The best thing I found was crate-training at night, and when you’re away from home. I didn’t keep my dog crated when I was home with him, I locked him in the kitchen the first week, staying in there to play with him. On the second week we slowly let him have more freedom in the house. We were always watching, and after all activity (sleeping, eating, playing) took him out right away. I took him out as much as every 15-30 minutes. We took him out the same door always, out to the same spot (by a big field we have beside our yard), said ‘go potty, go potty’ (he’s 2 now, and still goes to the same area to poop) and petted/praised like crazy when he did (good BOY, good potty!) Then right back inside….no playing right after potty. If we played, it was inside, then back out to play, so he’d ‘get it’ that that trip out was for potty alone. When you pair whatever words (like “go potty”) to the action, I think it helps…and he’d go potty on command after awhile. That’s nice when you’re getting ready to go somewhere in the car, and need him to go! If he had accidents when in the crate, I never scolded…never. Just cleaned everything up. Nature’s Miracle worked wonders for me; it cleans spots and odors great. We would never rub the puppy’s nose in it if there were accidents in the house. That’s what worked for me.