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Originally Posted by DSTRen13
Right now, he's with my parents' cats and they get along okay - he hasn't hurt them or anything like that. My cat has always been a one-pet show.
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Because of this, I'd say you should definitely introduce the cat to the dog slowly. Its great that the dog has a good relationship with your parent's cat, but your cat may feel differently.
Quote:
Originally Posted by DSTRen13
No, the shelter didn't train him in any way. My impression is that they just left him locked up most of the time and if he peed in there, oh well  Right now, my parents (who also don't know much about dogs) take him out a lot and also leave him in their garage if they're gone for a long period so it doesn't matter if he pees or poops on the floor ... My sister got a crate for him before she left, but I don't think anyone's used it. I'm going to try to find a book about this and hopefully we can pull it off. Is there any way to teach a dog to let you know when it needs to go outside (like cats do)?
I am very familiar with cats (raised with them), but dogs are very mysterious to me, lol. I'm excited, but I just don't want to mess up the poor thing who has already had such a rough time! Thank you all for your help 
By the way, this is Sam (my sister named him after the Lord of the Rings) at my parents:
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Sam is VERY handsome!
What a good lookin' dog.
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Originally Posted by LionInMI
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The site LionInMI gave is exactly what I used to crate train both of my dogs, they LOVE their crates! My littlest dog will run right inside his crate anytime he gets a chance to-he just loves to lay there. Just make sure its enough space for him to stand up, turn around, and lay back down. If its too big he might start peeing/pooping in there, if its too small he'll be cramped! My 60 lbs. boxer mix is in a
Giant Petmate and its the perfect size. She used to have a wire crate but tore the door clean off, and then chewed through the plastic airholes of her second crate (but she has severe separation anxiety that only got better when we got a second dog, Sam may be fine in a wire crate (my littlest dog is.)) A lot of the wire crates will come with the separator that FSUZeta mentioned!
If you're looking to do some general obedience training (heel, sit, down, etc.) then you might look at
What All Good Dogs Should Know: The Sensible Way to Train by Jack Volhard & Melissa Bartlett. In fact, I've read my copy a hundred times or more-if you want I can send it to you, just PM me if you're interested.
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Originally Posted by FSUZeta
when you take the puppy out to potty, walk him to the area of the yard where you want him to potty, and actually tell him to potty. just a simple "go potty." don't play with the puppy until it potties. you want the dog to know that it is business first. when it potties, praise him-something like "good potty". then it is playtime.
always potty after the puppy eats and before you put the puppy back in the crate.
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This is great house training advice. You determine his schedule, for eating & using the bathroom for the most part. Don't free-feed or its harder to house train. So set the food out for 20-30 minutes in the morning, and then again at night. As soon as he has eaten/drank take him right outside. Praise him with a treat (sparingly) or just encouragement & head pat everytime he uses the bathroom outside. Take him out when you wake up, after he eats, before you leave the house, as soon as you get back, after his dinner, and before bed. If you set the schedule he will adjust to follow it. If he doesn't make it through the night, or while you're away from the home, don't "punish" him (none of that "sticking his nose in it".) Dogs succeed through positive reinforcement, so if you catch him in the act you can firmly say "No" then move him immediately outside so he can finish. When he does finish going outside you should praise him.
And don't worry! You can't mess him up too bad as long as you love him & treat him accordingly.