basset hound housetraining

Question
We have an 8 wk old basset hound. She is doing fairly well understanding that she needs to go outside to potty and has even went to the door to be let out a couple of times. We have only had her a week and I know at this young age we couldn't possibly expect her to not have indoor accidents. However, I just want to make sure that we are doing her training the proper way. She sleeps in her crate at night, can sleep up to 8 hours, and has never had an accident in the crate. What prompted my question is that while we are with her playing and giving her our full attention she has just starting urinating every couple of minutes anywhere and everywhere. We catch her in the act since we are right there and take her outside immediately. We tell her no but do not scold, strike, or yell. She is urinating in areas that have no prior dog smell. I wonder if I am letting her drink too often. Anyway, I have never trained a basset puppy, only a rescue adult basset who may have had prior training. I have very quickly trained a dalmation puppy but they are completely different dogs. I'm in this for the long haul but could use some advice and direction from someone with more experience. We have been home with the puppy since we got her but I will be returning to work on monday. I intended to leave her in the sun porch so she could roam but would it be better to leave her in the crate? I would break to let her out.
Thank you,
Julianna

Thank you,

Answer
Hi Julianna,

I don't know if you're training her properly because you didn't really tell me how you're going about training her.  :)  I have no idea if you're giving her too much water.  All I can do is tell you how to housetrain and you can adjust your actions if need be.

At her age, she is just developing physical control of her bladder.  Puppies are born incontinent (not actually but it's the easiest way to think of it).  She is only just getting a physical feeling of having to 'go'.  Accidents at 8 weeks old are normal.

She should be on a proper feeding and water schedule.  At her age (I don't know your work hours so this is general):

0700 food/water (put down for 20 minutes max)
by 0730 outside

1100 food/water (20 minutes)
by 1130 outside

300 food/water (20 minutes)
by 330 outside

700 food/water (20 minutes)
by 0730 outside

She should also be given 1/3-1/2 cup water when she wakes up from a nap or has gotten done playing/exercising.  She should be eating 4x a day until she is about 4 months old, cut back to 3x a day until she's about 8 months old (at which point you can put her on adult food and feed her 2x a day).

In addition to being taken out after food/water, she should be taken out immediately after playing, waking or greeting and every hour on top of that.  If you catch her going in the house, don't tell her no (save NO for the important things...you don't want her to think it's her name and to start to ignore the command)...give her a sharp 'eh-eh' as a distraction, scoop her up and tell her potty outside.  Keep her leash handy at all times.

Potty outside:

Clip on her leash, walk her to one spot in the yard and tell her 'go potty'.  Stand calmly and quietly, waiting for her to go.  When she does, praise her with 'good potty' and walk her back in the house.  The only time she should be permitted to walk outside on her own is during play.  Play should be separated from potty by about 5 minutes.  You want her to understand that when you clip on the lead and walk her out, she has a job to do.

At her age she should not be left alone for more than 4 hours MAXIMUM.
Leaving her on the sun porch is not a good idea, no.  She is not trained.  Given that much room she will toilet in one area and sleep in another.  There's also the possibility of her becoming bored and chewing things she shouldn't.

If you can't get to her in under 4 hours, you'll need to make arrangements with a family member, friend or professional that can come by during the day.