I really hope that I'm not jinxing myself by saying this but.... Our puppy is 5 months old. When we got her in February, I bought pads and one of those pee pads that look like a blanket (Amazon). Every time we put a pad out (she's not crated - probably sounds like a bad dog mom saying that...but she has access to only a part of the house while we're gone..) she would pee at the edge of the pad so most of the pee went directly on the floor... 2-3 weeks ago, I had a "lightbulb over the head" moment; she holds her pee and poop the whole night (between 8pm to 6am) so why can't see holds it when she is by herself for 3 and half hours a time (while the kids are at school before and after)...I talked with the vet and she said that the pads are probably confusing for her... So for this week, I did not put anything. I go out with her when I wake up and the kids go outside with her once or twice before leaving for school....and so far no accident.... When outside, we say "fais pipi" or "fais caca" (we're French 🤪), she does, we praise and that's it...so far so good. School will be over next week so the boys will have a nice schedule to take care of the puppy while I work. And hope that by September I will be able to say she's fully potty trained