People have been known to say Bichons, Shih-Tzu and other small dogs are impossible to housebreak. We disagree! We think if you can train an owner, you can train any dog at any age. The following are our suggestions to the best method.

Do not free-feed a dog that is not housebroken.  Put your dog on a feeding schedule. Breakfast, and dinner. Mix about 1 TBS add in (canned food, yogurt, cottage cheese, canned pumpkin, hamburger & rice) with dry food.  NOTE*  quality dog food is essential in housebreaking.  Poor quality dog food can cause digestive problems and make housebreaking a nightmare!   We have found  NutriSource products (www.NutriSourceDogFood.com)  to be our favorite.    By adding add-ins to the dry, you will help your dog process his meal faster, and thus he will void regular.  A dog that is a "nibbler" from free-feeding, is much harder to housebreak.  Take food and water up after dinner time.  This way your dog will go to bed with a mostly empty bladder and bowel and should sleep through the night without an accident.  

About 45 minutes after your dog eats, plan on taking him out  for him to void out his meal. Use a command each time you take him out so he knows the purpose of his visit to the outdoors. If he does not void right away, get him moving around by playing with him as this will help to get those bowels moving.  If he does not void at this time, take him inside and put him in his kennel then allow another 10-15 minutes and try again. DO NOT LET YOUR DOG LOOSE IF HE HAS NOT GONE POTTY!  This will only allow him to void on your floor.  

Plan on taking your dog out  every 2 hours regularly to go pee. Use same encouragement, and command. Also, when your dog first wakes up from a nap and first thing in the morning, he will have to go. Quickly take him out to do so.

When you take your dog out to void, go with him. He wants to be with you, and if you just put him out and leave him, he will likely stand at the door waiting for you, then void the minute you let him in. You need to go with him, encourage him to void.   Each time your dog voids as he should, give lots of excited praise and a treat, so he knows he is doing as he should.

Keep a diary the first couple weeks, and note when your dog is going void, that will help you know his schedule  He will be very consistent and that will help with the training! .

Use your crate wisely! It is the best training tool you will own. If you are going to be gone for a couple hours put dog in a kennel while you are gone during the day. Always use it for bedtime. Make sure you did not just feed him though, or you are asking for an accident!  If you are going to be gone for over 4 hours with  (2 hours with a young puppy), do not use your kennel.  It is physically impossible for him to hold it, and to ask him to do so could cause future health issues for him.  In the case you are gone extended periods of time, and for those who work during the day, gate off a laundry or kitchen area where he can have his kennel or a soft bed to sleep in,  and a place to void.  Consider pee pads or a litter box for this extended absence need.

Do not leave an un-housebroke dog with the run of the house.  It is not fair to him or yourself as he will have accidents.    

It is up to you to encourage him with positive praise for what he does correctly and keep a consistent schedule until he is housebroke. If you are not consistent, your dog will not know what to do, and you will find training difficult to impossible. Use a timer if needed as a reminder to you that it is potty time. And if you have children, make sure everyone is in on the schedule and everyone is doing the same thing training wise. DO NOT use multiple ways to train  ie: litter box and outside. You will only confuse him.  Dogs are very smart, and will learn quickly and easily if you use praise, treats and a structured schedule.

If you have an adult dog (male or female) that is a "marker" - peeing on things such as furniture, grocery bags, purses on floors, etc. consider a doggie diaper for the dog while in  the house until  housebroken.   This will not help housebreak your dog, but it will certainly protect your carpet and furniture from pee stains while you are in process of training.   In some cases, the dog diapers do help housebreak as the dog may not like the moisture on his own body when he potties into the diaper.  Also with a "marker" a spray bottle (or put pennies in a can and shake)  will be your best friend while you are training.   When your dog goes to "mark" something, that is his/her way of saying "This is Mine!"   You have to teach him that it is NOT his.  You do this by taking the spray bottle (or put pennies in a can and shake) and spray the dog while saying "NO BAD DOG!".   Then put your dog in time out in his kennel for a few minutes, and then take him outside and with encouragement, tell him to go potty using the same command you have already been using.    Dogs will normally "mark territory" when they feel insecure about their life - ie: a rescue who has not had a home of his own, an existing pet in the course of a move, divorce, or other family upset.    Marking is a bad habit, and bad habits can be broken.    The spray bottle, (pennies in the can) and stern command should turn pet around.    

Remember, the hardest part of training a dog, is training the owner.  You need to teach your dog the rules and be consistent with them.   We are here if things are not falling into place. Sherry's number is: 308-247-2378. Lean on her for advise when needed.

Lastly, and most important, keep in mind that even the best trained dog will have a relapse from time to time. Don't expect perfection too soon, or you will stress yourself and your dog.