Yorkies and the cold - YorkieTalk.com Forums

hiddenletter · 12-18-2005, 11:55 AM

Hi all,

This is my first yorkie puppy, and he's 11 weeks old, and I got him on friday. Here in Indiana, it's pretty cold, with snow on the ground, and I'm working on crate trainning Tomato. He does not appreciate the cold! I know it's bad for them to be out in it all the time, but I know that 10-15 minutes won't do him any harm. The problem I've been having is that he won't go outside when it's cold. I'm going to try and leave him in his crate longer, so that he HAS TO GO before I take him out, because this often works overnight. Do any of you have ideas on how to make him go in the cold? I will not paper train him in the house, regardless of how cold it is- that's just not going to happen in my tiny studio apartment.

thanks!

chewysmom · 12-18-2005, 12:46 PM

Welcome to YT. You may have to pee pad train him for a little while because he should not be going for walks until he gets all his shots. You can set them down at the door and he will go there. It would also be wise to get him a little hoodie to wear when he you do take him out, preferebaly carried in your arms or in a carrier

He's very young and won't get the hang of potty training for A WHILE.

Good luck.

chachi · 12-18-2005, 12:52 PM

Hi and welcome. Im from Indianapolis too! I peepad trained mine just when they were little. I started training them to go outside when they were about 4 months old. I know it is an inconvenience to have a peepad lying around but you might really try doing that while he is young.

yorkieangel · 12-18-2005, 01:04 PM

TOMATO...I LOVE IT

MelAnnDoll · 12-18-2005, 04:49 PM

My yorkie is 14 weeks old, and we are here in Missouri. She hated going outside at first when it snowed, but we just kept taking her out and setting her in a cleared off spot and let her roam around and go where she wanted to. It has worked! She is doing really well with her training. She runs around in the snow and loves it! I figure if she was too cold she would come in!

SnowWa · 12-18-2005, 05:01 PM

HiddenLetter --- One little pad does not a mess make. They are not bad or unsightly at all. And, there is no odor at all. All you end up with is a little pad with a wet spot on it. If they poop - just pick it up and get rid of it....no problem.

I'm sure you can take your litte dog out for a few minutes -- if you bundle him so that he's warm. But then with clothes on -- will he be able to go to the bathroom without wetting whatever he's wearing? You'll have to work this out.

I have pee pads and use belly bands - I haven't taken my little dog out in the cold at all. I'm not against doing that - and probably will. I think it's myself that I don't want to take out in the cold.

Good luck - Carol Jean

Erin · 12-18-2005, 05:29 PM

OK. Loki is a year old, so take this for what it's worth. Although, we got him in March and we did send him outside then as well.

I've heard housetraining is even easier in the winter because there is less to sniff, although Loki likes to eat the snow. The only drawback is that YOU will get cold. When crate/housetraining at first, you have to spend a while outside standing in the same spot with your dog until they figure out they need to go potty when they go outside. I'm warning you, Loki didn't really get things until he was about 6 months old, then it took him another 2 months to figure out how to *really* let us know (by scratching at the door or whining) and then *wait* for someone to let him out. No fence so a doggie door is not an option for us - he goes out on a flexi leash. IMO all of this is preferable to having pee pads.

Loki shivered a lot when he was little, especially when he drank cold water or was scared. He doesn't do that any more. Get your pup a coat and some sweaters. Heck, you really only need two - in case one gets wet. Buy sweaters/coats with cutouts on the bottom. Don't get one that's straight across. This leaves room on the bottom for bathroom duties. We've never had a problem with Loki peeing on a correctly fitted shirt. If you need help finding the right size let us know. We have pros on the board!

Also, Loki is fine in the snow but HATES wind and rain. Even he will have an accident because he doesn't want to go out in the rain or wind. I try to give him some sort of wind barrier and he does have a raincoat. It's tough. But he's a year old so i don't give him a lot of slack. The doggie bathroom is outside. He does seem to do better if I go out with him and stand there and get wet too, which is fair I suppose!

hiddenletter · 12-19-2005, 01:08 PM

he's already doing much better with going outside. Toy dogs are so much different from larger breeds! I had no idea how much a month and fifty pounds could change a dog when it comes to training!

