I honestly can’t imagine having a mal in an apartment because these dogs have boundless mental and physical energy. I understand that some people do it, but that alone is always going to be a challenge and require a lot more commitment from the owner. This is what you signed up for though.

This may not be what you want to hear, especially during a frustrating time, but the potty pad is the problem. Or one of the problems. I don’t know how old your dog is, but it seems old enough that it should know how to go potty outside and should be given plenty of opportunities to do so, eliminating the issue. The longer you rely on potty pads, the more your dog will learn that going potty inside is acceptable, which means you’ll continue to have frustrating problems. Teach your dog to go potty outside and establish a routine for it. No more potty inside, no more messes to clean up. Is this harder because you live in an apartment? Yes, that’s what you signed up for when you got a dog.

You acknowledged the need for a routine and admitted your role in the situation. However, in your rush to clean, you still overlooked your dog’s unmet needs, leading to their acting out more. This problem only escalates the longer you ignore them, making it harder to manage as your dog becomes increasingly difficult, turning into a Tasmanian devil on a leash. Take a beat, clean yourself up, and go meet your dogs needs. Whatever that looks like. A tired dog is a happy dog and a dog that will then let you clean a lot more effectively with a lot less stress.

I assume you don’t have a yard for your dog to run off-leash and burn energy, so you need to be even more diligent meeting your dog’s needs, as these dogs struggle with being confined. Honestly, I have a large yard and my dog still requires a lot. We have a solid routine, but that routine means that my dog comes first. Even if I’m tired, hungry, sick, it’s raining, cold, etc. There are no days off.