Considering this "training" method the only problem I can see is the dog MIGHT not understand that OUTSIDE is where the pee and poop ought to be when you are home and the dog is not crated.
I would have still followed up with rewards and positive reinforcement every time I was present and the dog pooped and pee'd outside.
I would do this not only to help reinforce the idea that this action is an out of doors only action but also to let the dog know that it is OK to pee and poop when I am around.
The other problem I see with this method would be the lack of generalization to a new place. IOW's if you moved somewhere else, or went to visit someone else, your dog might not generalize his housebreaking without the same set up. Of course, the housebreaking may not generalize no matter WHAT method you use to train the dog until you have reinforece the behavior in a number of locations.
I would have still followed up with rewards and positive reinforcement every time I was present and the dog pooped and pee'd outside.
I would do this not only to help reinforce the idea that this action is an out of doors only action but also to let the dog know that it is OK to pee and poop when I am around.
The other problem I see with this method would be the lack of generalization to a new place. IOW's if you moved somewhere else, or went to visit someone else, your dog might not generalize his housebreaking without the same set up. Of course, the housebreaking may not generalize no matter WHAT method you use to train the dog until you have reinforece the behavior in a number of locations.
