The direct method of housebreaking is the best. Provide frequent opportunities to eliminate in an appropriate place and to reward this behavior immediately as it occurs.
Puppies require frequent walks until they are able to control their sphincter muscles-which occurs around six months of age. Take your puppy out within fifteen minutes after each meal and each nap. There are predictable times of the day when the bowel and bladder are most full. Feed your puppy at scheduled meal times and avoid between meal snacks--allowing continous access to food makes housebreaking more difficult. Leash walk your puppy again within fifeen minutes or sooner after each meal. Allow your pup to take its time. When the pup prepares to eliminate, begin praising it in a happy an dlight voice-your tone shold be soft and quiet and continue your praise until the task is completed. Immediate encouragement is necessary to learn to eliminate in an acceptable area. Pleasant statements such as "hurry" or "do it" and giving abundant praise helps your puppy to void on command--thereby helping on those cold mornings! If your puppy is initallyl afraid of the leash, leave the leash on indoors for brief periods of time without holding on to it. Daily leash walks throughout a dog's life help maintain good elimination habits.
When a dog eliminates in an inappropriate place in the house, some owners believe that their pet is aware of its misbehavior as it "acts guilty". More than likely, your pet is only repsonding to your attitude, tone of voice, or body posture, and that "guilty" look is really the anxious facial expression and submissive, cowering stance of a dog that is attempting to ward off what it senses to be impending punishment. If your pet does eliminate in an inappropriate place, eliminate the odor as much as you can with various products... such as dilute white vinegar and baking soda... you may want to block access to the area with an obstacle.
Remember, it is not useful to punish a pet for inappropriate elimination. You must praise your pet abundantly when he/she does go in a spot that is appropriate. Loss of house breaking habits sometimes are the result of being sensitive to the owner's moods--such as stress. The dog may react to your tension and withdrawal by reasserting territorial claims with deposits of urine or stool. It may even void in a place that is strongly associated with you--such as a chair or bed. In such times, try to spend alot of time with your dog...with continued encouragement and leash training.