How should I discipline my puppy when she's made a mess? If you didn't witness the actual "mess making," do nothing. If you discipline her now, she just won't get it. Instead, take her outside, praise her if she goes potty, then clean up the mess without a word. If you catch her in the act, pick her up, say "no," and take her outside. One added note: if you hold her tail down, you may be able to stop the "work in progress" before she's finished. If she finishes once she's outside, praise her! Positive reinforcement will get you there quicker than discipline.

How do I know when my puppy needs to go outside? Your puppy will initially need to go out after meals, play, and upon waking from a nap. Eventually you will learn the signs of impending "potty time." These often include: turning in circles, hyperactivity, or sniffing the floor. I had a dog who used to wake me up by panting heavily in my face. The dog I have now simply walks to the door. This doesn't happen with all dogs, but each dog will "tell" you. You just need to know the signs.

How can I encourage my dog to go at certain times? You need to decide on a keyword that will clue your dog into what you want. Some suggestions are: outside? and gotta go? Say this each time you want your dog to go do "his business." Once you get the dog outside, use a verbal cue like "hurry up" or "go" to get him accustomed to going right away. Make this trip outside strictly for elimination. Don't confuse him by playing or doing other things on this trip out.

Okay, she's made a mess. Now, what should I use to clean it up so she won't go there again? First, use a paper towel to clean up most of the mess. If she's piddled, blot the area several times to soak up the liquid. Now, try using any enzymatic cleaner like Nature's Miracle or Simple Solution. Find these at PETsMART.com or Allpets.com.

Written by Iris Wolfe

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