Thank you for your wonderful foster care but I’m sorry to hear about the problem you are having.
There are many ways to work on this matter. But if you are short on time, I recommended you to watch this #https://youtu.be/IPQAazegMQg and try this method.
1) Getting a right size crate will help you definitely. When they are not trained, they must not get the big room with freedom. The bigger free space = the more space to potty everywhere.
2) Schedule their day: feeding and potty time especially.
- Potty time (not walking) should be 15 minutes max. For puppy, 15-30 min is good too. But keep the time. Be committed to it. Add a que, “Go potty.”
- Potty time happens after you wake up, after they finish breakfast, before you go out, as soon as you come back, after dinner, and before bed.
- 10 pounds = 1 cup of water. If they are active, you won’t need to worry too much about providing water.
- Food and water should be monitor. Don’t leave any water and/food when you are gone. Water can be provide but very little. Make sure to check the room temperature, of course.
- Reward: as soon as they pee, praise them and reward them a treat. Don’t praise while they are eliminating, they may get alter and stop.
- If you can hire a sitter or have a friend visit them during the day to let them out = BEST
3) If they have an anxiety issue, you would also need to work on it as well 😭
4) Never punish them if they made an mistake. Have your cleaning tool. Don’t let them see you cleaning it up because they can get the wrong idea: she cleans = okay to do business, she’ll clean it up.
As I mentioned, there are many ways you can search and try. Positive reinforcement and negative punishment method may take some time and high level commitment, but it is worth to work with those methods.
You can also contact to a local trainer (or get referred by vet/shelter).
Good luck!
Another example of how pee pad don't work. By allowing them to go to potty in the house, you are conditioning them to go potty only when there is a roof/ceiling over head. Outside is vast & wide open & frightening to both cause both have been kept in side. Not good for dogs or you. Return dogs
Did you just literally tell her to return the dogs? I believe the answer below is more fitting than your comment. Its called working with the owners and the dogs to make each and every environment welcoming, loving , nurturing and inviting so training will be smooth. WOW !