[Dillydoodle]

I was also not allowing Dillon to roam around the house until he was a bit older than 4 1/2 months, even when they seem to be doing so well with the housebreaking. I read in one of my training books that one of the biggest problems with housebreaking is that people give the dog too much freedom too quickly and often have these kinds of setbacks. I gated Dillon in the living room and kitchen area near the back door where he could ring his bell if he had to go. He was only allowed upstairs if someone was upstairs with him , and keeping a good eye on him- he was not left unsupervised in the upstairs until after 6 months of age. Dillon was housebroken quite quickly with minimal mistakes in the house but partly because we did watch him like a hawk. We also did the same thing as LInda, if we caught him in the act, say NO loudly, get the puppy put him outside and when he finishes outside, praise him lavishly. This worked well with DIllon.
Emilie