I didn't realize you weren't using a crate yet. I would almost definitely have killed Sadie by now without it
It helped her learn to hold it (sometimes). And she actually really likes to be in there. I usually leave the door open when I'm home and she'll often go in there on her own just to take a nap.
We are actually still having the problem where all she wants to do is play on her walks. And I agree with Lins, just be consistent. I say "go potty" over and over again until she goes and I don't pet her or encourage any kind of play until she does it. She hasn't quite gotten the hang of that yet. She has usual spots where she goes, although she changes them up from time to time, so I usually walk her to one of her spots and say "go potty". She does it eventually.
He'll get there. Sometimes I forget that Sadie is still a baby because she's gotten so big. But I'd get the crate thing going ASAP. It will probably help a lot.
Don't kill him yet, LOL, he'll get it