Potty training a 10 month shih tzu

Question
First off thank you for expertise.  I have a 10 month old shih-tzu who is the sweetest thing, we have been working on potty training now for about 6 months and we have some issues.  We have replaced our throw rugs a few times now and as soon as we get one he goes.  Most of the time he is good about going outside but a few times a  week he just drops the ball.  We dont yell at him or hit him or anything like that and just started giving him treats when he is outside right after he goes but that last 20% of the time he just does not seem to get it.  One thing is we are unsure how to train him to let us know he needs to go.  Sometimes it is every 1/2 hr  and sometimes every 3.  My husband kids around that he is ready to return him and well, there is no way I will let that happen.  Any advice?  Thank you so much!

Answer
Hi Breann;
Yep, I have some advice. Stop spoiling him. Hee hee. You have a little bratty kid on your hands. I have one too. He is a little Lhasa mix, and he knows better, but sometimes, he just goes in the house. I think he is doinf it for spite.
First, I never give a food treat for good behavior. I use only praise and scolding.
After you have had them for months, and talk to them all the timne, they understand "I am sooo disapointed in you". just like a small child does.
When I show them what they are supposed to do, and they perforn correctly, I lay on the praise like they got an academy Award.
I tell them how smart they are, all the while loving on them like they are the greatest thing in the world.
You can easily see how they eat up the praise.
When they do something the wrong way, I say, "NO!" sharply, and show them the way they are supposed to do it.
When I find a place Max has gone ( I can tell each of my dogs' poop by the size of it) I bring him to it and point it out, and shame the heck out of him. They HATE to be nagged. I make him sit there and watch me clean it up, all the time nagging about what a naughty boy he is.
He looks so guilty~~
I have a doggy door, and it saves me a lot of trops to let them out. If you can't have a doggy door opening onto a p[rotected yard. You could get a little bell.
You can buy a couple of varieties in pet stores, and attach it by the door he is to go out of, and teach him to ring it when he has to go out.
Take him to the bell, hold his paw and hit the bell, and say "that means go outside", then take him out. Help it ring it each time, and he will soon understand what it is for.
He may drive you nuts for awhile, ringing that bell to go out.
I have a thoery about the throw rugs. I have no scientific evidence or studies to back it up but, I think it has to do with it feeling like grass, maybe.
Or he could be marking it as part of his territory.
They hike their leg and pee to mark their territory.
Maybe just wash the last one, and let it be his own rug.
Do you have a laundry room, or some area where he can get to eaily, and you could have a litter box for him to go in?
Dogs can be taught to use a litter box, although I would use plat yard sand, rather than kitty litter. The ssoiled sand can be put into something that water will run through, and washed, so you can use the same sand over and over, just sift each time he goes, and when it picks up a scent. change it and wash the old while he uses the new.
You can also by pads in petstores for them to potty on.
I understand about your husband. I have been married to mine for 42 years, and he constantly threatens to throw away my animals, give them to the gypsies, wring their necks etc, but he is the biggest softee, and he pampers them too.
Mine also threatened to give our children, and now our grandchildren to the Gypsies.
We still have all of them.
If you have a Petsmart or Petco store in your area, they have weekend obedience classes.
I highly recommend these group classes. You learn so much about your dog and how to communicate what you want to them. They are fun for the pwner and for the dog, and you just gain a lot of experience to benefit you with any animals you ever get.
Charlotte