12-18-2005, 11:55 AM	#1
hiddenletter Yorkie Talker Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 19	Yorkies and the cold Hi all, This is my first yorkie puppy, and he's 11 weeks old, and I got him on friday. Here in Indiana, it's pretty cold, with snow on the ground, and I'm working on crate trainning Tomato. He does not appreciate the cold! I know it's bad for them to be out in it all the time, but I know that 10-15 minutes won't do him any harm. The problem I've been having is that he won't go outside when it's cold. I'm going to try and leave him in his crate longer, so that he HAS TO GO before I take him out, because this often works overnight. Do any of you have ideas on how to make him go in the cold? I will not paper train him in the house, regardless of how cold it is- that's just not going to happen in my tiny studio apartment. thanks!

12-18-2005, 12:52 PM	#3
chachi I Love My Yorkies Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana Posts: 37,147	Hi and welcome. Im from Indianapolis too! I peepad trained mine just when they were little. I started training them to go outside when they were about 4 months old. I know it is an inconvenience to have a peepad lying around but you might really try doing that while he is young. __________________ Chachi's & Jewels Mom Jewels http://www.dogster.com/?132431 Chachi http://www.dogster.com/?132427

12-18-2005, 01:04 PM	#4
yorkieangel Rescue Angel Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: md Posts: 1,530	TOMATO...I LOVE IT __________________ Yorkieangel

12-18-2005, 05:01 PM	#6
SnowWa YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: USA Posts: 2,992	HiddenLetter --- One little pad does not a mess make. They are not bad or unsightly at all. And, there is no odor at all. All you end up with is a little pad with a wet spot on it. If they poop - just pick it up and get rid of it....no problem. I'm sure you can take your litte dog out for a few minutes -- if you bundle him so that he's warm. But then with clothes on -- will he be able to go to the bathroom without wetting whatever he's wearing? You'll have to work this out. I have pee pads and use belly bands - I haven't taken my little dog out in the cold at all. I'm not against doing that - and probably will. I think it's myself that I don't want to take out in the cold. Good luck - Carol Jean __________________ http://tinypic.com/ipxhmb.jpg A Yorkie is worth a thousand words.

12-18-2005, 05:29 PM	#7
Erin Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Chicago Suburbs Posts: 3,306	OK. Loki is a year old, so take this for what it's worth. Although, we got him in March and we did send him outside then as well. I've heard housetraining is even easier in the winter because there is less to sniff, although Loki likes to eat the snow. The only drawback is that YOU will get cold. When crate/housetraining at first, you have to spend a while outside standing in the same spot with your dog until they figure out they need to go potty when they go outside. I'm warning you, Loki didn't really get things until he was about 6 months old, then it took him another 2 months to figure out how to really let us know (by scratching at the door or whining) and then wait for someone to let him out. No fence so a doggie door is not an option for us - he goes out on a flexi leash. IMO all of this is preferable to having pee pads. Loki shivered a lot when he was little, especially when he drank cold water or was scared. He doesn't do that any more. Get your pup a coat and some sweaters. Heck, you really only need two - in case one gets wet. Buy sweaters/coats with cutouts on the bottom. Don't get one that's straight across. This leaves room on the bottom for bathroom duties. We've never had a problem with Loki peeing on a correctly fitted shirt. If you need help finding the right size let us know. We have pros on the board! Also, Loki is fine in the snow but HATES wind and rain. Even he will have an accident because he doesn't want to go out in the rain or wind. I try to give him some sort of wind barrier and he does have a raincoat. It's tough. But he's a year old so i don't give him a lot of slack. The doggie bathroom is outside. He does seem to do better if I go out with him and stand there and get wet too, which is fair I suppose! __________________ Erin, Sammy & Loki Sewing patterns and tutorials @ www.dogundermydesk.com

12-18-2005, 12:46 PM	#2
chewysmom My Precious Pup Donating Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: New York City Posts: 2,092	Welcome to YT. You may have to pee pad train him for a little while because he should not be going for walks until he gets all his shots. You can set them down at the door and he will go there. It would also be wise to get him a little hoodie to wear when he you do take him out, preferebaly carried in your arms or in a carrier He's very young and won't get the hang of potty training for A WHILE. Good luck.

12-18-2005, 04:49 PM	#5
MelAnnDoll Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 172	My yorkie is 14 weeks old, and we are here in Missouri. She hated going outside at first when it snowed, but we just kept taking her out and setting her in a cleared off spot and let her roam around and go where she wanted to. It has worked! She is doing really well with her training. She runs around in the snow and loves it! I figure if she was too cold she would come in!

12-19-2005, 01:08 PM	#8
hiddenletter Yorkie Talker Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 19	he's already doing much better with going outside. Toy dogs are so much different from larger breeds! I had no idea how much a month and fifty pounds could change a dog when it comes to training!