I've got a 4 month old Weechon (Westie crossed with a Bischon) and he/we are just not getting the hang of house training, we are trying to keep a strong routine of walks and letting him out in the garden, we are praising and treating him when he does get it right, but more often than not, when we get home from a walk the first thing he does is pee on the floor.

We've been using training mats for him to pee on and he uses these indoors 99% of the time, but when they are moved outside he doesn't want to know, he will poo during walks never pees, but will hold it in until we get home and then pee on the carpet.

Any ideas or advice ??

You have effectively started training him to toilet inside by using these training mats.

Ditch the mats, forget paper and go back to basics - take him outside every half hour, and wait outside until he goes - give him heaps of praise and a treat when he does - gradually increase the time between outside visits.

If he toilets inside, if you miss it, don't scold him, but show him by being 'grumpy' when cleaning up that you are not happy - if you catch him at it, take him outside and wait until he finishes - he will soon get the message.

4 months is no age at all, some dogs are housetrained by 10 weeks others can be 6 months or older - I've had all manner of ages from bringing one dog home at 7-1/2 weeks to one I was still struggling with at 8 months - but they do eventually get the message. In my own experience, I have generally found the boys take longer to get the message than the girls, but I am sure there are those who will disagree.

Unfortunately, I think whoever used you to use training mats gave bad advice - forget them and go back to the basics and he will get the message - i.e. the only place to toilet is outside.

I agree - ditch the mats permanently. All they do is train the dog to go wherever the mat is.
One dog I knew had these mats in her crate and now thinks that she should wet her bed rather than wait to go outside.
Just take the pup out after each feed and period of play when he/she looks restless/distracted. Hard work but it will pay off.

If he goes when he gets back from a walk the don't let him walk into the house and so pee.
Carry him straight outside so he's out there when he's bursting to go and wait with him til he goes.
It may help to move a training mat outside to encourage him with something he's familar with, then reduce the size of the mat as he gets the idea.
It is also useful for the future to introduce a toilet command which you initially use at the time he's performing
I entirely agree time taken varies enormously, mine have taken from 3 days to six months to get it reliably

Do you know anyone with a dog that is already toilet trained? if so, get them to bring their dog to your house, and let it out in your garden for a pee - your dog will then instinctively want to cover the other dogs scent, so will pee outside.

My father in law visited with his dog, which pee'd in our garden, which in turn made Smudge want to mark the territory as his own - - he hasn't pee'd in the house once since that day.

Agree with the above. My sisters rescue dog will never poop on a walk, even if you walked him five miles. He will only ever do his business in the garden when he arrives home from his walk. They have tried everything over the years but now just accept they need to let him in the garden when they return home from walking him , he is a very clean dog mind you.

Don't forget to wash your floors thoroughly with smelly cleaning fluids.

To a dog, if it smells like a toilet it is a toilet.

But remember any products with chlorine or ammonia do smell like a toilet to a dog as thes are components of feaces and urine so avoid bleach.
Some dogs will also be attracted to pee on any strong smelling area so strong lemon or pine odurs are not necessarily good. Odour eliminators and biological products are best.

But remember any products with chlorine or ammonia do smell like a toilet to a dog as these are components of feaces and urine so avoid bleachs etc.
Some dogs will also be attracted to pee on any strong smelling area so strong lemon or pine odours are not necessarily good. Odour eliminators and biological products are best.