Be careful not to reward your puppy until he's completely

finished, or he may forget to finish up outside and then

have an accident inside.

And remember, what goes into a puppy on a schedule comes out

of a puppy on a schedule.

So always take your puppy out after feeding.

Try picking up your puppy's water dish about two and a

half hours before bedtime, so he won't have as much water to

try and hold overnight.

If you keep a consistent schedule, your puppy could be

house trained by the time he's five to six months old.

But don't be discouraged if it takes your puppy longer or has

an occasional accident.

Many factors, including breed of dog, consistency, and

temperament, can contribute to a longer training period.

If you feel that there's little to no progress, consult

with your veterinarian to be sure that a medical issue,

such as a bladder infection, isn't the culprit.

Supervision in the beginning is critical.

Exercise pens are extremely helpful while house training.

Keeping your puppy in a small space within eyesight will

allow you to notice and react when they start showing the

signs of needing to eliminate.

Those signs can be barking, scratching at the door,

squatting, sniffing, or circling.

If you're unable to monitor your puppy, you can confine

him to an area small enough so that he won't want to

eliminate there.

A space just large enough for him to lay down with a couple

extra inches is just fine.

Many people choose to combine with a crate which can be very

helpful for house training your young dog.

For more information on crate training watch "How to crate

train your puppy."

I'm Kathy Santo for Iams with Howdini, and I hope that

you've found this helpful as you welcome your new addition

to your family.

For more information on puppy care and training, visit

iams.com/puppy.