[Enikuo]

I’m not sure what to do about house-training Scooter. He is only 13 weeks old and given my schedule and his age, I’m not sure crate training is appropriate, but I’m not sure what I’m doing is appropriate either.

I work during the week, but I live close enough to come home during lunch. If I crate-trained Scooter, he would have to “hold it” for about four hours at a stretch. Currently, Scooter is confined to a small kitchen during the day with his bed, water, and pee pad. He consistently uses the pee pad while he is confined in the kitchen and will also go outside given the opportunity (every morning and sometimes in the evening if he hasn’t gone on the pee pad already). He stays in a small crate at night and has no problems holding it.

I’m worried that the pee pad is teaching him that it is okay to use the bathroom on any textile in the apartment. He will go potty on the living room carpet without making any attempt at all to get to his pee pad. I have leashed him to me in the living room and taken him over to the pee pad periodically in the evening to help teach him how to get to it (it’s a tiny apartment, so it’s not far). I’ve even begun to recognize what behavior indicates he needs to go and walked him over to his pee pad when he’s acting “strange.” I repeat the phrase “go potty” over and over again when I catch him going in the correct spot – pee pad or outside – and then proceed to act like a fool by praising him to high heaven when he’s done.

When he potties in the living room and I catch him in the act (which is every time since he’s never free without supervision), I immediately correct him by reprimanding him gently but firmly and walk him over to his pee pad – just like the book said I should. I then put him in “time out” for about five minutes while I clean up the mess. Unfortunately, I don’t think it is sinking in and I worry that I am confusing him.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t expect him to be perfect and I know he’s young. I just don’t want to screw him up.

I am willing to stick to a schedule. I don’t scream or blame or generally trip out when he has an accident. I am patient. And, I’m not squeamish about doing what’s best for my puppy. I’m just confused as to what the right thing is right now given my situation and Scooter’s situation.

Any input would be appreciated.