Housetraining a puppy can be a messy affair. The trick is to learn to anticipate your puppy's needs and continually reinforce where and how they should go to the toilet. Remember practice makes perfect!

Housetraining should start as soon as your puppy gets home. Puppies urinate frequently and should be given the opportunity to relieve themselves at least every two hours.

You need to learn to anticipate your puppy's needs. You can usually tell when your puppy needs to go to the toilet because he will look around anxiously, walk in circles and start sniffing in suitable corners looking for a place. That's your cue to whisk your puppy outside.

Regardless of the weather, puppies should be taken outside after they have woken up or had something to drink or eat. Once out of the house, say a command such as 'go now' so they know it's okay to relieve themselves. Praise them when they go, but ignore them when they fail.

If they don't toilet, take them indoors again and repeat half an hour later.

You can paper-train small breeds and young puppies to use newspapers.

Gradually, move the newspapers towards the door and out into the garden. Take a small piece of soiled paper outside so the puppy will recognise his own unique scent and want to reinforce it.

An alternative method to paper training is crate training. Dogs don't like to relieve themselves in an area where they will sleep. Make your puppy wait inside the crate before taking them outside to relieve himself. 

Owners who live in apartment may like to train their dog to use specially designed boxes of grass which serve as toilets for dogs. These are able to be kept in small areas such as balconies or paved courtyards.

If you do find a puddle inside, don't tell your puppy off. Animals find it difficult to connect punishment to an event which happened even just a minute ago. Never rub their nose in their faeces. Always clean the floor thoroughly to remove the odour from the spot otherwise your puppy will continue to go to the toilet in the same place.

If you catch your puppy in the toileting act, simply take him to the area that you would like him to toilet.

Sticking to a strict routine means your puppy will quickly learn to be clean in the house. Make sure you don't get complacent or your dog's housetraining can lapse. Continue with the routine until you are sure that your pet knows never to go indoors and will wait to go outside.

Remember that young dogs will not be able to "hang on" for long periods of time. It may take your puppy several months until he is able to remain dry overnight.

When it comes to adult dogs, start by keeping them confined to a designated space. Make a point of taking your dog outside on a regular basis, and when he 'goes', offer lots of praise.

If your adult dog has previously been toilet trained and has now started toileting indoors, check with your vet that all is medically well. Anxiety may be a factor in this inappropriate behaviour and if this is the case you may need to seek help from a behaviour specialist.