Potty training a dog is extremely important if you intend on having your dog or dogs inside your home. Even if you only have your dog inside for a short amount of time he or she must be trained not to leave a mess.

The best time to start this training is when you first bring your puppy home. It is very important to start straight away so your pup doesn't get confused with what is right and what is wrong. Puppies and adult dogs can be very stubborn so you must show them who is the boss and what is expected of them.

Once you have succeeded in potty training a dog then you will soon notice the benefits. You will be able to leave your dog or dogs unattended and know that when you return to your home it will not be soiled. Of course there will sometimes be accidents but that may be because you were away for longer than usual or perhaps your pup may be sick.

You can find out how to potty train a dog by talking to your vet or breeder or by reading books. You will also find plenty of information on the net. There are those web sites that can help you by giving out free tips on the subject. No matter how you get your information on this subject the important thing is to be precise and be consistent at all times.

Your dog looks to you for guidance and always wants your reassurance that he or she has done a good job. Never use force or physical abuse on your pet. Your pup will react to firm instructions when accompanied by loving rewards afterwards. This job is not always going to be easy and you will need lots of patience, as you must remember it is like training a baby.

Take the time to ask lots of questions from people who have done this before and get your hands on a good training book so you have it on hand all the time. This way you can always refer back to it to make sure you are doing everything right.

Susan Dean is the webmaster and publisher of http://www.dog-training-made-simple.com