Lucky dog! I love that schedule for a new puppy and all the stimulation, socialization and strong schedule and structure that they need. And if he's just learning to be housebroken, love that frequent schedule to help imprint him with the idea and availability to "go"outside, really reinforce the whole idea of it and that he can count on being taken out soon if he starts to feel the need to go.
As he ages, you can cut back as appropriate on some of the things and pick up on others. As you cut back, he'll learn independence and alone time and such with maturity. I know you're tired but the new mommie always is and it doesn't last forever - just seems like it! In time you will have a dog that won't go out when you suggest it - he'll just lie or stand there with you in the door to outside and give you the "no" look and you will know he's maturing and deciding he doesn't really need to go now. Sometimes, like if you are about to leave the house for a while, you have to insist they try to go but usually I just let Tibbe decide if he wants to go outside. But for the first 8 - 12 months I had him, he almost always took the opportunity to go out - even "lied" and gave false signals to get to go out but over time, they grow out of that. That, plus he got no praise or treat reward for "lying" and I would say, "Oh, you know you didn't need to to potty, you just fibbed to mommie" in a mock-mean voice and he'd kind of give me a look like I know you know I lied but it was worth it anyway! Now, at age 5, he only goes out a very few times a day unless the weather is pretty or he's in one of his "outside" moods. In bad weather, he may just go out 3 - 4 times a day, if that.
__________________  Jeanie and Tibbe One must do the best one can. You may get some marks for a very imperfect answer: you will certainly get none for leaving the question alone. C. S. Lewis |