How did you train your dog to let you know that (s)he needs to go out?

I seriously need help from you dog pros!

I adopted a Boston Terrier a while back and house training him has been more than a nightmare. He’s fifteen weeks so he’s still pretty young but I’m getting so frustrated.

I got him at nine weeks and since I don’t go to a job, he’s with me 90% of the time or more. He knows that he’s not supposed to go inside. His biggest problem is that he doesn’t convey that he needs to go out. He’ll just stop, squat and do his business but right after, he comes up with a sad/apologetic demeanor, which is how I know that he knows not to go in the house. At the least, that’s him knowing that I’m going to get upset because I scold him every time I catch him. I take him out every few hours and after he eats. Sometimes he goes when I take him out, sometimes he doesn’t. I know he can hold it because at night, he sleeps in my bed and doesn’t pee at all until I wake up and take him out.

In the past few weeks, he’s started a new pee problem where he gets overly excited when he sees people he doesn’t regularly see and he pees in his excitement… Usually on the unsuspecting person. This is a BIG problem because people often stop by my house.

I feel like I’ve tried everything. I give him treats when he does go outside, I’ve set up a bell by the door (which he’s scared of and won’t use) and I’ve even tried taking him out every hour on the hour. Nothing I try seems to work and I’m about to go crazy. I’ve considered getting rid of him because of the frustration and I really don’t want to have to do that.

Please help me guys, before I blow my brains out. Other than this bathroom problem, he’s a great dog.