From Cool Dog Training
Housetraining
Dogs create toilet preferences by surface. Grass and carpet are the two favorites because they are absorbent. Did the breeder have the puppy on grass? Consistency and repetition creates a desire for one surface – take your dog out routinely. If you do this right, your puppy will want to use only the outside for potty by the age of five months.
Puppy’s bladders don’t mature until they are five months old. At eight weeks, take your puppy outside every two to three hours day and night. Add one hour for every week of age. Restrict water intake at night, and don’t provide any water after 6:00 p.m. unless your dog is playing hard or it’s unusually hot. Take your puppy out for potty before bed. To isolate accidents, use a crate (which should be the happiest place on earth w/Kongs, chews, toys, and food). Never put your dog in crate as punishment or when angry! They will learn to hate the crate. Don’t open the crate door when dog is crying or pawing at door. Open when he is quiet. Teach your dog to go in for treats – throw one to the back, feed the second through closed door. If dog has an accident in the crate, make crate smaller (with just enough room to turn around) and think about taking them out more often. Accidents happen – clean with Nature’s Miracle or white vinegar. Do not reprimand your puppy – he doesn’t understand what you’re upset about! “Puppy Pads” teach the dog to pee on fabric (cotton & polyester) – don’t use them! Give the command, “go potty” or any other preferred phrase and stand still. When they squat and have finished, give them a party and a treat – yeah! If the dog hates the crate, try working with clicker training.
For the tough cases or for older dogs that have not been housetrained. They probably have not created a preference yet due to inconsistency. Restrict access to carpet, rugs, tile. Set up an exercise pen in your family room or somewhere close by. Line the floor with a heavy plastic drop cloth like painter’s use. Buy a strip of sod and cut it to fit into a baking sheet or cat litter box. Put small pieces of your dogs poop on each corner of the sod to give your dog the idea that it is a toilet. Hose off and rotate sod pieces daily.
Tie a jingle-bell to the door knob, strung at nose level, and teach your dog how to ring it when they want to go out. When your dog rings the bell on his own, run to the door, open it say, “outside.”