[skellington]

So, we've got the potty training blues! I won't go into a lot of details, but when we brought Riot home at 11 weeks, he seemed way ahead of the game! We were using pads and after a couple weeks he was using them consistently, ans he was able to hold it in his crate until about 6am, go out, then go back to bed. We mainly kept him from outside because it was snowy, and it was wet snow and there was mud and puddles all over.

After a few weeks seemingly accident free, he would still pee on his pad, but poop on the floor. Luckily it was always in the kitchen on the hardwood floor. Fast forward to now, and we have started taking him outside, as well as his pads for when he's in jail during the day, or in bed with us at night--we'll put one next to the bed so he can go.

Now he will pee and poop almost always on the floor, although it's still just on the hardwood floor, I think only once or twice on the carpet. The thing is, he KNOWS he gets a treat when he does a good potty on his pad. If he does (and now it's so rare!) he will come running full speed and jump all over you and get you to follow him in to see the used pad and get a treat.

When we first started taking him outside (because the weather is no longer wet and out frustration with him no longer wanting to use his pads), he would go potty then explore the backyard. Now, he seems to take all his time exploring and running around, and doesn't understand that he needs to potty and still expects a treat when we come inside. We don't treat him if he doesn't potty when outside.

I know I can start putting hi on a leash outside until he goes, then he can go exploring, but what about inside? Should we go back to having him in a crate all the time unless he's just pottied? He loves running around the house and he never has accidentd exccept on the hard floor in the room with his pad but I just don't know =(