I know I am missing something in training Gizmo (the Papillion) but I am afraid I have been dealing with this for so long, my knowledge is being clouded by my frustration and desperation with pottytraining him.

 Quote: Diana Strand

Oh my gosh yes!

Sorry.

I know people, that should know better, that thought they only had to make an appearance outside. Not actually wait for the dog to go to the bathroom.

Oh I know I have read some of the posts on here as well as other forums-it can be scary! Don't worry my elevator goes to the top....most of the time.

OK, I'm going to make some suggestions (just brainstorming--I have no experiece with a difficult to potty-train dog)(and I'm sorry you and the dog are going through this; I'm sure it's very stressful...)

Start from square one like he's an 8 week old pup; tether to you whenever possible (I'm afraid you must lose the diaper and wee-pads to have any chance of success); and take him outside every 10 minutes.

I know this is a very tough schedule; maybe start on a weekend and/or devote your evenings to this to get started.

When he goes oustide, mark and reward (do you know about marker training?) and throw a PARTY every time he does his business outside. Does he like treats (really good treats like real meat or cheese?) You need to create a super positive association for him that going oustide means really good things will be coming his way...

And I second Steve's idea to keep him oustide as much as possible; and again, really get excited every time he pees etc outside...

Modify his crate if you can to only accomodate him lying down; don't line it with anything for now. If he can't be tethered to you, keep him in his crate.

If he's peed/marked in various locations in the house, get some nature's Miracle and soak those areas to remove the urine smell.

Good luck and keep us posted as to your progress...

I will start the process all over once again. I have been leaving him outside as much as I can because he does love to be outside. I am not sure if it makes a difference or not, but the only reason why I use the diapers is because when he has those on he DOES NOT pee or poo in the house....this is why I'm kinda perplexed with why he can't seem to hold his bladder when he doesn't have a diaper on. I will keep you all posted and thanks everyone for your input.

quick question: how big is his crate? if you're going to try remedial housebreaking, it should only be large enough for him to turn around in. no bedding, pee-pads, etc. if he does pee/poop in it, disinfect to remove the smell.

and i personally, at his age, would not take him out every 15 minutes. he can be in there for at least an hour in the beginning stages (and i would leave him longer); if he messes in the crate, take him out, clean the crate, give him 10-15 min of outside time--on leash, walking--then back into the crate again. i mean a Pap can't be THAT nasty to clean a crate or even bathe for a while if he finally "gets" what he's suppossed to do (or not).

i also understand that some of us do have to work outside the home, but if you're already taking him out every 15 min, doesn't seem to be a problem in this situation. JMHO

and the idea of keeping him outside as much as possible seems counter-productive to me. you are trying to train him to evacuate outside, as opportunity knocks. i would keep him crated as much as possible, to get him to understand that "outside" means "you'd better do your business while you have the chance" again--JMHO.

good luck!! and keep us posted. remember: be consistent

 Quote: Diana Strand

I am not sure if it makes a difference or not, but the only reason why I use the diapers is because when he has those on he DOES NOT pee or poo in the house....this is why I'm kinda perplexed with why he can't seem to hold his bladder when he doesn't have a diaper on. I will keep you all posted and thanks everyone for your input.

Hmmm, I wonder if he is associating wearing the diaper with NOT going to the bathroom, and when he's not wearing it he thinks it's OK to go?

I have a question for you... only because I don't believe I saw it mentioned...
where did you get the dog? You mentioned it may have been taken too early from it's mother, but that you got the dog at 12 weeks.
The reason I ask is because you mentioned that

 Quote: Diana Strand

He can't have beds or any bedding material because he will pee/poo on it and then he WILL turn around and lie on it. He'll mess in his kennel, step and lay in it. If I put a weepad in his kennel he will shred it-then pee/poo on it and lay in it.

When I was a teenager, one of my first jobs was working at a pet shop that sold puppies. I only worked there for a few months, but during the time that I was there I remember one of the vets telling me that those puppies would have a harder time learning to be housebroken because they spent so much time at a very impressionable age sitting and lying in their own feces.
I have worked with a few dogs that were neglected and left tied out 24/7, as well as a few that were kept crated 24/7, and I have found (with the dogs I worked with anyway) that those dogs who had never been in the house before were much easier to work with than the ones who were kept crated 24/7.
Is there a chance that this happened with your dog?

You mentioned that he won't go to the bathroom with a diaper on... maybe try keeping that on as a reminder in between potty breaks? (as long as the dog doesnt' have an accident in the diaper, ever... otherwise the diaper would fall into the same category as the wee pads mentioned above)

 Quote: diana strand

I will start the process all over once again. I have been leaving him outside as much as I can because he does love to be outside.

Leaving him outside without you would obviously help with your own frustration-over-mistakes level, but not with the dog's training. I'm sure you know this, though.

For the most wrong-trained dogs (lived in kennel for years, trained to use pads, etc.), I set aside a long weekend or any period I can, and yes, I will spend part of a week off on this. A great time investment!

During these days, I stay outside with the dog.

(Can I reiterate here that this blurring or reversal of the ideas about where to potty is, IME, always always always always a handler or breeder error; the dog did not decide to drive you crazy. This is something to use as a mantra. )

I stay outside until the dog goes, and then party down. Lavish praise and petting and rewarding.

When we are inside the dog is tethered to me 100%. One squat or leg-lift and we hustle outside to the right spot, a "used" spot, and let the action finish there, where I reward like a lunatic again.

The few days of constant reinforcing of one habit and extinguishing of the other habit change the way it has been -- like an intervention.

I wanted to add that I didn't used to know about tethering, and then I kept the dog near me with an ex-pen. What a pain that was, moving it around.

Tethering is one of the best things this old dog ever learned about on this board!


And please remember that TEENY BLADDER! You can do this in 7-10 days, small breed or not, as long as you allow for that tiny bladder.