[Britster]

I do believe a dog CAN be potty trained by 12 weeks old. It's certainly possible. I know lots of large breed dogs who are potty trained by that age. But I admit I haven't met a small dog who was 100% by then. I think it's absolutely wonderful to expect it and work hard enough for it, but I also don't believe that if a 13 week old dog has an accident in the house, it makes the owner a bad trainer or owner.

I had a wonderful schedule with Jackson when I first brought him home. I was lucky that I was on winter break and able to be with him a lot. We had a fantastic schedule where I tried not to set him up to fail at all and worked really hard with him. By 5 months, he knew all sorts of commands/tricks already, he was almost trustworthy. But just because my 6 month old dog had an occasional poop accident in the house did not make me an incompetent trainer. It's VERY normal for a dog to regress in any sort of training as well as going through those 'teenage' phases. I know someone with a Border Collie (who are the smartest breed out there) who began pottying in the house again at 7 months old... fantastic dog owner and trainer, but still, accidents happen.

I do think one should not have an adult dog constantly pottying in the house... every day would not be acceptable for me. My dads dog poops in the house once or twice a day, but whenever I am there, all I have to do is WALK her outside and make SURE she goes. Then she gets praise. I try, but my dad is too lazy, lol. So in that case, it's the owner being stupid.