Training a Basset in an apartment

Question
We have a 2 month old Basset puppy that we got 3 weeks ago from a breeder. We live on the 3rd floor of an apartment complex so getting him outside can be very difficult. I bought the Arm n Hammer puppy pads to put in the kitchen where we keep him and train him to go when we cannot get him outside. The kitchen is his den. His food, daytime bed and water is all in there. I put the pads on the opposite end of the kitchen away from his food and bed so he wouldn't be uncomfortable relieving himself on the pad. We take him outside and praise him with cheese when he goes outside but he still struggles to get it on the pad and he will aquat and go anywhere in the apartment if we don't watch him closely. What can we do better to help housetrain him???

Answer
Hi Gabe,

Congrats on your new puppy :)

May I ask why getting him outside at times is more difficult than other times?  I'd really like to discourage you from using the pads.

The problem is, with the pads, is that 1. some dogs don't like the feel of them and 2. you are essentially giving him permission to 'go' in the house which will confuse him.

You've done correctly in placing the pads away from his sleeping area, however, as I said, you're giving him permission to go in the house.  Then at other times you're wanting him to go outside.  This can be very confusing for a dog.  Very.

If you are insistent upon using the pads, you still need to housetrain him.  10 minutes after he eats, plays or exercises and immediately when he wakes, you should put him on a leash and walk him to the pads.  Encourage him to go by standing still and quietly/calmly tell him to go potty.  When he does, praise and cheese.

He should also be walked to the pads every hour for potty.

It shouldn't be too awfully difficult to get him outside, though.  As soon as he's done eating or drinking or playing, pop on his leash and carry him down the steps and outside.  Do the same every hour.  Other than not feeling like walking up and down 3 flights of stairs 20 times a day, you have no reason to train him in the house...which I completely understand, but you did make the choice to bring a puppy into your apartment.

If you ever plan on moving into a house or a one story building, you'll be much happier for having trained him to only go outside.