Housebreaking/Elimination problems

Question
I brought home a 6yo female Silky Terrier from a rescue 3 weeks ago. They told me she was from a puppy mill that had recently been broken up, they had had her for about 3 months, and that she was not potty trained. Before I brought her home I read up on potty training/crate training to get ready for the process. First thing before we even go through the door, I take her around outside my apartment (for about an hour). She's wonderful inside and explored my apartment and I familiarized her with her kennel. That night, shortly after I went to sleep, she urinated and deficated in the crate, and since then she has consistently done so (regardless of how well I clean it with not only scent remover but also water/white vinegar).

I read that since crate training isn't working I should try a different approach. So I let her loose in my apartment when I went to work to see where she would chose to potty. Luckily she chose the tile floor in my kitchen. So I've worked from there trying to get her to get used to wee-wee pads. Sometimes she will, if I put it in just the right location, but if I move it even a little away from there, she just goes on the floor.

I have set her on a feeding and walking schedule and she has ample opportunity to go potty every 4 hours. (I'm able to come home in the middle of the day to let her out) So I take her out first thing in the morning, lunchtime, first thing  after work, then right before bedtime. I've noticed she normally deficates in the morning, and sometimes evening, because like most of the advice I've been able to find has told me to keep a list of her frequency. I have on the weekends taken her out as frequently as every hour for 19 hours, and not once did she potty.

The main problem I've found is no matter how long I'm with her, she will not potty in front of me. No matter how long I spend with her and how close I keep her to me, she will not potty until I fall asleep or leave my apt. I have to sleep sometime! I have never reprimanded her or scolded her for pottying and only tried to be positive. And I'm sure this is a result of being afraid of people from her puppy mill days. But if I can't catch her going potty in my apt. or praise her for going potty outside, then how do I teach her what is and isn't ok? Thank you for any advice you can give!  

Answer
Jessica,

Sounds like your are on the right path to potty training. Lets try a few things that might get her attention that she has to do it outside. First and foremost she needs to be in her crate. The crate should be made as her safe place, her place to sleep and or get away from things. If she is in a crate when you are sleeping or at work she can not get into anything that might harm her and she can not destroy anything in your house. Some dogs that do not associate the crate as being theirs will potty in it, but when they get the message that this is where they must stay when you are not home, they will try to keep it clean.
Make sure the crate is not confining to her, just in case she has an accident she will be able to move away from it.Put in a soft towel or old blanket and use a crate toy.A crate toy that only when your not home or her bed time she is allowed access to it.
I suggest that if she has gone in the house wipe it up (or pick it up) and place that outside in a spot that you will be able to take her in again and again. When you take her out she can smell what she has done and think she must of done it outside so it is alright to do it in the same spot.Puppies and dogs are creatures of habit, so when she gets in a routine of going in same spot outside that will trigger a response that it is ok and she will go.
Give her ample time to do her business outside so you can praise her. If she wonders from the spot you made bring her back to it so she will go.
Yes true, best times for potty is upon waking, after meals, after play, before she is to go to bed.
This may take some time being from a puppy mill, but she is young enough to learn quickly what is expected of her. Obedience training is a great way to bond with your new puppy, again she will learn what is expected from her to be a companion in your household.

I hope this is helpful to you, let me know how it is going.

Lorie