when i first got kupo, i was completely overwhelmed like you were. i read everything, looked up on grooming to how to handle certain things, but when i got him, housebreaking him was one of the major things that stressed me at least for 2 weeks. if you get patient with him and keep trying, he'll get it. kupo is 5 1/2 months now, and he's starting to get it, but he have some accidents every now and then.. if he doesn't have access to the potty pad or whatnot..
but here is a copy from one of his trainer on how to housebreak a puppy
i hope it helps.
THE POTTY WARS -- HOUSETRAINING
Housetraining a puppy is probably the lesson which gives a new puppy owner the most
trouble. This need not be the case if a few simple rules and a few instinctive traits are
1. Most puppies (approx. 90%) are instinctively clean when in their bed.
2. The puppy should be in his crate at night, when no one is home, and when
someone is home but does not have the time to strictly supervise his freedom.
Puppies need, and must have, a lot of time out of the crate and a lot of
socialization and handling. However, he must gradually earn the privilege of total
freedom in your home and this will only come with diligent supervision on your
part and confinement when no supervision is possible.
3. When taking your puppy outside to eliminate, always go with him, sometimes on
leash and sometimes off leash, using a key word such as “out”, “potty”, etc., each
time you take him to the door. Take him to the same area of the yard each time.
Have a word for the action (potty, business, etc.). A puppy tends to eliminate in
an area where he can smell that he has gone before. This same instinct will also
apply to your carpet, so don’t allow him on the carpets until he is completely
housetrained or under constant supervision.
4. Praise and reward your puppy for eliminating outside. Positive reinforcement is
what will convince him that outside is the place to go. Play and walk a bit after he
goes. Keep him on leash frequently. You will be taking your puppy on some great
adventures and he will need to know that he can potty while on leash.
5. There are certain times when a puppy must be taken outside for elimination:
upon first waking in the morning, immediately after each meal, after an active
play period, after a nap, last thing before going to bed, and any time you see him
sniffing the floor and circling around. You do NOT want to take him outside every
half hour or so – you are trying to space out his trips to the yard and teach him to
control himself in between. Establish a routine that he can count on and that
works for both of you.
6. Supervised freedom is next in importance and the step on which most people fail.
Just because, with confinement and regular trips outside, your puppy has not had
an accident in the house for several days, do NOT think it means he is ready to be
turned loose in the house!
7. Your aim, through confinement and supervised freedom, is to PREVENT the puppy
from having an accident rather than to correct him after he has one. If you find
an accident on the floor – it is YOUR fault = you weren’t watching him. Clean it up
and don’t correct the puppy. Use a mixture of white vinegar and water to
neutralize the odor after you clean up. (Test the mixture on a small spot of carpet first for color fastness.) You may also find a good commercial product with
enzymes works well.
8. If you catch you puppy in the act of eliminating in the house, do something to
interrupt him, like a distracting noise (but do not scare him). Immediately take
him to his bathroom area, praise him and give him a treat when he finishes. Do
not punish your puppy for accidents!
9. If your puppy has been in the crate for a long period of time and cries to get out,
immediately respond to his cry and take him outside. On the other hand, if he has
just been put into the crate and you know that he doesn’t have to eliminate,
ignore his cries or command him to be quiet. DON’T take him out of the crate
when he is whining for no reason. If you do, you will be rewarding him for bad
behavior.
10. If you must leave your puppy alone all day because all members of the family
work, a slightly different approach is used. A very young puppy can not be
expected to control himself all day. He must be given a place where he can
properly eliminate. Do not turn your puppy loose in a room. Pen him into a small
area that is large enough for his bed and a space that can be covered by multiple
sheets of newspaper – his bed and “bathroom.” If it is possible for a family
member or neighbor to come in once or twice a day to take the puppy outside,
then the newspaper can be eliminated and the puppy confined to just his bed or
crate. There are also commercial potty training pads now that can be used
instead of newspaper.
11. Some puppies develop their own method of alerting you when they need to go
out; others simply stand at the door “hoping” someone will see them. Your puppy
can learn to alert you of his need to go out by teaching him to find you and lead
you to the door. When you see him standing at the door, call him away from the
door, ask him if he wants to go “out” (use a key word) and then hurry to the door
with him and let him out. Each time this occurs, stand further from him when you
call him. After a day or so, go out of his sight (adjoining room) and call him, ask
him if he wants to go “out”, and hurry him to the door. In a short time, the puppy
will come LOOKING for you when he has to go out and lead you to the door.
Another method is to tie one or more small bells on a string and hang it on the
doorknob within reach of the puppy’s nose and paw (without him having to jump
up). Each time the puppy goes out, walk him close to the door, hold a treat
behind the bell; when the puppy approaches to take the treat, you ring the bell,
PRAISE him, and let him out. Soon, the puppy will be ringing the bell to go out -
continue to praise and reward him.
Housetraining is crucial. Its failure may be the most frustrating thing owners can face.
The responsibility is yours to supervise your puppy and provide him guidance. Proper
housetraining can be done, with time, attention, and consistency.