4 Smart Fixes for Your Biggest Puppy Potty Training Problems
Problem #1: Fido wets his crate.
When a crate is too roomy, pups often sleep on one side and eliminate on the other, explains Travis Brorsen, a celebrity dog trainer. Find a crate that's only big enough for your dog to stand up and turn around in (try one with a divider panel that will grow with him), and keep the pee pad (see Lab picks, right) outside of it. This way, he'll know that whenever he gets out, it's "go" time.
Problem #2: You keep finding little "presents" all around the house.
You wouldn't give an infant free run of the house — the same should hold true for your pup, Brorsen says. Keep him in a confined space (like his crate, a playpen or eventually a small room) with his pee pad close by in a consistent spot, and you'll cut the risk of accidents in your living room.