Love/Dislike Relationship with my Pom

by Barbara
(Massachusetts)

My 8 month old female Pom named Sammy is adorable and I love her, but I am having the hardest time potty training her to go on the pee pads while in the house. She was doing great for a while. My boyfriend and I started off with crating her like the Vet recommended but she cried at night and even peed on herself in the crate a few nights. It just wasn't working out so I stopped crating her. She has a pen inside our house which is where her pee pads are. For a while, when she was allowed to roam the house out of the pen. We would leave the gate open to the pen and she would go inside the pen to the pee pad to do her business. It was great because she appeared to be learning and was not peeing on our floors or furniture. She was praised for her efforts and rewarded with doggie treats so that she knew she did well.

But then it all changed suddenly and she pee'd on our couch, our kitchen floor and on the hardwood floor just inches before where her pee pad was. I couldn't believe it. And then, just last night, she left a small poop in her own doggie bed and we found her sitting near it... why??? I am very frustrated at this point. I grew up with dogs as my parents used to breed and train siberian huskies for racing but maybe I am out of my league with a Pom.

Any ideas/suggestions are greatly appreciated! I love this dog and if I don't find a way to make her training consistent to go on the pads all the time when she's not outside I'm afraid my boyfriend will get rid of her and that will break my heart.

Thanks for your help!

Barbara