size of poodle & potty training

Question
Hi Kim,
My husband and I purchased a "toy poodle" in apricot when it was 2 mths old so it was really small then. Now at 3 mths it seems to have doubled up in size and the vet also mentioned in passing he is huge for his age.  I am wondering if we have actually purchased a standard poodle instead.  He should be at least 8 inches in height now.  We have also been told that he is pedigree but we have received passing comments that he seems like a cross between poodle and something else - how could we confirm this?  We also had some problems with potty training him.. he poops more often than not at the right spot. But he can't seem to get the pee right. he only pees right 1 out of 10 times. Do you have any suggestions as to how we could better potty train him?  Right now other that the wee wee sprays we wipe his urine and place the tissue where he is supposed to poop and pee. But he doesn't seem to sniff his way back there. Also, usually the puppies will sniff and make a turn/round before they pee but my poodle doesn't.

Answer
Hello June,
Your "Toy" Poodle may instead be a Miniature Poodle rather than a Standard Poodle.  The Toy Poodle stands up to 10" at the shoulder, the Miniature is anything from 11"-15", and the Standard Poodle is anything over 15" at the shoulder.  
You might contact the Breeder to let them know that the puppy is bigger that its suppose to be.  Alot of "lesser quality" breeders will breed a Miniature Poodle to a Toy Poodle so that they can get both sizes.  This is not good because what happens is you get either Large Toy Poodles or Small Miniature Poodles, instead of the correct sized dogs.  
See if you can get a pedigree from the Breeder that will tell you about what dogs are in your dogs background.  If you got papers with your puppy, then you should be able to contact the Registery that your dog is registered under (American Kennel Club [AKC] Contentennal Kennel Club [CKC] United Kennel Club [UKC]) and get his pedigree from them.  Your dogs Registration papers should have his parents and maybe his grandparents on them, and that is enough to let you know that your dog is purebred.  If the breeder won't let you have the registration papers, this should be a red flag that your dog may not be purebred and that the breeder is less than professional.
If you would like to send me a picture of your dog, I would be happy to take a look and see what I think.  You can send it to MsTopkdog@yahoo.com

As for the housetraining, you are doing most things right. Do know that puppies usually get control of their bladder and bowels around the age of 12 weeks, so he should be about the right age to start knowing when he has to go.  (before the age of 12 weeks, puppies don't have that "gotta go" feeling, so they just squat and pee without sensing that its coming)
Be consistant and try to get your puppy on a schedule of going potty at regular times.  For a puppy his age, it should be around every 2 hours or so.  If he doesn't potty when you take him to his pad, (or outside as the case may be), put him in his kennel for about 5 minutes then try again.  Repeat until he will go at his designated area.  
Also know that a puppy will need to potty after eating, waking up from a nap, after playing, and when he gets up in the morning and just before bedtime.  Even though a puppy won't always turn circles before going potty, they will usually put nose to the floor and sniff before squatting.  Watch for him looking for a good place, then take him to his potty place.  
 
When he does make an accident somewhere other than his potty place, be sure to clean it up with a Pet Approved cleaner that contains live enzymes that will "eat" the odor of the potty mess.  Even if you can't smell it, chances are that your dog can and he will want to come back to that spot to "go" there again.  
A good product (if they have it where you are) is called "Kids N Pets".  I get it at Wal-Mart in the cleaning section.  It works wonders at getting not only the smell out, but the stain as well.  If they don't carry it where you are, you can go online and get it from http://www.walmart.com

I hope this helps you some.  If you have other questions for me, please feel free to ask.

Thanks for using AllExperts.com,
Kim