One of the most common behavior problems dog owners encounter is potty training. It can be cause of frustration and as a result, puppies often are given away or unfairly punished for something that can be corrected easily.

Crate training is a very effective and easy method for potty training. Start with a crate that is big enough for your dog when he reaches adulthood. Use a piece of cardboard as a partition to make the crate small enough that your puppy can lay down and turn around in, but no bigger. This partition will be moved back as your puppy grows. Some people may see putting your dog in a crate as inhumane. To the contrary, the crate simulates a den like his ancestors used and provides security.

Place the crate in a "people area." Put an article of clothing in it that smells like you and a safe chew toy or bone. Do not place any newspaper in the crate, as it may be confused for a place to eliminate. Establish a routine with your puppy. Every time you let the puppy out of the crate, go straight outside and always use trigger words like "go potty" as encouragement.

Once he does his business, praise him. He is now allowed back inside. If your puppy has been inside for one to two hours, take him outside. After your puppy eats, take him outside. Do not ever leave food in the crate. It will be harder to train him without scheduled feeding times. At night, place your puppy in his crate. Do not allow him to sleep in your bed while training, it may confuse him. If he wakes up and vocalizes, take him outside.

This method can be used starting when the puppy is 6 to 8 weeks old. Do not get frustrated if your puppy doesn't immediately catch on. It may take several weeks to months to fully train your puppy. The important thing is to be consistent – it will be worth it in the end. A common mistake owners make is leaving their puppy in the crate all day while they are at work. A puppy cannot hold his urine all day. Take breaks to let your puppy out. This will help speed along the training process and is less counter-productive. A good rule of thumb is the number of months old your puppy is plus one is the number of hours that he can comfortably hold his urine. For example, if your puppy is 2 months old, he can hold his urine for three hours.

With a few simple steps, your canine friend can live a happy co-existence in your home for a lifetime. Your dog's No. 1 goal is to please you, and a crate can help him accomplish this.

Dr. Jordan Harris is a veterinarian at Riverside Veterinary Hospital.