You have tried everything from positive reinforcement to the withdrawal of all affection, sometimes both in the same hour. Strangely, the dog seems to act more, and not less, confused. Puppy training may be just what you need at this point. A trainer instructs you in the basics of housetraining, walking on a leash, and how to socialize with other dogs. Where to put the dog all day is a problem all dog owners face, unless one family member stays home all day.
People buy dogs for their kids, but forget that their kids are gone all day to school.
If an adult remains at home, the dog will gravitate toward that adult, even if the adult does not want to be gravitated to. That is how, within a few days of getting him, I became his primary caretaker. Which left the two of us to learn the art of living and working together in my home office. My first inclination was to put the dog in a small kennel and leave him in Daniele's room. Brigitte told me that a dog in a house needs a home, and there is no better home for a dog than an indoor kennel.