Potty issues

Question
Hello, I have a 14wk old male westie and he is has been with the family now for 1 month. We have been able to pretty well potty train him to pee pads while in the living room with only occasional accidents and we also have him ringing a bell when we say go outside. We then take him outside to potty very often. The problem is when we put pads in his big Play pen area while we are at work he will shred them and just pee on the floor. He has a small crate in the pen to sleep in so we thought he would be comfortable and identify a seperate place to potty. He  has several chew toys in there too.  At night he sleeps in a different crate(full space) at night in our bedroom and he seems to do wonderfully although the other evening after just putting him in it to go to sleep he went pee in it and he had just gone outside. He wasn't left alone as we always go to bed at the same time and he can see us. Normally he is does not go pee at in his bedtime crate. Can you please tell me if we are doing something wrong in both day and night routines?

Answer
Offering a dog an indoor venue for urination and attempting to house train him at the same time is giving him a very confusing double message.  At 14 weeks of age, your dog is just obtaining the ability to contain his urine (providing he has ample opportunity to be taken outdoors, especially after play, waking from a nap, first thing in the morning, and within 45 minutes of having drunk water.)  your puppy has already begun to generalize the presence of the pads: he has learned that urinating indoors is ok (his shredding of the pads is frustration and boredom.)  Try offering him a ball with treats, something he needs to work at to obtain the food (they're available at any pet supply store.)  I advise totally eliminating the pads and concentrating on his house training.  Even though he may still have accidents (especially now), he will get the idea.  YOU HAVE TO GO OUT WITH HIM EVERY TIME and reward/praise his elimination outdoors, no matter how inconvenient this may be.  This is a baby learning the "rules"; he can't do it by himself.