Housetraining young pups!
Currently raising some young pups who are six weeks old. It always amazes me how quickly pups grow, develop and learn!
Litter pans and potty mats are great for use indoors for a litter in their designated area, but don't teach the difference that if there is a roof/ceiling over their head, to keep that area clean. Think crate training...which they are also introduced to. Makes it so much easier when they go to their new home, if a pups' concept of housetraining is on its way. Are they perfect housetrained already? nope, but lots to work with!
Before getting to this point of trying to get all outdoors to do their thing, we have worked on recalls and following-both foundation for lots of things! Starting at a pup responding to your voice and then motion to follow you, takes work! Filtering distractions starts early 
Holding it becomes more possible as a pup matures-physically & mentally.
And, then you have the Senior dogs who start to lose that control as part of aging. Accidents may happen as they lose cognitive control and revert back to being puppies. Hard to watch with some seniors who seem genuinely stressed or "embarassed" by this change in their ability to self-regulate. Most senior dogs just need a little extra support (balance) to find their way out of the door and down some stairs-seems simple to us, but maybe they have arthritis in their feet/back that make doing even small stairs a big accomplishment. If an older dog is avoiding going down stairs and pees on your porch or near the door they use to go outside, they may be avoiding pain-not plotting to make a mess. Baby pups that can be carried to ground level helps the housetraining process, might need to do that at first to imprint on where to "go". Taking them to the same spot also helps to reinforce "where" for them.
