training

Question
I have a four year old pom and since he was a puppy I've been having problems potty training him.  I noticed he prefers going outside but he is not on a schedule because I have a very busy schedule.  I try to walk him at least twice a day.  He still goes in the house and I've tried the pads and newspaper but he keep up with it.  If he uses the newspaper once while I'm working, he won't use it again.  Is there any hope left for me?  I can't have anymore of my furniture ruined.  Could he be angry at me and acting out because I leave him alone several hours a day.  Sometimes I feel he does it purposely because he'll go on my sneakers when I come home and don't walk him right away.  Please help me.  

Answer
What we try to teach new owners is this training method...
If your Pom pees or poos in the house, take a rolled up newspaper and hit yourself on top of the head repeating "I wasn't watching my Pom, I wasn't watching my Pom."
I have to tease... :o)
Your dog will only be as potty trained as you are willing to put in the effort.  If you are too busy to supervise then your Poms needs less room to roam while you are gone.  Only until you can trust him not to "go" inside then can you allow him run of the house.

Go through some of the archives for ideas on Potty training and methods-you'll need to be diligent if you want him to learn.  Your lacksidaisy approach will only confuse him.  Also-dogs have about an infants attention span so if you find a mess later... he won't know why your scolding if you scold then-you must catch him in the act and move the poo where you want it to be-on the paper or outside.  They will often want a clean place to go, also so soiled paper is no longer a place he wants to go again.  You may want to try litterboxes.

Best of luck!
-Trish
www.geminipoms.com