Yoshi is about 5 1/2 months now and 95% trained to go outside only. I started him off with pads because I couldn't be there all the time, and I found that those puppy training sprays worked really well for him. However, the first few months whenever I was at home he was either confined to a small area (my bathroom) or he walked around with me practically taped to his back. At first he LOVED to go on the carpet. He far preferred it to anything else.
I think the key is consistency and awareness. As soon as he would start going, I'd pick him up and plop him outside (or onto a pad, in your case), and then praise him everytime he did it outside. For the longest time I thought what I was doing wasn't making any difference to him, but eventually you will realize that he is making mistakes less and less, and you can watch him less and less all the time.
As for the drop it thing, Yoshi is really bad about that, and I've only just realized lately that the only time I tell him to drop something is when he's in trouble, so I've started doing it when we're playing with his toys and having a good time. I expect this to work as well, but what is important is recognizing things we are doing to either enforce or deter a habit of theirs. And then really only time and consistency helps.
Take care |