Our two shih tzus are finally reliably housebroken after three years. They weren't bad after about a year, but we had to take them out on a regular schedule. Lately, my dog Ralph, who seems to be the spokesman for the two, will come up to the door of my office and bark softly and do a little dance when he needs to go out.
My stepson insists housebreaking took so long because we didn't do it right and because we spoiled the dogs by leaving newspaper out for them to pee on - but it seemsed to us that newspaper was a far better receptacle than our new oriental rug.
But you know how it is - teenagers are very good at giving criticism, and not so good at actually being around to take the dogs out.
-Joe-