Welcome to YT!! We have also trained all our pups both on pads and outdoors. It works for us. My philosophy on housebreaking is to make it very difficult to make a mistake. That means a BIG commitment from you tho. But a few months of hard work will get you more than 10 potty-problem-free years. What works for us: when they are little they sleep in a crate only big enough for them to turn around. Since they don't want to potty where they sleep, they will learn to hold it. Give them very limited play area when they aren't in the crate and watch them like a hawk ALL the time for signs of pottying. Take them to the pad or outside often (every 30-40 minutes to start). As they are pottying, say "Good Potty" and act like you're at Disneyland. Be SOOOOO excited and give the best treat you can. Start to expand their time out of the kennel and their play area very very gradually.
We have a 10 year old Shi Tzu. We have a potty pad down in the basement for him. He goes to the stairs and waits for me to say "Outside" or "Downstairs" depending on the weather. If no one is available for him to ask, he'll go downstairs and then RUN up the stairs and dance and beg telling us that he's gone potty and needs his treat.
Good Luck to ya!! |