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[JGHOUSTON]

My 5 month puppy is doing well with the areas she has access to but when we let her into a carpeted area she tends to pee. Is there a good way to acclimate her to carpet? Does she think it's grass or maybe she doesn't consider carpeted areas part of her den?

[Idaho Cairns]

We have no idea what a puppy "thinks" but you need to be vigilant when you let the dog into otherwise restricted areas, watch for the initial urination behaviors and moves, immediately use a verbal command "no" and then remove the pup to the area you want it to use--preferably outside (pee pads can confuse the dog).  Once the dog urinates outside, celebrate the act effusively, over enthusiastically so the dog thinks it has just won the canine lotto.  After a few iterations of no, followed by "Great Dog!", the pup should figure it out.
The "NO!" command is the first command any puppy should learn--once that is engrained, the rest is easy.

Let me add to this one other very important matter, if the dog errs and goes inside, anywhere, carpet or otherwise make sure to clean the area completely with a biological cleaning agent, removing any scent of urine from the spot.  Ideally, what you want is an area outside that is saturated with the dog's urine smell and no place inside the home with any trace of the smell.

Edited October 12, 2014 by Idaho Cairns