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Comment by Chelsea Meredith on June 1, 2015 at 2:49pm

Thanks, everyone!  I live in an apartment, on the 2nd floor in a duplex, but I do have a little yard outside and I have a little dog leash that is pegged deep into the ground so he can romp around for awhile without too much supervision.  He's doing better now and hasn't had an accident inside for a few days!  But I do have someone looking after him almost 24hrs now.  He's starting to whine when he needs to potty and I've been teaching him how to ring a bell if he needs to go outside (unfortunately, he rings it just because it's shiny or because he wants to bark at the neighborhood dog).  He seems to be at the 3hr mark now depending on his activity level (harder play means less time between pees).  Thanks for the words of encouragement!  We'll get there!

Comment by Marina Holshevnikoff on June 1, 2015 at 1:32pm

As others have said, I think the real tip is consistency, which you seem to be doing wonderfully.  Jerry took FOR-EVER! (I think Vicky's pup and my pup were very similar in habits and UTI frequency)  It was so frustrating.  It was the worst part about having a puppy for me, I took it really hard.  I think about 7-8 months it just started clicking and it was the BEST, lol.  We don't have a yard and we live on the second floor, so we never really had the environment to work with him to ask to go outside.  I would have loved to have this option.  Right now he's completely reliable inside, and we just take him out for regular walks during the day.

Keep up the good work! You'll get there, it just takes some time.

Comment by Jane Christensen on May 23, 2015 at 11:35am

Sounds like you are setting up things the right way. I would have to say this is "normal" for a pup this age and the more you can do to help in the process the better. I did find when mine got to be about 8-10 months they again went back to finding a place in the house to go. Except Wynn who was my exceptional corgi when it came to training. With consistency...you are helping him:)

Comment by Vicky Hay on May 23, 2015 at 9:38am

He's just a babe. It took for-freakin'-EVER to housetrain Ruby the Corgi Pup. Turns out corgis can be a bit stubborn that way. Also they're prone to UTIs, which cause them to need to pee constantly.

Do you live in a house with a fenced yard? If so, you might consider installing a doggy door. Check the yard to be sure no toxic plants are growing out there; if there's anything that could harm a dog, remove it. Once Pup learns to use a dog door, it's just a matter of time before he learns "pee outside = go out doggie door = gooood dog."

You can get some enzyme spray stuff at the pet store. Once you've cleaned up the mess, you then spray this stuff on the floor and let it dry. It supposedly kills the odor that draws the dog back to the spot. Don't know about that, but it works pretty well for the human nose, which is big. Very big.

I bought it by the gallon when Ruby was little...

Comment by Anna Morelli on May 22, 2015 at 11:08am

What you describe is normal.  Put papers down in a small area of the kitchen when you are gone and take them up when you are home.  In time his bladder will grow and he will be able to hold it longer.  You'll know when you start to find the papers dry.  On the week-ends don't use the paper,  keep up the housebreaking schedule, taking him out often.  There are no "accidents".  You are just trying to create a habit of going outside, not inside.  Since you work, you have to cut a few corners, so to speak.  Beth had posted a good schedule for pups of people who work, maybe she can post a link to it.

Comment by Heidi on May 22, 2015 at 10:51am

We got Finley at 8 weeks old. She caught on very quickly.I am a stay at home mom so it was much easier potty training her. I took her out every half hour. Now she goes out every hour or two but can go all night without an accident.