Dealing with Accidents
No matter how careful you are, accidents are bound to happen. They're simply part of the learning process. If you catch your puppy in the act, clap to interrupt the behavior, then hurry the pup outside or to the indoor potty area. If the pup resumes relieving himself once outside, you still have to praise him — even though you know you'll have to go inside and clean up. The pup will only learn that outside is the right place to go if you praise while he's going potty there.
There's absolutely no point in rubbing your pup's nose in it or swatting the pup if you find a puddle or a pile. You'll only convince the pup that you're a dangerously aggressive human, and that maybe it's better not to relieve himself in your presence. This effect will set back your housetraining and possibly damage your relationship with the dog.
Cleanup Supplies and Strategies
There are several basic supplies you'll want to have in the house during the housetraining phase of dog ownership. Some items you might purchase include these:
Several rolls of paper towels
Some rags or old terrycloth towels
An enzymatic cleanser, such as Nature's Miracle, Resolve, or OdorMute
Spray can or plug-in air freshener
You do not want to use ammonia products to clean up after your pup. Urine contains ammonia, and the scent will only encourage your pup to go potty in that spot again.
As far as how you approach the situation, you should deal with the puppy first — cleanup can wait. If you've interrupted an accident, escort your pup outside. Once that's taken care of, put your pup in her crate while you clean up. If the accident took place on a rug, and it's a puddle, first soak up most of the liquid — put down a towel, or layers of paper towels, and press them into the carpet. If it's a pile, use a plastic bag to pick it up as cleanly as you can. Then, in either case, saturate the spot with your cleanser, place a towel or stack of paper towels over it, and put something heavy on top of the towels. Leave it there to remove the moisture from the rug.
Of course, cleanup is much easier on hard surfaces such as linoleum, wood, or tile. You can still use the enzymatic cleanser, after testing in an inconspicuous spot, to eliminate any odors that might lure the puppy back.
