Housesoiling is one of the most common and frustrating problems experienced by dog owners. There's no magic formula for training your dog to relieve himself outside: it takes determination, consistency and proper training techniques. Remember these key words: PREVENT, SHOW AND PRAISE.

Bosco, a 6-month old lab, cannot seem to get the idea that he is supposed to "do his business" outside. His owners think crate-training is cruel and leave him in the kitchen all day with his food and water dish full while they go to work.

What is wrong with this picture? It points out the common mistakes made by countless numbers of dog owners who mean well, but do not understand the basics of house training.

The first step is to prevent house soiling; acquire a crate. A few words here... If you think a crate is cruel, erase the thought forever from your mind. A crate simulates a den for your dog or his own place of security. Ask your friends who own crates and they will tell you that dogs like their crates, when they are used properly. Never abuse a crate or your dog by leaving him confined to a crate for long periods of time!

A dog instinctively keeps his den, or in this case, his crate, clean of waste. He will leave the den to relieve himself and return to rest. Bosco will do the same in a crate, though we don't recommend leaving him there for 8 to 9 hours. Bosco's owners might consider taking time out of their schedules to come home for lunch to let Bosco out or hiring a pet sitter until he can be trusted. When Bosco's parents gave him free run of the kitchen, he could relieve himself in one corner and sleep in another clean area.

Even though Bosco is a fussy eater, the second step his owners must take is to prevent him, from housesoiling, is to feed him twice a day. Nibbling all day will make it difficult for him to eliminate with regularity-- he may find no one at home when he needs to go!

To teach a dog anything, an owner must SHOW him what is expected. For people with busy lifestyles, it is often easier and less time consuming to let the dog outside in the yard to go to the bathroom on his own. However, when a dog like Bosco is still learning the rules of the household he cannot be trusted to do what he is supposed to do. He must be watched. Opening the door to leave Bosco out for 20 minutes in the morning will not teach him that it is good to relieve himself outside.

A youngster like Bosco can find all kinds of things to do outdoors alone and may or may not relieve himself. His owner must accompany him to the appropriate area and stay with him, ignoring all distractions and encouraging him to "hurry up" or " go potty" or whatever consistent phrase they wish to use.

When Bosco does eliminate outdoors, his owners must PRAISE him enthusiastically. Bosco was reprimanded for relieving himself inside, but his owners were only partially teaching him. They SHOWED him that he should not relieve himself inside, but they never answered Bosco's question, Where?