Potty training

I have an 8month old dachshund and when we first got him we took him outside for a walk, but then realized that the two days I work, we were unable to get him properly trained. (should have crate trained him but felt that 8 or 9 hrs was just mean) So we started him on wee wee pads which I absolutely HATE! Anyway, when we moved last month, he decided he wants to mark his territory all over the house because the old tenant had cats..a month later its still a problem........Sooooooooon as of Friday I watched that show on Animal planet called "Its me or the dog" which gave me lots of motivation to train him to go OUT!!!

I put his bed in the crate so theres only room for his bed and enough room to stretch ...I showed him it and told him to go to bed to warm him up to it I drew him in with treats (as Victoria did on the show) I think he actually likes being in there now. He ONLY goes in his crate when we go to bed and when we leave or if I'm alone and want to take a shower i'll put him in there so he doesn't pee in the house) (Mind you, we have only done this since this Friday 4/30/2010
... The first night the crate was out in the living room and alls he did was cry and bark, so I pulled the crate in our room and he slept like a baby :)   As for Feeding time: I only put his food down twice, once in the morning and once at night. Then about 10-20 min later I take him out....So far SUCCESS :)  (Q1)Except my DF went out for like 3hrs because we knew he had to go.....and he finally he went after 3 and 1/2 hrs so I guess thats when he needs to go out is every 3 and 1/2 hours after he eats??

(Q2)Today I lucked out because DF wasn't feeling good and came home really early from work....so the dog was in his crate from 6:00am until about 8:30am. BUT tomorrow, what do I do? The dog would go in the crate after he eats and goes out at like 7am until 3:30 when DF gets home.  thats EIGHT and 1/2 hours. Is that too long?

(Q3)Next week he'd be left Mon & Tues....I know he will get trained with time and patience .....How long would you say it might take him to catch on and be fully trained??

(Q4) How often do I take him out in between meals?

Wed, Thurs Fri Sat & Sun...I'm at home, so its two days he would be crated ...but are those eight hours too much (possibly a little more if DF gets stuck in traffic or has to pick up his cousin from school).....I feel sooo bad. Alls he does is cry when were not there :(  What do I do? I need him trained soon especially with a baby on the way !!
Sorry for this being so long and thanks for taking the time to read and respond :)

[gokuangel]

Potty training aint fun! It sux! I have a 13 wk old Pom and hes driving me mad! Do you have a PetSmart where you live? If so go take the potty course its 15$ and the people are very helpful everytime i go down there the girl remembers me and ask me stuff and is always very friendly with anything i have questions about!! If your dog is waiting 3 hrs to go pee then in between meals shouldnt be much different you just have learn how long they hold it for and their potty sniffing signs! My dog being so tiny and young has a 20 min limit so if hes down on the floor for 30+ mins i know to keep a very good eye out and if its been more like an hour i dont even wait i take him outside right away!!  Is 8 hrs the soonest you could get back to take him to do his business? I have heard by a year they can wait that long but at 8 months im not sure! If you're worried you will need to gate off an area in the house with puppy pads across it! I dont advise it but if its gonna be awhile you can try it! Mine has actually learned he dont want to go in there much the more hes been in the room the less he has gone in there unless its just an emergency and he cant hold it but lately hes been jumping in my arms when i come home to greet me and as soon as i take him out he does it all!! I dont recommend this only cus my dog has recently decided its a good idea to chew the paint off the wall! If you can put a baby gate up in an area he cant do that then that'd be better! Dont worry about the crying thing mine does it too i can hear him howl all the way to my car but when i come back hes sound asleep in his bed!
Every dog is different so its hard to know when and how long it will take them! I will ask the girl at petsmart here next time i go she told me she just recently trained a 8 month old so i know she will have some good advice to share! My dog again hes tiny and young so i have been warned 6 mons-1yr for things to be perfect! I think yours will be much faster cus at 8 months the bladder control has done kicked in! Mine doesnt have it yet i have heard 16 wks is the earliest it could possibly happen!! Be patient though that is the best advice i have gotten! Another idea if you want more help and stuff log on to dogster its a great site and if you have FB it only takes 1 click to get into they have great forums and the people are very helpful there!!

[AnxiousGurl]

Yes I do have a Petsmart, I will check it out, hopefully they offer the course around here too. Soon i'll be home with him bc im having a baby its just right now that im gone for 8hours.
We would have his mother come and walk him but we cant trust her because she feeds him peoples food and everytime the poor guy has diarrhea and we are the ones left picking it up not her......so really we dont have anyone that could come walk him at lunch as of now, I need to look into finding someone possibly. That website looks good I'm gonna check it out more....but anyway, I guess with time in patience he'll figure it out and I will figure out his schedule! thanks so much for the advice :)

[gokuangel]

well just to be sure he wont use the restroom you have to limit his food and water intake dont leave bowls around the house for him to eat or drink out of and always take him out right b4 you have to crate him! decide if you are going to feed him 2 or 3 times a day i usually feed lucky twice morning and night plus he gets treats for going out and stuff! this will really help! I had been gone for like 3 hrs yesterday and he didnt pee in his crate at all!! im really happy hoping that means hes starting to understand how to hold it! and you also have to limit his mobility around the house! They will teach you all this in the class if you go to it! i keep lucky with me wherever i go in the house i let him follow me but i keep close eye on him and if im in my room i either shut the door or put the gate up but i let him on the floor with his toys!