"Potty" training is your real first encounter with training! Starts almost upon arrival home! It usually it pays to find out how much the breeder has done toward getting the job under way, as this can influence the way of things in the early days. Ralph's breeder had very sensibly associated newspaper with the "targeting" of the loo site. (Fortunately both I and my Financial Times escape "bombardment" at breakfast!) Then we associated going outside by moving the newspapers to the back door. (Drowned the door mat on a couple of occasions!)

Lastly at an early date we graduated to regular visits outside up the lane immediately after meals. Ecstatic screams of "Good boy!" "Well done!" "Who's a clever boy!" announced a successful mission as we stood in pouring rain, leaning into a force 8 gale on a December night.

With the best will in the world your Mutt will have a few accidents, especially when it gets excited, everything gets forgotten about until its two late! Then the carpet starts to "steam" or your nostrils are alerted to something other than "dinner burning!" With a "Its not me honest" look on Mutts face - he/she starts to have a game with the mopping up cloth! Now your in the carpet care business! (just think how lucky you are - something else to add to your CV!)