Housebreaking your dog is an important step in your dog's life. Housebreaking your dog is vital for you both to be able to live together in peace and harmony. If housebreaking your dog does not go right or does not take place at all, you and your dog are headed for trouble. Housebreaking correctly and nonviolently is crucial for the mental health of both you and your dog. You cannot live with a dog that is not housebroken and your dog cannot live with the anger and hostility from you that is sure to arise.

Housebreaking your dog requires patience, kindness and consistent positive attention. Your dog needs to understand that you love him and that you are there for him no matter what. You must consistently correct him without anger and you must be ready at anytime of the day or night to take him outside and praise him for doing the right thing. Housebreaking you dog begins with crate training. Your dog needs a safe, secure den of his own and a crate provides just the right space. His crate should be large enough for him to comfortably lie down in and should be outfitted with a blanket or cushion for his sleeping comfort. Your dog should always sleep in his crate, but you can place it right near your bed at first so he does not feel alone or frightened. Housebreaking your dog will require that no matter what time of the night or how many times in the night your dog whines or cries, you must get up and lovingly and cheerfully take him outside. Once outside, your dog, especially at first, might be confused and not know what to do so it might take a while for him to relieve himself. But once he does, you should praise him lavishly with lots of touch and loving words.

When your dog is in the act of relieving himself, you should have a phrase that you always say like, "Good Boy. Be quick in the grass." That way when housebreaking your dog, you can always say the phrase and he will begin to associate it with what you want him to do. so when housebreaking your dog, always say to him, "Do you want to go out and be quick in the grass?" "Do you need to be quick in the grass?" "Good Boy, quick in the grass." Housebreaking your dog this way will pay huge dividends later on in life. When you need your dog to relieve himself because you are going out for a while, you can say your special phrase and he will know what you want and he will do what you need him to do so he will be comfortable while you are gone.