[Gracie2006]

1. Why does he lie directly on the pee-pee pads after he's peed on them? Because he is a puppy. He will grow out of it.

2. I've washed the floors of my house with a solution of water and vinegar... am I to do the same inside of the small area that is designated for him, excpet for his pee-pad area? I am not sure about the effectiveness of the vinegar. You might try a pet stain and odor remover like Nature's Miracle or Get Serious, stain, odor and pheromone extractor (my personal favorite).

3. I have a huge cage/crate that I could use for him instead of the area where he currently stays. Should I keep him in there instead? I would suggest a crate not a lot bigger than he is, and fill that with bedding and toys. Most puppies naturally won't want to soil their den. The rest of his confinement area should contain food, water, pee pad and a few more toys. If your schedule permits, try keeping him in the crate for a few hours, but no more than four, then take him to his pad or outside to do his business. Praise, praise, and more praise when he does it right. Lastly, he is just a little puppy, don't expect much. My Gracie is 6 1/2 months old and still has the occasional accident. Lastly, no house privileges (free roaming) until your puppy has proven that he knows where to go.

4. When I leave him in his area for an hour or two he rips his pee-pads to shreds... why? Because he is a puppy. He will grow out of it! You might try a pee-pad holder. What I found helps is to tuck two sides of the pee pad under the sides of the ex-pen. Make sure there are lots of toys to occupy his mind.