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When it comes to dog problems, housebreaking may just be one of the things at the top of the list. It’s not without justification, either. Research shows that as much as 25% of dogs left at shelters end up there because owners had issues housebreaking them.

Veterinarians agree. Dogs seen by vets also have behavior-related issues concerning toileting 25% of the time.

What can we deduce from these statistics? One, housebreaking is definitely an issue with dog owners. And two, there’s a need for a way to successful house train dogs.

But is housebreaking your dog really so hard?

If the experts are to be believed, there’s just one very flawed approach to house training that makes it a failure. Pet owners tend to look at their dogs like they are four-legged humans.

Picture this: a human member of your household suddenly decides to pee, not inside the bathroom but on the floor. It would be quite upsetting to say the least. And that’s exactly how you feel when you see your pooch doing the same. But newsflash: dogs are not people. That means the way you react to people won’t necessarily produce the same effect on your canine. Often, it even has the opposite outcome.

So is housebreaking hard? Yes, but only if you don’t do it right.

To successfully house train your dog, you have to pay attention to the following.

1. Don’t leave untrained dogs unattended

If your dog has not been housebroken, don’t leave her alone. And no, being in the same room as your dog does not count. When we talk about not leaving the dog alone, it means actively engaging with the pooch.

There must always be one person looking after your pet. That way you can monitor when she relieves herself.

Now, you could argue that it’s almost impossible to have someone looking after the dog at all times. And that’s not incorrect. But there’s a solution to that problem: dog crates.

While housebreaking your dog, you should know that dogs are den dwellers by nature. As long as the dog crate isn’t associated by the pup to punishment, it’s a perfectly natural and normal living space for a dog. So start crate training. Either you do that are you can tether your un-housebroken to you and take her with you everywhere you go. It’s not very practical, but it’s another option if you’re against crate training.

2. Follow a feeding schedule

Leave a food bowl available at all hours and you’ll notice your pup will be nibbling at all hours, as well. The bad thing about that? He’ll be pooping all day, too. And that means it would be virtually impossible for you to find out when he does his business.

Feeding your dog twice a day, say once in the morning and once at night will give you a good idea of when your pet will relieve himself. Once you’ve figured that out, it’s easy to have someone ready to take him outside at those times. Keep up the routine and you’ll have your dog housebroken much faster.

3. Reward good behavior

Everybody loves getting rewarded for a job well done. Your dog is no exception. However, dogs don’t speak the human language. But they do know the universal language of food. So when potty training your dog, have a supply of treats available. Dole out some praise when she manages to get things done right and top it off with a little treat.

4. Don’t punish the dog for mistakes

When your dog isn’t cooperating, it’s easy to feel frustrated and stressed. But reign in the madness and don’t punish your pet. It’s inappropriate and unhealthy, not to mention it won’t be helpful in the least. Yelling will just teach your dog to fear you.

Dogs can be housebroken at any age, contrary to popular belief. Sure, it’s easier to instill good potty habits when the dog is still just a puppy. But that doesn’t mean you cannot re-train an adult dog.

The key is consistency, positive reinforcement, and patience. With all three, you’d have a housebroken dog in no time.