ok, so this is maybe not novel to anyone else but I came up with it on my own so Im proud of myself.

Neo wasnt workin great on crate training for housebreaking, or direct method (hed poop and pee in the crate and give no warning as to when hed pee on my foot for direct leash method)
So we spent lots of time outside after he ate or drank and everytime hed go on his own Id start my "goin potty" mantra..my friends and neighbors officially think Im nuts but the end result is that whenever were out now all I have to say is..."goin potty" and he goes...if he only urinates I keep up the "goin potty" mantra until he poops. Lots of praise when hed go for the 'goin potty" and totally ignoring him when hed go on his own..Im happy with the result, and maybe someone else whos havin probs can use it.

ok...so it wasnt totally an original thought but good luck!

Praising them for going potty is an essential part of housebreaking <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> They need to know that everytime they do their biz outside it is very accepable behavior. Most pups do well with the crate training but then you have some that just don't get it and will mess in their crate. What I have done when this happens is to put the crate in a room that is gated off with a baby gate leave the door open to the crate and lay puppy pads, or newspaper all over the floor. This way they get the idea that the crate is for sleeping and outside of it is for potty. If they mess on the pads during the night or whenever, I take them and the pad out to the spot I want them to use as their potty area and in no time at all they get the idea. Eventually once they get some controll of their body functions you can close the door and they will not mess in their crate. I always praise them for doing their job outside and encouarge them to go outside.I never scold them unless I catch them in the act, because with young pups sometimes they just can't help it, so what ever method you choose to use, as long as it works and you praise them for a job well done the end result will be positive. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />