I agree with finding another dog to pee in the place where you want him to go. I have been trying to get my dogs to go to the back of the yard to pee so they don't destroy the entire yard and they are really getting the hang of it. One (usually Bugsey) goes and the girls are sure to follow. If you want I could come over with my crew.
They'll pee anywhere. It also helps they have been peeing on a leash for the past year while we get the yard together. Even Foster dog TED got it in the first day.
On a side note: thank you for giving a poor abused puppy such a great home. People like that make me sick and are slowly eroding my faith in the human animal. How could you kick a little puppy. That is disgusting.