Most pediatricians agree that a child can control his body functions at age two. As a single mother, I cautiously approached the problem at that age. He was trained in two months.

Apparently it is the fashion now days to wait until the child is three. I think that there are some social activists who think that a child should be almost in nursery school before they learn to control themselves. A child can be successfully trained at two with no problems...ask your grandmother when she trained her children. Odds are that she will say before two, although some vary.

You know your child better than anyone else, so it is not a matter especially of age, it is your child's development. But in my opinion, if a child can go get the diaper, take off the old one and lift his legs to be changed...then it's time!!!

Short answer:

Every 30 min take your dog/puppy outside say "Go potty" nicely DO NOT make a loud noise or make any sudden movements wile the dog is sniffing than if they finally go to the bathroom appraise the dog/puppy give a treat and say "Good boy/girl" and pet him or her.

Longer answer:

Everyone has their own opinion about the best way to train a dog. Some techniques may also work better on one dog than it does on another, so to start, you need to know that the "best" method, may not be the right method for you or your dog.

I myself, as well as many others and most dog trainers, agree that crate training is the best approach to potty training your dog. Crate training is most effective when started early. Place your dog in his crate while you're gone or cannot be there to watch him (i.e. when you're taking a shower, doing laundry, etc.) Make sure that the crate is only big enough for the dog to stand, turn around and lay down in without touching the sides. This may seem cruel or cramped, but it is necessary. Your dog may have a couple accidents his first day or two in the crate, but as a general rule a dog won't go wet or mess in a place it has to sleep. If you give them more room they'll walk to one side to go to the bathroom and to the other to sleep, thus accomplishing nothing. If your crate is too large, you may wish to invest in a divider. When you come home or are no longer busy, take the dog out of the crate, carrying him/her (if possible) to the spot where you'd like them to go to the bathroom. If they're too big to be carried make sure that the leash is available before opening the crate so you can make a quick run for the door. Every time your dog wets or messes outside (or on their pee-pad if you prefer- though it is not recommended) make sure you give them a small treat and lots of praise. Your dog will start to realize the pattern. "I come out of the crate, I go wet outside, mom/dad loves me and I get treats" is much better for both of you than "I come out of the crate, I go wet on the floor, I'm told 'no' and there's no happiness or treats."

Another thing to remember while training any dog is that bad behavior should never be approached with anything but a firm "no". If you're yelling and making a big scene, the dog still sees it as getting attention for doing something he shouldn't. Never hit your dog for bad behavior.

If your dog is a little bit older (6 months and up) and is not used to the crate, there are still ways to introduce him/her to it. First secure the door open so that it can't suddenly shut and frighten the dog. Encourage your pet to enter voluntarily by tossing a treat into the far end, praising him enthusiastically once he enters, then letting him come right back out. Once he enters the crate confidently, coax him to lie down and relax, using food, if necessary. Shut the door briefly, while you sit beside the crate or when there are people in the room. Make sure that you don't reward barking or whining, with attention.

When you feel your dog will remain quietly in the crate, leave him alone for 15 - 30 minutes. If all goes well, you can leave him for longer intervals. Eventually, you may no longer need to shut him in the crate, but he will probably appreciate still having access to his special place.

Unfortunately, crate training won't always work. This doesn't mean, however, that you should give up if he or she doesn't take to it in a couple days. There are some animals (usually adults) that can or will not tolerate this form of confinement. A few will show no desire to keep the crate clean.

One more important thing to remember is to NEVER use your crate as punishment. You want the dog to think of it in a happy way.

Here are some extra tips to help:

• Use a familiar spot. Try to keep the dog's area to relieve himself to one general location. For example, the corner of the back yard, behind the garage, beside the deck... where ever it is, keep it the same.
• Use a leash. Using a leash keeps your dog from wandering or getting distracted and saves you time while waiting for your dog to go to the bathroom. Stand in the middle of the spot you wish to be his/her potty spot and only allow so much leash slack. Try giving your dog a 3 or 4 foot radius around you. If you dog fins a stick or bug and begins playing instead of sniffing for his spot, give a gentle tug and remind him to "go potty".
• Use training words. You want your dog to associate every one of his good behaviors with a word. Make sure you keep this word the same every time you use it. When trying to get your dog to sit, you say 'sit'. When trying to get him to lay down, you might say 'down'. It's the same for the bathroom. When you want your dog to go pee or poop, bring him to his spot and say "Go potty". You can find the phrase that works best for you, just make sure you use the same phrase each time. The dog will soon associate the word "potty" with going to the bathroom.
• Treat and praise your dog. After every good behavior, whether going to the bathroom outside or sitting on command, give your dog a treat. Most dogs are very food motivated. He'll realize that doing a good thing will get him treats and a happy mom/dad and will want to do these things more often.