CRATE: If your dog accepts his crate as his sleeping den, he will less likely to use it as toilet. Dogs simply don't like to eliminate where they sleep. Of course, you can't keep your dog in a crate longer than his bowels and bladder can stand! Remember that puppies have tiny bladders, and that their sphincters are insufficiently developed to hold waste for an inordinate period. I would never keep a puppy in a crate for more than two hours, except at night, when he is supposed to be sleeping anyway. Keeping a dog for long periods in a crate is extremely detrimental to his physical, mental, and spiritual health. Sooner or later, he will also start eliminating in the crate -- and if he doesn't, he may be well on his way to developing bladder stones.

REWARD: Always reward your puppy, or for that matter, untrained older dog, with praise or a treat when he eliminates outdoors. If he responds to praise, that's best. Make the praise overwhelming. Jump for joy! Let him know that you are thrilled with his behaviors. Most Bassets are truly anxious to please you (even if they try to hide it). Another treasured reward is a walk. Some people take the dog out, let him eliminate, and then immediately bring the dog back in. The message the Hound gets is that as soon as he eliminates, it's back in the house. As a result, he may try to hold it as long as possible. Then the owner decides the dog doesn't have to go, gives up, and brings the dog inside. Then the dog poops in the kitchen. Instead, give your dog a walk or a play session as soon as he's successful, and let him see that as a reward. (If you do take him out for a long walk and don't get a result, try bringing him and then immediately taking him out again. He may have forgotten his duties during the excitement of the walk and doesn't remember until he's inside again.) Never punish your dog for making a mistake. Don't yell, strike him (even with a newspaper) or rub his nose in it. These practices are cruel and ineffective.

ATTENTION: Your dog will give you signals that he needs to go out, but it's up to you to figure out what they are. Sometimes, it is true, a dog will do something refreshingly obvious like actually going to the door. But don't expect that, at least not at first. It's more likely that your dog will give you more subtle signs, like licking his lips, circling, looking puzzled or, if you're really lucky, actually whining. The instant you notice these signals, grab the leash and take out the dog. Don't simply put the dog out and hope all will be well. Go out with the dog, so you can praise his success.

PATIENCE: You wouldn't expect to toilet train a child in a week - so don't expect your Basset to be reliable after only a few days either. By properly using the crate, watching your dog like a hawk, and keeping to a schedule, you'll encourage the proper response from him. But a puppy will inevitably make some mistakes. If you don't find it until after the fact, simply clean it up without comment. If you catch the puppy in the act, scoop him up, tuck the tail between the legs (this helps prevent "spillage"), and say, "Out!" or "Quick!" Don't' say "No." "No" is a negative word, and the puppy may think that eliminating is wrong, no matter where he does it. If he gets that idea, he'll start hiding it, and that worse!

SCHEDULE: Dogs not only like routine, it's also good for them. Put your puppy on a regular feeding and elimination schedule as soon as possible. The more regular the schedule, the easier it will be to housetrain your dog. This may mean you will have to take some time off from work, or hire a puppy sitter during the housetraining process -- usually about two weeks if you do everything right. This may seem extreme - but believe me, it makes all the difference. Your puppy usually needs to eliminate after naps, after meals, after playtime, first thing in the morning, and last thing at night. Some dogs have a different schedule. You may have one who needs to go out when you're eating, when you are taking a shower, when you're on a conference call, during the final scene of your favorite drama, in the middle of the night, and during moments of most intense interaction with your significant other. This is part of the wonder of owning a Basset. There's something psychic about them.