Housebreaking puppies is one of the most difficult, aggravating part of owning a puppy. It can make or break a relationship, and a lot of dogs end up stuck in shelters because of owners who just don't know what they are doing and who don't have the patience and consistency to keep up with it. What do you do if your puppy keeps messing on your new rug, despite the thousands of times you've yelled "NO!" at him and shoved him out the door?

Well first - take a deep breath.

You're not the only dog owner to go through this. In fact, I've had the same problem with my dog as well before I found out what I was doing wrong.

Puppies don't come with manuals - they can't tell you what you're doing wrong!

Housebreaking puppies can be a rewarding experience. First off, it adds so much more quality to your dog's life, rather than him being chained outside to a tree and only having contact with his beloved human once or twice a day. Can you imagine how miserable a life that is?

You're dog will be healthier and happier indoors. But what if you're at your last thread of hope and patience?

Well - let's take a look at the common mistakes dog owners often make when trying to housebreak their seemingly impossible-to-housebreak puppies:

• The biggest mistake you can possibly make is to yell at your puppy!

Especially AFTER your puppy has already messed on the rug and you've just found his little "present". Yelling at him and rubbing his nose in it won't do any good at all - it'll only make your puppy fear you. Don't make this mistake. If you find a mess your puppy makes, just clean it up as best you can and take your puppy outdoors.

If you catch your puppy in the act - again, DON'T yell at him! Simply clap your hands or make a loud sound that will distract him, pick him up, and rush outside, saying "Outside, outside!" Stay with him outside until he goes, and when he does - praise him and give him a treat!

Housebreaking puppies is not easy. It's probably the hardest thing new puppy owners have to face. They think that all owning a puppy is about is the cuddling and playing fetch and showing off your cute, furry friend to all your jealous friends. But puppies grow up and you have to realize that you are going to have him for the rest of his life - make it worth his while!

Getting a new puppy can be exciting for the whole family. You can't wait to get the puppy to its new home so it can play and become familiar with its new owners. But wait! There's one thing you forgot about - house training! Training your puppy to "go" outside is no picnic, but it is much easier with the use of dog cages.

Puppy Space

Dog cages or dog crates enable you to provide a bed and small "home within your home" for the puppy. The cage will be the puppy's own space, sort of like a dog house when outdoors. A crate can serve several purposes. It gives the dog a safe, secure place to sleep. A cage makes training a lot easier because dogs usually won't go to the bathroom where they eat and sleep. It also keeps your dog in a contained area so he doesn't roam the house freely. He won't be chewing wires and furniture, pottying or doing whatever else when you're not looking.

So if the dog cage is used as the puppy's special bedding area from the beginning, it won't take long to train him to go outside. He'll learn to hold it until time to go out in order to resist going where he sleeps and/or eats.

Features to Consider

When browsing various stores for puppy cages, there are some features to look for before buying. You can check online and view photos, features, puppy crate sizes, etc. to get an idea of what's available. Look for those with electro coating or other safe wire coating to prevent chewing. Make sure the cage doesn't have sharp, welded edges that can cut the dog or one of the owners. Look for warranties, corrosion protection, and other pet safety features.

Most high quality wire cages feature a durable plastic tray in the bottom that can easily be removed for cleaning. You can place bedding (a dog bed or mattress) on top of the tray. Easy folding features are a plus as well. Look for dog cages that fold easily into a flat, secure position for traveling. Some even have a convenient carrying handle. Another thing to look for is a safety door latch that your dog won't be able to push loose. A reliable door latch will use spring action to pull the latch and secure it into the slot.

Check out online dog supply stores for dog cages and crates, car cages, dog training collars, dog leads and more. Be sure to compare crate sizes to get the right fit for your dog. If the cage is too big, some do feature a divider so you can enlarge the cage space as your puppy grows. You might be able to get better quality at lower prices by shopping online. Dog cages can be life savers for new puppies as well as older dogs!