Why not let him go outside to potty? I used puppy pads with Snickers when we first got him at 8 weeks. We had a pad in every room. He did ok with it, but something about him peeing and pooping in the house (even though it was on a pad) I didn't like. I hated when friends or family would come over and it would smell like a pet store in a room because Snickers had gone on the pad and I did't know it
. Anyway after his puppy shots I had him use the potty out side and he loves it. He has an acare to pee and poo anywhere he wants. My vet also told me to ditch the pads, she said it makes housebreaking harder. She said you would never let a Great Dane use a potty pad in the house, they would go outside. You would watch them like a hawk. Use the same techniques on big and small dogs. Snickers is a little more that 10 months old and has been completely house broken since he was 4 months old and also has the run of the house (even when we are not home). When he has to go out he will either ring his door bell or jump up at me and bark. He is also a bigger boy so I don't know if this helps him or not.