Training Confusion: Puppy Pads, Outside, and Accidents

Hi! I just got my 9-week old Shiba, Kila, a week ago. For the first few days she was doing great with the puppy training pads in the house. The only accidents she had were overnight in her crate, otherwise she went on the pads. However, as the weather started to get nicer, I started taking her outside to go potty. Ever since then, she has refused to use the puppy pads. She always goes when I take her outside, but she also is having accidents all over the living room and my bedroom. I finally just rolled up the small area rug that was her prime target (always different spots on the rug and I was cleaning it with a pet spot and odor remover).

Is she marking her territory? Is she just confused by the switch from inside to outside? What is going on?

Also, I am having a terrible time with the crate training. The first few days she liked her crate, went in there on her own to sleep during the day, and only cried minimally when she was actually shut in it for the night. But now she just cries and screams like she's being murdered and she can go like that for at least 45 minutes. Last night I finally just pulled her out of the crate and put her bed onto my bed. She went right to sleep without any problems. I don't want her to get in the habit of sleeping in my bed, even if she is still in her puppy bed, but no one gets any sleep if we try to leave her in the crate. I don't want to let her "win" since I'm the boss, but I also don't want her to develop a complex about the crate b/c it's unsafe for her to refuse to be in there peacefully.

Kila is not motivated by treats and barely by toys. All she wants is to be cuddled. I did not have these kinds of problems with my Akita puppy 12 years ago and I'm at a loss. Please someone help me figure out how to be the best "mommy" I can be. Thanks.

Ok... first of all using training pads can confuse a dog enough. It teaches the puppy to go on a pad on the floor; which can be misunderstood as any paper, clothing or rug on the floor as being ok to pee on. So in her mind she’s not doing anything wrong. Shiba's hate being dirty and will usually understand going outside very quickly. You just need to fine a way for her to tell you she's got to go. Watch for pacing, standing by the door, that kind of stuff. I put a bell on my door handle so my puppy could reach it. Every time I took him out I would lift his paw and make him hit the bell. After a week he was hitting it for me and I knew he had to go. Make sure when you do take her outside, take her out the same door, and to the same stop. Being consistence will be a huge help for her to understand what you want.

As far as the crating, yes for the first few days/weeks they will cry. Whenever you are not watching that puppy she's in the crate. That includes at night, you can't watch him chewing an electrical cord in your sleep. She will have to go out a few times in the middle of the night to go potty. Leach her up carry her out, so there's not accident on the way and give her 10-15 minutes to go. If she goes great, phrase and it's back in the crate, if not, back in the crate. Taking her out just cause she's crying will quickly teach her to cry more to get what she wants and can start dominancy issues early cause she's telling you what to do. Yeah you'll have a few restless nights, but they will stop crying in the crate unless they got to go. The first few night’s my puppies crate ended up in the next room. I could still hear him, but it wasn’t enough to stop me from getting a few hours sleep in between taking him out. After 3 days of crying he would only cry if he had to go potty. He usually had to just go out to potty once in the middle of the night, then just in the early morning.

I hope this helps you. Good luck with your new bundle of dominating joy. And remember, spaying a neutering between 4-5 months is not only cheaper it safer!