We adopted a one year old lab mix who was previously a stray, about a month ago. We have had our other dog for 3 years, and he is 100% potty trained, but we had no problems training him. He was dropped off at the shelter, so I'm going to assume his prior owners must have trained him, because we didn't have to do any work, luckily.
I feel like we're at a standstill with potty training our new dog, Ripley. She sleeps in a crate at night, and is in the crate when we are out of the house, and she won't go in the crate. When we let her out, we go straight outside, give the 'tee tee' command, and she goes. I go out with both dogs about every hour or so when we're home, and she goes most of the time when I give the command (I suspect she's also taking after the older dog, which is great). And of course after either one of them goes outside I make a big 'to do' about it, sometimes with treats. If the weather is nice and we leave the back door open, she will always walk outside to use the bathroom. However, it's like she hasn't learned a cue to give us when she NEEDS to go outside if the door is shut. And because we are going in and out so often, she hasn't had a chance to see the older dog's cues (little whines by the door).
We have gone 2 weeks without an accident, but that's also with me diligently going out with them every hour. So it's like she knows the outside is for potty, but still has no problem going inside if the door is shut.
I feel like we have made progress since she's been home, but not sure what the next step is?
Oh also - we bought a bell to put by the door, and I ring it every time before we go outside but I don't know that it's doing anything.
Any advice would be helpful! Thanks!