Teach your dog when and where to go to the toilet

Teaching your dog where and when to go to the toilet.When housetraining your dog, it doesn't matter whether you are starting the process with a puppy or an adult dog, your aim is to teach him that it is not acceptable to go to the toilet in the house.

Any new dog requires some training, but as we all know, rescue dogs are special, they can also present more of a challenge, as less is known of their history and they may have unknown triggers which cause them to mess at home.

Five easy steps to stress-free housetraining

Learn to predict when your dog will need to go to the toilet. This is usually after he has eaten, woken up, after a play session or after any exciting event. Most dogs will do a number of things before they actually leave a puddle (or something worse) on the carpet in front of you. They may sniff around on the floor, begin to circle or squat, and appear to be distracted.

When you suspect that your dog needs to go to the toilet, encourage him to come into the garden. Show him to the same place each time and give a simple command, such as "Be quick!". Wait with him, and if he goes to the toilet, praise him gently while he is doing it, then praise him enthusiastically afterwards, and give him a tasty food treat or initiate a game.

If your dog is showing no signs of relieving himself after a few minutes, take him back indoors. At this stage you know he is very likely to go in the near future so supervise him constantly. If he begins to sniff around or circle, clap your hands or call out to interrupt the behaviour, then lead him back to the garden.

At times when you are unable to supervise your dog, it is important to confine him somewhere where you won't mind if he makes a mess.

NEVER punish him for messing in the house, train him out of it instead. If you punish him it may make him more fearful and prone to go to the toilet even more. He may try to hide his mess from you, either by going in concealed areas, such as behind the sofa, or by eating the evidence. It may also encourage him never to go to the toilet in front of you, making housetraining practically impossible.