Dragonchilde, I just stepped into this thread, but I can assure you, nobody here is trying to crucify you for having a dog and for asking for advice.
I have asked for advice many times here and, sometimes people need more details in order to give you advice that will be helpful.
I think people are just wondering why your puppy can't be taught to just go to the bathroom in the yard, even though it is a small space.
I have a friend who has a paper-trained dog, but I don't know exactly how she went about training him. I can ask, if you would like. After reading your posts again, I realize that maybe this yard is not readily accessible from your apartment...?
You mentioned that he did go on the paper, but recently he decided to go in the middle of the living room floor. This also happens sometimes with cats (which is what I have). Your dog is still a puppy, so he probably needs a little bit of positive reinforcement (as Logan pointed out) when he goes on the paper, where you want him to go. Praise and treats really work well. When he goes where he shouldn't, I would recommend giving him a stern "NO", and then taking him to the spot on the paper where you want him to go and showing it to him. Dogs are smart; he will get the message, just be sure to use positive reinforcement when he does go where you want him to. Take him to the paper several times when you are at home with him and see if he wants to go. Also, make sure that the paper you want him to go on is always in the same spot. Consistency is the key.
Remember that he's still a puppy, so it will take some time and patience.
Something just came to me...maybe he's confused because, when he's indoors, he knows where the paper is, but when he's outdoors during the day, there's no paper? Like I said, consistency is the key. Try putting paper in his outdoor area as well (always in the same spot). If you want him to learn to go on the paper, then he must always have paper available. Dogs usually know that "going outside time" is for peeing and pooping. If a dog doesn't have this time, then I think he must always have the paper available to go on. Then he will learn that he must always go on the paper that is left for him.
Another thing: when animals pee somewhere, they are marking the area with their scent. Is there carpeting on the living room floor, or is it a bare floor? The reason I'm asking is, when I got my second cat, Charlie, he used the litter box fine for a while, but one day he decided to go on the floor in the kitchen, near the refrigerator. I cleaned up the area, but he would occasionally go back there and pee in that same spot. Someone who worked with animals once told us that you have to remove the scent so that they will no longer go there. She told me that Club Soda was excellent for removing the scent (I don't know why, because it's just carbonated water, but it really works). I used it, and Charlie never peed there again. Here's what I did: I mopped up the area and dried it off thoroughly. Then, I poured lots of Club Soda on the area and scrubbed it in, wiped it off and dried it again. After that, I poured more Club Soda on the spot and let it just soak there for a few hours. Then I just wiped it up. Like I said, Charlie never peed there again. I think you should try to remove the scent from where your puppy has peed, so that he doesn't go back to the area that he has marked.
Good luck, and please let us know how it goes.
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