Article: Your dog will inevitably have occasional accidents, even after successfully house training him. Accidents may happen frequently during the training process. It's important to remember that your dog did not mean to have an accident, and that he will eventually learn not to make it a habit. Do NOT yell at your dog or rub his face in the mess when he has an accident. This does not help your dog learn from his mistakes, and it may cause him to become fearful of you. Take accidents in stride and be patient with your pet. Any time you observe your dog urinating in the house, make a startling noise, like clapping your hands or saying "Go outside". Then take your dog outside and praise him if he finishes relieving himself outdoors. Dogs have a keen sense of smell, and may come to associate a former accident spot as an acceptable bathroom location if the smell is not properly cleaned away. This can be especially problematic in younger puppies. Use an enzymatic cleaner to thoroughly remove odors after accidents indoors. If you have a yard, you can use indoor accidents as a training tool. Any time you clean up an indoor accident, take the urine-soaked paper towels outside to the dog's usual bathroom area. Leave the paper towels outside on the ground, using a rock or stick to secure them in place. Once your dog smells his urine on the paper towels, he will firmly associate going to the bathroom with being outside. As soon as your dog learns the lesson and begins relieving himself outside again, you can remove the soiled paper towels. If your dog is having a hard time refraining from relieving himself indoors, it's possible that he's suffering from a medical ailment or emotional problem. Consult your veterinarian to determine whether your dog has any of the following problems:  urinary tract infection (UTI) surface preferences (desire to eliminate waste only on certain types of surfaces or textures)  anxiety/fear of going outdoors  separation anxiety  urine marking of household objects  submissive or excitement urination

What is a summary?
Do not punish your dog for accidents. Interrupt indoor accidents when you observe them. Clean up accidents thoroughly. Recognize potential problems.