I thought it would be interesting to share some of the dog training methods used by pet parents on the advice of the internet, dog sellers/breeders, and well-meaning dog lovers that may work for a short time but most likely will backfire in the long run.
The following three methods that absolutely hands-down go against professional dog training, pertain to “house training.”
#1. Just to be clear, the definition of House Training is teaching a pet (dog) not to defecate or urinate inside a home or in an inappropriate place.  
Using a crate or confinement has become a recognized teaching tool, as most puppies will not defecate or urinate in a small enclosure. This method will help teach your puppy to “hold it in.” It is the “Oxymoron” of house training to put a wee-wee pad in the crate. Dogs that urinate or defecate on wee-wee pads are NOT house-trained. Even worse, instead of using the crate to teach your dog not to urinate or dedicate until taken outside, you are encouraging your dog to urinate or defecate in the crate. Additionally, it is best to leave the crate floor free of blankets, beds, towels, or anything absorbent, at least for the first week of training.
If you put a wee-wee pad inside the crate, you’re teaching your dog to pee and poo in the one place that is used to train him to “HOLD IT IN!!” How confusing to a puppy?
#2. I can understand the thought behind trying to avoid any “pee or poo” in the house by taking a puppy outside every hour around the clock. Pet parents are wonderfully devoted to doing this, and I’m grateful for the love and care they show for their new best friend. 
But once again, this idea is not teaching the puppy to “HOLD IT IN,” so to speak, because you are allowing and encouraging Chloe or Jack to pee or poo as often and even more often than actually necessary. The fact is, the pet parent is conditioning the puppy to relieve themselves every hour. Not only does this become a strain on the pet parent as no one can keep this hourly routine going day after day, but it is also a strain on the puppy as it disturbs his natural routine of resting when needed.
#3. Bells on the door. Everyone loves bells on the door and thinks it’s the best idea since sliced cheese that their dog rings the bell to go outside. I will admit that this does work sometimes, but sometimes only for a short time because the dog will usually realize that they can go out to play if they ring the bell. So, ringing the bell becomes a favorite pastime and doesn’t necessarily mean the dog needs to go to the bathroom! In short, your dog has trained you to let him out when he rings the bell.
If you have any similar training methods that you are thinking of trying but are not sure it’s a good idea, please let me know by email. Jenna@murphdog.net Thanks
