[Yorkease]

I just wanted to add my personal experience.

I treat my dogs like puppies with short memory , if they have an accident, I clean it up and take them and the "accident to the piddle pad or outside". Then we praise them and they seem to look at us for praise when they do hit the piddle pad. This lets them know the right spot to "go". I do this with my child too, not pooping but if he does something wrong I tell him what is wrong about it and tell him the right way to do it next time.
I will tell you all a funny story about Hercules, my big yorkie. He thinks is he puts his front feet on the pad that he is automatically going to hit the pad, but he doesn't. LOL! I don't scream and yell at him because he tried. I just get my mop bucket and cleaner and clean it up.
Regarding hitting: I think they are too fragile, I just don't do it.