Q. We're thinking of getting a puppy and have received all sorts of advice about housebreaking, fences, doggie doors and things. We even had someone suggest we could litter train a puppy. What are your thoughts?

A. Mother dogs teach their pups not to soil their sleeping area by pushing them to the farside of the whelping box. A housedog sleeps inside, so housebreaking expands the mommy lesson to mean 'go outside.'

Doggie doors are convenient, because the dog can come and go when it needs to and the owner doesn't have to take him out. However, if the doggie door is always unlocked and your dog never has to 'wait' to go outside, the first time you take him to visit family, or place him in a kennel you may deal with accidents.

A dog with a door never has to ask to go outside, or 'hold it' until it can go outside. And, when he is somewhere with no door, there will be messes. I believe, your dog should be completely housebroken, know how to go to the door and ask to go out, and know how to wait until you let him out. That way, when you are somewhere without a door, he will adjust to the house rules.

Fences are great. Your dog can go outside, run, play, and you do not have to worry about it getting away, getting into trouble, or hit by a car. You don't have to walk outside with him; you can just let him out. Right? Mostly right. Every house dog should be taught how to 'go potty' while on leash. If he grows up in fenced yard and never has to go out with a leash, he will not know how to when he must.


Take him to visit a friend, for a day in the park, or away on a trip with you where he has no fence and you may have trouble. He might not 'go' while he is onleash. And, if he holds it too long, he could make himself sick.

Indoor dog grass patches or litter boxes for dogs are, in my opinion, a big mistake. They are messy, smelly, and not easily hidden. Your dog never has to learn any kind of self-control and that eventually carries into other behavior areas. Essentially, he makes his own potty rules and will end rebelling at your authority.

When you buy a dog you accept certain responsibilities. If your dog is to be a house dog, you accept the task of housebreaking him. Teach him to go outside, wait until you can take him out, and go potty while on leash or off. Then, if you get a fence, doggie door, or both, he will have more freedom, but still have self-control when needed.

Dogs are amazing, intelligent, loyal, teachable animals. Expect yours to learn, he won't disappoint.
