I ran into the same issue with my dog, Chewie It took me a solid 18 months to house break him. Tried wee-pads at first and they seemed to work well. However, every area rug in the house turned into a wee-pad. So started over from scratch, ditched the pads, and trained him to go outside. Seemed like he was never going to figure it out, but he slowly made progress.
IMO, keeping them on a leash in the house is the best method. This way they are always in eye sight and you can correct them immediately. It's really important to catch them in the act and it greatly speeds up the process. It will also help you learn how to read your dog and when he needs to go. Remedial training is also important. Once he is house broken, don't stop praising and offering treats. Keep doing it...always.
I know it's aggravating and believe me I've been there, but it's worth the patience and hard work. Chewie is four now and he sleeps with us every night. Literally under the covers and curled up to my wife's stomach. He still has an accident once in awhile, but its rare, and usually our fault (i.e. we didn't hear him scratch). Now, only if I can get him to stop hounding everyone to play with him the second they walk in the door...lol. |