Benjis wetting in the house!

Question
I recently got a 2 year old Cairin Terrier (Benji) almost 2 weeks ago from the local humane society. He was just neutered the day we brought him home. The first week went very well. But now he started going to the bathroom in the house. He has peed on my daughters bed, and pooped on her floor. I feed him a 1/2 cup twice a day. I take him out numerous times in a day. This is our first dog and I am lost on what to do.

Answer
Benji's most likely doing what is called marking.  The first week is what we call "the honeymoon" and now that he's got the hang of how the household works, the honeymoon's over.

There are 2 modes of attack to this problem - How you handle it when you're home, and when you're not. I cannot strongly enough emphasize crating him when no one is home to take him out, and ideally at night. This not only saves the house, but reinforces his needing to hold his urine.

Then, what to do when you're home.  I foster numerous dogs who are not housebroken, but marking is a separate behavior.  

For simple housebreaking, I always potty first thing in the am, again after their breakfast, immediately upon returning home (and letting them out of their crate), again right after their dinner, and once an hour for the rest of the in between times.  

The addition of positive reinforcement for doing their business outside usually does the trick. I do what a trainer friend of mine calls "have a party."  I act happy, raise the pitch of my voice and give lots of praise and then give 6-7 treats one right after another.  For treats you want to use something very high value to the dog like cheese or hot dogs and give pieces that are 1/2 the size of a pencil eraser.  Dogs get more pleasure from the number and frequency of treats than they do from size.... so giving numerous small treats counts more than one larger treat.

The combination of these things usually solves housebreaking.

Marking is harder because it has nothing to do with needing to urinate.

I use a method of interruption, a replacement behavior and if ultimately necessary a belly band (which provides both a barrier to protect the house and a negative reinforcer since dogs hate them.

When I see a dog eyeing the corner of a wall, furniture or other such item, I give them a harsh "ey-ey-ey."  They usually stop and look at me. I then call them to me, have them sit and give them a treat. So - I am interrupting the bad behavior and having them come do a good behavior followed by a positive reinforcer.  For a dog who does not respond to a verbal interruption, I have used a spray bottle or squirt gun. I also know some people who use this item (which also works well to break a bad barking habit):

http://mall.cairnrescue.com/mdse/show_item.php?itemno=G12

If a dog is simply not responding to these tactics, I break down and make them wear a belly band.  Continuing with positve reinforcememnt for positve behavior when outside is really important.

I also strongly encourage you to go through an obedience class.  It is not really about the dog learning to behave as it is to teach you about what motivates dogs and how to think like one.  That will make behaviors make more sense to you.

Since you are first time dog owners, and particularly because you chose a cairn, I would encourage you to read this amusing but honest look at the cairn breed:

http://cairnrescue.com/general/index.htm#toto

Please let me know how you're making out.

-Beth