Housetraining From the Ground Up: A Science-Based Course for Every Dog

Housetraining isn’t just about preventing accidents. It’s one of the first conversations you’ll have with your dog, and how you approach it shapes the relationship you’re building together.

Most housetraining advice focuses on schedules and management. And those things matter. But this course starts somewhere different: with an understanding of what housetraining actually requires from your dog, biologically and emotionally, before a single rule can be learned.

You’ll learn why young puppies can’t always “hold it” even when they want to, why some dogs seem to actively seek out the carpet, why a thorough clean-up is as important as any training session, and why the moments your dog is trying to tell you something are worth listening to, even when the timing is inconvenient.

Whether you have a brand-new puppy, a newly adopted adult, or a dog who’s been struggling for a while, this course will help you understand what’s happening, why, and what to do about it, without pressure, punishment, or frustration.

What’s inside:

• The three skills your dog needs to develop, and how to support each one
• Why elimination is self-reinforcing and what that means for prevention
• Potty schedules based on your dog’s size, age, and individuality
• How to read the signals your dog is already sending you
• The right way to clean up accidents, including enzyme cleaners and UV light detection
• What to do when standard approaches aren’t working, including the role of stress and history
• A knowledge check with real-life scenarios to help you apply what you’ve learned

Housetraining done well isn’t about control. It’s about communication. This course will help you build both.

Course Instructors

Fina Garcia Author

Fina Garcia, CPDT-KA, is the founder of Loyal Pawrenting, where she helps families build deeper, more compassionate relationships with their dogs through humane, science-backed coaching. With a background in instructional design and a passion for animal welfare, Fina brings a unique blend of education, empathy, and practical training skills to her work with pet parents, foster families, and shelter dogs. Her approach is rooted in understanding the whole dog—their emotions, environment, learning history, and individual needs—rather than focusing only on behavior modification. Through her work, Fina helps people see dogs as thinking, feeling family members who deserve curiosity, respect, and support. When she isn’t coaching families or volunteering with shelter dogs, Fina can be found spending time with her own dogs, Coco and Riley.

Doreen Alessi-Holmes Author

Doreen Alessi-Holmes of ADK-Nine Behavior & Training brings a unique blend of scientific rigor and deep empathy to the world of canine behavior. With a Master’s in Chemistry and dual certifications in training (CPDT-KA) and behavior (ISCP, FDM), Doreen has used her exceptional observation skills, her understanding of neurophysiology, and her “welfare-first” approach to help hundreds of dogs navigate fear, reactivity, and aggression. Her expertise is backed by extensive continuing education under world-renowned experts like Dr. Kathy Murphy and Dr. Amber Batson, specializing in trauma, neuroscience, and ethology. When she isn’t decoding canine body language, Doreen can be found hiking the Adirondack wilderness with her husband Shane and their two dogs, Colvin and Blake.