16 week old Pomeranian puppy

Question
QUESTION: Hi,

We just got a 16 week old Pomeranian puppy from American Kennels in NYC, which is a reputable kennel and has ben around since 1954. Normally I would never buy a puppy from a store as I have always had dogs from AKC breeders, however this puppy took my heart away (and my wife's).

His temparament is unbeliavable, doesn't yap, doesn't bite, doesn't really bark unless overexcited.  He is confident and not scared of many people coming to pet here, or of other pets and gets along well with out cat.

However we are having a VERY hard time housebreaking him.  We have tried WeeWee Pads which work 75% of the time (for pooping) and about 50% of the time for peeing during nights.  During the day he never goes to the wee wee pad! I just don't know what I am doing wrong.

I have his cage attached to a larger training area.  The cage is on one end and his litter box is on the other.  The door to his cage can be left open or closed.  What we are doing is leaving the cage closed until I hear him do circles, whimper or start sniffing, at which point I open the door and take him towards the litter box and tell him to "go potty". He will not do it even if I have to hold him there.  I have tried tarining spray etc. and still nothing. As soon as I let him walk he goes inetween the cage and the litter box...

I then proceed with telling him "NOOOOOO" lifting him mid business and taking him to the litter box again.  He just stops and won't go.

The schedule looks like this:

Doggy wakes up I take him to potty, he does but mostly not in the litterbox. I then give him food and play with him and then again he pees but not on litterbox.

I go to work at 730 and then my wife comes back at 1230, he will have used his weeweepad a few times but maybe also does it outside once.  She goes back to work and comes bacj at 4pm and the same.  I come back at 7pm and take him for a run and then potty him but still gets it right 10% of the time....starts playing more than doing his job. We then feed him and play with him before going to bed at 11pm...we take him for a potty at 1030 before bed and again 10% success rate.

I really need to be ale to housetrain him...HELP!!!

ANSWER: Hi Ridaa,
It sounds to me like your doing every thing a good puppy parent could do.  Let me ask you this - how and when is he being fed?  I think controled feeding is in order if your not alredy doing so.  Let me know on that and then I'll give you some ideas.

Thanks
Brandie

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I feed him 1/3rd cup of soft food and 1/3rd cup of hard food mixed in together each morning at 700am and each evening at 700pm.

I think the problem may also have been that he was in a crate for the last 5 weeks (in the Pet Store) and I have heard pet store dogs have a tough time being housebroken as they have no choice but to have to go on themselves thus losing the natural desire for dogs to be clean.  I would really appreciate any help possible...

I have an obediance training classes with Garry Gross for 7 weeks starting next Wednesday.  I love my pup and hope can find lesson which works for him specially.

Thank you again for your prompt response.

Answer
Hi,
He should be using the bathroom about 10 minutes after he eats.  That is about how long it takes for the food to move thru them.  I would scrap the potty pad idea if you can.  Some dogs find it confusing to be allowed to use the bathroom in the house in one area and not another.  If you can - why not try the jingle bell idea and take him outside.  Not allowing potty in the house at all may clear up his confusion as to where he can go.

Brandie