and timing is important. at 4 1/2 months, she's still very little, so setting up a rigid schedual is important, you gotta train yourself to get her outside. for example when alex was a puppy..... alex eats breakfast at 6:30. i get up at 6:10, pull on my sweats, take him out of his crate, dry, lotsa good doggies as we walk outside. we're out 6:15-6:25, he does a little whiz lotsa good doggies, on a few things, we're back in, i visit the bathroom, then he eats. back outside for a short potty time, he does his business, lotsa good doggies, back in so i can do morning things. he stays in the kitchen with me, as i drink my coffee, eat my breakfast, we do a walk(a tired puppy is a good puppy) then into the crate with a safe chewy as i shower for work. a short potty break right before i leave at 9. he's had at least 3 trips out in 3 hours in the am, a dogs' digestive system is very active in the am and eating, play and nap. the next door neighbor, a dog lover, lets him out at 12:30 ish, potty time then back to the crate. i'm home between 5 and 5:10. immediate outside. if the crate is clean good doggy, if not, i just clean it up. dinner for both of us, a post dinner stroll, plastic bags in my pocket for the inevitable. evening time, a potty break around 8:30, final play and outies around 10. nighty night in the bedroom crate. i keep a pair of sweats for a quick pull on if needed, and a pair of clogs near the door if we need a late night visit.
when the puppy is little, it's like an infant, losta time and attention to their needs, cause they go first for those 4-5 months. i learned his body language, when he was looking for a place to potty, and just sniffing around for fun, i never hit alex for a mistake, i just cleaned it up with simple solution and a little green machine. i really believe there aren't any bad dogs just stupid human behavior.
there are a lot of training books and videos through the library, so you can choose. good luck, enjoy these baby days.