I agree that I have been a little lax with Lucy. She has more accidents than any other dog I've ever had. Thank Goodness they are tiny accidents.
She's so small and when I first got her - I worked at home - so it was no problem just to take her out every hour or two and that was fine.
The problem came if I had to be away at a swim function for 3-4 hours or perhaps all day; of course, I would get someone to come in . . . but, by then, she was used to going out every hour or two.
And she wasn't gonna wait any 3-4 hours
Now, I work in an office and she's home all day with my elderly father and his caregiver so I just have to cross my fingers! I know Wilma (caregiver and lovely lady who adores Lucy) lets her out but she's only there half a day . . . then I rely on my son (age 16) when he gets home from school. I know he lets them out when he first gets home but no one is actively watching them after that - to make sure no one is getting into mischief!
I will also admit that my time is so torn between full-time work; full-time Mom, caregiver for elderly father; required attendance at various sporting events; teaching my son to drive . . . that this is not my most important hot-button issue.
I try to divide my time between EVERYONE each and every day. The time I spend with Lucy and Ringo is MY TIME and we are usually to be found on a trail where Lucy pees and marks like nobody's business!