We recommend crate training to anyone trying to get their dog’s bathroom habits under control. At first, most people feel guilty about using a crate until they learn that dogs are den animals and that they actually come to like their crate in a very short time.
Crate training takes consistency and putting your dog on a schedule of eating, playing and bathroom times. If you feed and exercise your dog at the same time each day, the dog will get into a routine very quickly.
Until your dog is housebroken, it must be restricted to any one of three areas:
1. Outside in the area you want them to use as a bathroom
2. In their crate.
3. With you inside, dragging a leash and always with your full attention
A typical day would start by taking your dog out of the crate in the morning and going directly outside to let the dog go to the bathroom. Praise the dog when they go and give them a treat. Now you bring the dog in to have their breakfast. After breakfast take them out again. Now you can put them in the crate and either go to work or give them some playtime. If we repeat this procedure of taking them outside every time before we crate them or whenever they come out of the crate, they will start to get the idea that they are to eliminate outside and will want to please you to get praise and a treat.
Always go in and out through the same door. Also, as you start to give your dog more freedom we recommend that you tie a bell on a string to the door. Every time you go out have the dog ring the bell. You will be amazed how fast they start ringing the bell to go out.