Papillon Litter Box Trained

Question
I purchased a 7 month old Papillon in February from a breeder and was told she was litter box trained. I confine her to a penned-off area during the day and keep her litter box there - and remove the gate when she is allowed to roam. She refuses to use the litter box. She has used it - particularily first thing in the morning - very early @ 5am but then she wants nothing to do with it the rest of the day. She does not go all day while I am at work. She usually then will go when I take her out as soon as I get home. She also goes on all my carpets if given the chance. I keep her to a routine but she just does not seem to get it. She is very inconsistent. For example she was using the litter box nearly every morning and the last 3 days - nothing. Any advice would be appreciated. I am using Feline Pine litter at the advice of the breeder.

Answer
The litter box is nothing I ever wanted to try.  I don't think dogs like to go exactly where they went before.  You might try changing the litter more often.  

As for going on the carpet, try better supervision.   When you are around you need to keep a close eye on the dog. Use closed doors or gates to keep it in the same room as you are, and perhaps as I do, a short chain fastened to the computer desk. If you catch it in the act, give it a sharp ''Ah, ah, ah!'' and take it out. When you can't watch it, crate it.

It is only natural that a puppy resists its crate at first. What the puppy wants more than anything else is to be others, you, anyone else in the household, and any other pets. In our modern society, even if we are home, other things distract us from the attention an uncrated puppy must have. The only real solution is to crate the dog when you aren't around. The dog may be happier in its den than loose in the house. It relaxes, it feels safe in its den. It rests, the body slows down reducing the need for water and relieving its self. Dogs that have been crated all along do very well. Many of them will rest in their crates even when the door is open. I think the plastic ones give the dog more of a safe, enclosed den feeling. Metal ones can be put in a corner or covered with something the dog can't pull in and chew. Select a crate just big enough for the full grown dog to stretch out in.

Leave it some toys. Perhaps a Kong filled with peanut butter. Don't leave anything in the crate the dog might chew up. It will do fine without even any bedding. You will come home to a safe dog and a house you can enjoy.

A dog that has not been crated since it was little, may take some work. Start out just putting its toys and treats in the crate. Praise it for going in. Feed it in the crate. This is also an easy way to maintain order at feeding time for more than one dog.