I recently got a 5 month old pup whose previous owner didn't house break her. I have read all about crate training and am currently doing that with this pup, but what happens if the pup will NEVER go potty outside?! I have her on a feeding schedule and take her out to potty numerous times during the day but she will never potty outside, therefore I can never praise her for going outside, and effectively train her. I have tried taking her messes she's made inside the house, outside to where I want her to go, and this still hasn't seemed to help. I have also bought some spray that you are supposed to spray in the area you want the pup to go, and this too hasn't seemed to help. If I could just get her to go outside so I could praise her for doing it, I would feel like we were making some progress. Please help-any ideas?!

At 5months old this is a great time to teach her, she's still quite young.

1) you have to treat her like she's a newborn completely untrained (I treat all new dogs in that way)
2) she gets ZERO freedom until she goes. That means crate or leashed to you so you can watch her CONSTANTLY
3) you have to be VERY patient, take her out on leash when you are SURE she has to go and wait her out. Eventually she will. It can take what seems like an hour the first time. I've done this with fosters many many times. If she doesn't go and you lose patience in you come but she is crated 10 mins and then try again. Right after eating is a great time. Repeat until success. Remember NO FREEDOM until she goes or you will miss your opportunity.

If I'm not explaining this well let me know and I'll try again.

How is she doing with potty time now? Is it going any better? I got my puppy when she was five months. She came from a shelter. I think they did what they could but I don't know that she was potty trained prior to me getting her since she was only at the shelter for a few short days before I adopted her. She came from a puppy mill prior to the shelter so I doubt they potty trained her at all. She is doing pretty good. Every once in a while she has an accident but she usually manages to make it to the door. Many times I become caught up in school work or chores and then I miss that she was at the door waiting for me. She doesn't make any noise so I really have to watch her close. Sometimes she will run up to the patio door and scratch it when she needs to go. She was doing really good...no accidents for a week or two and then she had a little relapse. I think it might have something to do with her being a teen now , she has become a little more defiant. Over all I'm happy with her progress. Potty training however requires the patience of a saint! Good luck!