Potty training for 16 week old puppy

[Carrie]

Hey everyone

Our sweet Phoenix is 16 weeks old and we have had him with us for 9 weeks. I stay home so I am able to take him out every hour for potty breaks. At first he had accidents daily, but once we rolled up the rugs things seemed to improve.  We are very consistent about taking him potty every hour or right after eating or napping but he is still having accidents. At first he was starting to go to the door to tell us he had to go, but now he just sneaks off and goes. I have been ringing the bell each time we go out for the past 2 weeks but he never uses it. When I say lets go potty he walks over to the bell but won't ring it. I even started helping he him hit the bell and then giving him a treat but still nothing... most of his accidents are poop. He just goes where ever he wants. I give him extra praise when he goes poop outside with 2 treats and he seems to love that, but he still isn't trained.. How long does this take?? We do use a crate for when we are gone during the day and at night. He holds it at night from 10:00pm until we get up at 7:30 so I know he can hold it. Help how long will accidents keep happening?? What can I do to encourage him to poop only outside?

Thanks for any suggestions

[Mary]

You should make the area he can roam in the house small enough so he feels that area is his house. They do not go potty in their house, that is why he does not potty in his crate. And increase the space slowly, if he has accidents then make the space smaller. It took our puppy 2-3 weeks to learn and a total of 8-10 accidents with this method. She learned the bell thing by herself. I think in case of your puppy, he does not think that he should not poop inside and he thinks it's ok. So he does not see the point of the bell. 

[Ozzy - Courtney]

Just like Mary said, give him access to less of the house to roam. Especially close off the area he seems to poop in the most. Whenever he does poop in the house, tell him no in a stern voice and take him outside, even if he's already finished. Also, when he goes outside to potty and he doesn't poop, stay outside until he does, that way he get use to pooping outside and knows that's where he's suppose to go. I will say that with Ozzy, he was about 18 weeks when we had out last accident in the house. Once there were no accidents, I then introduced the bell and he picked up on it rather quickly (about two days). Right now, Phoenix doesn't understand why the bell is there but once he knows he to potty outside, he'll start using the bell.