Welcome to YT!
I would suggest you try a different food. The link on the dog food grading Yorkiesmiles gave you is a good one.
Where are they kept while you are not at home? In a kennel, an x-pen? If they're in an x-pen, I agree they might be bored and using the puppy pads as playthings. I use the washable pads.
Coby is 10 months old and is kenneled while I'm at work. He holds it and then pees when we get home. He loves his kennel and if we are getting ready to go, and I don't have a dog purse or a leash in my hand, he runs in his kennel automatically (and gets a treat of course!). (My older Shih Tzu has the run of the house as he is 100% trustworthy. If we're going to be gone more than 4 hours or so, we use an x-pen.
Glad you found YT. You'll get help AND support for a tired mind here.
