I have a 7 month old too her name is princess. I also had a hard time at the begining. I started with the dogie pan with little obsorbent kibbles that did not work all she would do is eat them, I used the training sheets you can get them at PetSmart, they have worked for us. I dont like to take outside to poop or pipi I think it's to cold for her, anyway everytime she did her business were she is soposto I gave lots and lots of praise and also a treat she loved it. Now if she want to pipi or poop she directly goes to her training pads.