Housebreaking Puppy

I'm looking for advice on housebreaking a puppy (12 weeks old). We're
trying to crate train him. He hasn't had an accident in the house until
today, he pooped in the foyer a little while ago. When the dog poops is
it appropriate to redirect him in some way or does that just create
confusion?

t...

At that point, mostly it's appropriate to tell yourself you screwed up
and didn't get him outside in time. :-)

Get him out of the room and clean it up throughly using a chemical
deodorizer to minimize the chance he'll select that spot again.

Are you feeding him on a defined schedule? Are you keeping him with
you or in the crate at all times? A puppy can't be left to their own
devices during housetraining.

I know you aren't supposed to yell at the dog, smear his nose in it, or
any of the other stereotypically cruel things that some people do. I
just wondered if there is a more sensible and constructive way to
address the "accident."

Janet B...

Take a rolled up newspaper. Whack yourself in the head several times
while chanting "I should have been supervising the puppy". Use gates,
doors, leashes - whatever it takes. And if you mess up (which we are
all capable of doing!), and catch him, sounds DISAPPOINTED and - "we
do that OUTSIDE" (and take outside). Swear to watch better in the
future ;-D

-Jim

ps. if you are aware of any good resources online that deal with
housetraining dogs, crate training, and so on I'd be interested in
hearing about them.