Consistency
Get on a schedule. The puppy should be able to predict the time he will get up, eat, be crated and go to bed at night. Take the puppy out the same door every time. Don’t take him out the front door one time, the back door the next, and the patio door a different time. To begin with, he should be taken out at least once every hour, if at all possible. Then gradually lengthen the time based on success. Timing should begin from the last time he went potty, not from the time he came indoors. He may have been playing for an hour since he last went potty.
Tie a small cowbell (jingle bells should not be used as they can catch a toenail in the slots) to a piece of elastic. Leave about two inches of elastic at the end. Hang the bell on the door that the puppy will be using to go outside. Make at least one extra hanging bell. Take it with you as you bring your puppy with you to different rooms. You should not expect your puppy to go to the outside door to ring the bell when he is with you in the bedroom or bathroom.
Schedule
Take your puppy out at the following times:
the very first thing in the morning when your puppy wakes up
after eating
after playing
after napping
after being confined or crated
when his training schedule indicates it’s time
before going to bed for the night
Frequently repeat, “Let’s go outside” (or some other key phrase – be consistent in what you say) in a happy voice on the way out. While the puppy is still very little you may find it best to carry them to the door, with them being so tiny the walk could be too long to the door and they may pee on the way to the door, but as he becomes more dependable, encourage him to walk to the door. Continue to repeat your key phrase on the way to the outside door. Take his paw and use it to hit the bell and follow with lots of praise. Continue with the key phrase and praise as you open the door and take him out. Take him right to the area that you want him to potty in (make sure it is someplace that he will be able to get to through the snow in the winter). Walk him around the area – don’t just stand there and don’t leave him out unattended even if you have a fenced area for him because he will need to praise if he is successful.. Encourage him by softly and calmly repeating “Go potty” (or some other phrase) until he goes, then give him LOTS of praise.