potty training

I just got a 10 week old shih tzu puppy. He gets put in his crate at night to sleep and also if im only gonna be gone less than 2 hrs during the day. When im at work and he has to be alone longer I put him in the kitchen with baby gates, his crate, toys and water, also a wee wee pad. He has no problem going outside and he is using the pad or just holding it till i get home or my husband wakes up and takes him out (he works nights and me days) Im basically wondering if combining the methods of crate and pads to house break him is only going to confuse him and prolong the process? He has had a couple of accidents and i expect that for awhile because of his age. I take him out about every hour when im home. How long can this process take?

[heartfluttersflyawayplz]

hi mimi , i also have a 10 week shihztu baby girl, and my vet told me it would confusss them, but i still use the wee wee pad if am going to be gone longer than a hour and yes she will go over and use them , so i rather her wee wee on pad than floor, now when running free in house i dont care where the pad is she goes where she wants to, but shes doing really good for 10 weeks i got her at 8 weeks, she goes out side most of the time and never poops in the house so am happy with her progress. how much does yours weight. mine is 5pds now, and am feeding her only a 1/4 cup of lifes abundance a day and a few treats for pottying outside, shes so playfull and very loving, i wish mine would sleep in crate or her playpen shes in the bed with us but going try and break that bad habit. lets keep in touch since we have same age babies, i had a little male 17 years ago hes passed away thats why i have her now but he was lots easer to potty tain. talk to you soon. Barbara

[lonewolf07]

We used a combination of crate training and wee wee pads when our shih tzu was a puppy.  It worked too well.  When we take him out for the day he might lift his leg as some kind of dog statement but he waits till we're home and runs right to the wee wee pads = (

[Jaybay]

It sounds like you're doing everything right.  Your pup is still very young so accidents are to be expected, but he's coming along really well.  I used the same method as you for my first pup and never had any trouble getting rid of the newspapers.  This was pre-wee wee pad days.  After a few months, he was able to hold everything all night and we ditched the papers.  In later years with 2 dogs, we installed a doggy door, and what a relief it is for both doggy innards and our peace of mind!  :-)

[MiMiKat]

Thanks for all the input...i feel better about it now. He already holds it all night about 7-8 hours with no problems so i guess he's doing awesome :)