THE VERY YOUNG PUPPY [5 Weeks to 16 Weeks]
Housetraining cannot be effective until your puppy is at least 16 weeks old (4+ months) because he does not have ANY control over his bowel and bladder muscles until this age.

Some toy breed puppies will have to go out as frequently as every 10 minutes when they are young.  With some breeds of dogs [scent hounds, sight hounds, toys, mastiffs and terriers] it may take at least a year to completely housetrain your dog. 

Dogs that are taken from the litter at a very young age, purchased from inexperienced “hobby” breeders, purchased from farms, purchased from “puppy brokers” or purchased from retail outlets tend to have greater difficulty becoming housetrained and crate trained. 

Your duty as the owner of a very young puppy is to prevent accidents, ignore mistakes and reward good behavior. As of today, any potty accident is ALWAYS YOUR FAULT!   Never punish a puppy for housetraining accidents.

NOTE: As a rule of thumb a puppy can usually maintain bladder control an hour for each month of age. For example a 4 mo. puppy may, if conditions are perfect, be able to maintain bladder control for a maximum of 4 hours.

THE NURSERY [Long-term Confinement]
The nursery may be a baby-gated small bathroom, a small utility room or a x-penned portion of the family room/kitchen/den. The size of this area must not be bigger than 5 x 5. This space should be just big enough for the puppy, the crate or a bed, a few toys and a pile of papers/mulch/pads/sod in a low box to use for elimination.

The floor must be a non-porous, washable material such as tile, wood or cement. The floor should be covered either with a tacked down plastic tarp that is then covered with newspapers or with newspapers only.
If you can’t closely supervise the puppy he must be confined to the nursery.  If you are going to leave the puppy alone for more than an hour or two, you must leave the puppy in the nursery area. You may give the puppy toys to chew but do not leave food or water down while you are gone.

THE CRATE [Short-term and Overnight Confinement]
The crate should be the size needed when the dog is fully grown with the extra space blocked off. The crate may be placed in the nursery as a bed and/or kept where you want the puppy to sleep at night.

A wise owner purchases a crate for car travel to train the dog how to act in the car as early as possible. Dogs should NEVER be allowed to ride unrestrained in a car.  Maximum time in the crate during the day for puppies is 2-4 hours, depending on age. When the puppy is let out of the crate the leash must be put on immediately.  Don’t put towels, beds or mats in the crate until the puppy is totally housetrained, as the puppy will use the bathroom on these items and develop the habit of going in the crate.

THE UMBILICAL CORD [ ROPE-A-DOPE]
When you want to take the puppy out of the Nursery/crate always attach a leash to the puppy’s collar and either tie the handle to your belt loop or tie the leash around your waist and keep the puppy with you as you do your chores.

Ami Moore, The Chicago Dog Coach says, "If you are going to settle in one room you may either tether the dog by a doorknob or to a piece of heavy furniture so that you can relax, secure with the knowledge that the both pup and your home are safe."

You must provide the puppy with a rug to rest on and an assortment of chew toys for entertainment while you are in one place. If you spend you day in many different rooms you should create a special place for your puppy in each of these rooms: special toys, a doggie bed and a permanent chain leash for use as a tether.