CRATE TRAIN!! CRATE TRAIN!! CRATE TRAIN!!

I cannot emphasize this enough. I have 2 dogs - one is 8 years old, and she was potty trained (using a crate) within 2 weeks for the most part. My other dog is a little over 1, and I have not been as disciplined with her. Her cries in the crate seemed so pathetic. I thought she would learn about potty training from the older dog - - - I was very, very wrong.

So, now she is a little over 1, and we are back to crate training. And it has been 2 weeks, and I have had maybe 2 accidents in the house, and I know it was my fault. Neither me or the dog like to go out in the snow, and she is so small, she refuses to go when she is outside, and we both stand there freezing, her belly in the snow!! But, I digress....

Don't use the crate as a punishment tool. They won't understand. But do crate your dog when you are not home. And take them out as soon as you get home. Over Thanksgiving, I had a 5-day vacation. I took this as an opportunityt to re-train my pup in the proper way. She was in the crate every single time I was not right on top of her to take her potty. If she went outside and didn't go, then back in the crate, and we try again in about 1/2 an hour. When I was pre-occupied and couldn't devote 100% of my attention to her, she was in the crate. She went outside AS SOON as I took her out. This was very effective.

Good luck w/ potty training.