Another option is to purchase or make a crate to serve as a den.. It should be big enough for the dog to stand up in and turn around comfortably but small enough so the animal can't sleep in one end and eliminate in the other. If you are crate training your dog, and he's using it as a toilet, its probably too big.

If your dog is a breed that grows very large, you either need to plan to purchase larger crates as he grows, or you can buy a crate large enough for a full grown dog and simply block off part of it while the puppy is still small.

Often the new dog owner will wail: "But if my poor Fido is confined to a crate all the time, its just like putting him in jail! That's so cruel".

But using a crate effectively doesn't mean you should lock up your pooch all the time. In fact, a very young pup shouldn't be left alone in a crate for more than three or four hours, and dogs older than nine months for no more than eight hours. If you work or go to school you should consider confining the pup with a gate in a bathroom or another area large enough for a bed, food and water dish, and papers for the pup to eliminate on.

One word of warning: if you do decide to confine your pup, never use his crate as a form of punishment. The puppy should only associate his crate with good things... treats, toys and affection from you!

SCHEDULING is the next step in successful house-training. The schedule you set up will be determined by your work habits and sleeping patterns. But keep in mind that a young puppy's needs are different from those of a adult dog, and timewise, you won't have much flexibility until your pet is older.

A mature dog develops a greater degree of control over his digestive processes and can "hold it" for longer periods of time. In the wild, the natural order of things is for a young puppy to eat, eliminate, play and sleep. Your schedule should make provisions for the puppy's elimination after his dinner.

ELIMINATION is the fourth step along the way to successful house-training. Find a place for your pooch to eliminate and make sure he has regular access to it. The place you choose will depend on your lifestyle. If you are a country or suburban dweller, you may be able to simply open the door and let the dog out. But if you live in the city or an apartment you will probably have to walk your pet.

There are a few more tricks of the trade that will make the house-training process easier and less of a hassle for both you and your dog.

Every time you take you dog out to go to the bathroom, repeat a trigger phrase over and over until he begins to get down to business. Then praise him lavishly. The trigger phrase can be something like, "Do your business", or "Hurry up" or "Go potty".

There are several reasons for using a trigger phrase. First, when your dog is in a unfamiliar place and you tell him to "Do his business," he will, no matter where you are. Second, you will be able to train him to go at the beginning of a walk, or go in a hurry if its stormy or you need to go someplace.

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