new puppy training

Question
I adopted a 5 month old shih tzu puppy 5 days ago, this puppy has not had any potty training at all.  He holds his pee and poo for many hours before relieving himself in the house even with half hourly visits to the outside world. He seems totally oblivious to what to do outside. How can i work towards a better understanding. Other than this issue the dog is perfectly adjusting, sleeping in his crate at night, and even after eight hours sleep he refuses to pee. I am getting concerned please can you help.

Answer
You need to learn to use the process of crate training properly. You stated your dog stays in the crate overnight without soiling so you know it needs to go in the morning.  Remove the dog from the crate in the morning carrying it outside to the spot you would like it to go.  Having it on a lead would be good also for control to keep it in the area you want it to potty in.  Put the dog down in this spot and begin giving it a command to "potty", "clean out" or whatever you want to use. Continue to repeat the command until the dog goes potty.  Immediately when it begin to potty praise it.  Give the dog only 5 minutes to go.  If the dog does not go then pick it up and return it to the crate for 15 minutes.  Then repeat the process.  Usually by the second or third time out it will go.  Once it goes outside the reward it by giving it free time in the house.  Limit the free time to an hour or so then return to crate for an hour or so and repeat the process.  It won't always go potty when you go out after the first time but that's ok.  Gradually increase the free time in the house and continue the potty routine until the dog is going quickly whenever taken to the spot.  Eventually it will run to the spot on its own.  By using a command the dog will become conditioned to go potty when it hears the command.  This becomes very useful when traveling and stopping at rest areas so you can get the dog to go quickly.  This is how you use a crate to potty train your dog.  I have had two dogs that become so well trained to potty on command that they will squat and attempt to go even when they don't have to if I gave the command.  One would potty anywhere she happened to be when I gave the command even my friends patio when he didn't believe the dog went on command!!!