Dog potty training

Question
Our new puppy who is almost five months old has been in a cage most of her young life.  We are trying to get her to go on the grass but she keeps going in her cage. I would appreciate any helpful hints.

Answer
Hi Gary,

This is actually pretty common in puppies who come from pet stores, what choice do the puppies have but to soil in their crates?

Place some newspaper, which your puppy has already soiled upon in the grassy area you want her to use. Walk your puppy (on a leash) to that area when you take her outside for potty breaks.
Reward your puppy every time she eliminates in the established toilet area. You want her to associate relieving herself in the established areas with good things, like treats, toys and praise. A little play time makes a good reward.

Every time you bring her to the spot, tell her to "Go Potty" (or whichever descriptive phrase you choose). This way, she will become familiar with the command. On a rainy day, it's handy for your dog to relieve herself quickly!
Don't forget to offer praise or a treat as soon as she "does her business". Soon she will associate the action with the reward.

When you're home, physically take the puppy to the toilet area every 45 minutes. Not giving your puppy the opportunity to soil in the crate should prevent her from soiling in her crate. Extend the time between potty trips gradually, as your puppy exhibits an ability to control her urges.

Keep a set schedule when feeding your puppy, so that your puppy's need to relieve herself becomes consistent. Don't leave food out all night as your puppy won't keep to a set feeding schedule on its own, and will eat throughout the night. Random feeding leads to random toilet habits.

Never reprimand or punish your puppy for mistakes. That only leads to fear and confusion in your puppy and will make the process take longer.

I hope I've been a help.
Best of luck,
Patti