The best thing I found was crate-training at night, and when you're away from home. I didn't keep my dog crated when I was home with him, I locked him in the kitchen the first week, staying in there to play with him. On the second week we slowly let him have more freedom in the house. We were always watching, and after all activity (sleeping, eating, playing) took him out right away. I took him out as much as every 15-30 minutes. We took him out the same door always, out to the same spot (by a big field we have beside our yard), said 'go potty, go potty' (he's 2 now, and still goes to the same area to poop) and petted/praised like crazy when he did (good BOY, good potty!) Then right back inside....no playing right after potty. If we played, it was inside, then back out to play, so he'd 'get it' that that trip out was for potty alone. When you pair whatever words (like "go potty") to the action, I think it helps...and he'd go potty on command after awhile. That's nice when you're getting ready to go somewhere in the car, and need him to go! If he had accidents when in the crate, I never scolded...never. Just cleaned everything up. Nature's Miracle worked wonders for me; it cleans spots and odors great. We would never rub the puppy's nose in it if there were accidents in the house. That's what worked for me.

We bought a baby gate before bringing our new puppy home and we put it up in the doorway to our rec room. Before bringing him in we made sure the cat was on the other side of the gate, a safe barrier to ensure both were separated but could still see each other. Of course the cat hissed and went downstairs and we corrected the puppy to leave her alone. The cat remained downstairs for a few days, then started to venture up. We always made sure the puppy didn't think the cat was a play toy and soon she was comfortable with him being in the home. We kept the gate up for months, so that way the cat always had a safe place to be without the pup. We eventually moved the gate to our laundry room and this is where her litterbox and food stays. Cats can do some harm to a little pup so always make sure they have an escape route, and a safe room they can call their own.