He's just not getting house broken!!

[mairin]

I REALLY need some help house training Duncan.. I looked around for other threads and I couldn't find anything that really fit my situation, so if this has been posted before- I'm sorry..

Duncan is about 9 months old and still is not potty trained. After being sort of wee wee pad trained (he started missing the pad like crazy) we decided he needed to start going out side-this all happened several months ag0. I'm sure this helped to confuse him, but he doesn't seem to be getting it at all.. He'll pee outside nooo problem, but I think he likes to poop in private with no one watching-- I don't know, he's a little neurotic I guess.. I spoke to a few trainers about it and they really suggested crate training so I decided I'm going to stick with it. They said when I KNOW he has to go, take him out, and if he doesn't go it's back in the crate... Well recently he's just stopped pooping. I'll take him outside, he'll pee no problem then just decide he wants to eat some stuff from the ground or sit down and look around. I don't know if he's pooing in his crate and eating it (gross-i know- sorry..) or what he's doing

Anyway, has anyone else had SUCH a hard time crate training their yorkies?? I feel like he spends more time in the crate than out and it really breaks my heart to see him in there.. However, he can't just keep going in the house whenever he wants. I got a dog so he could hang out and be part of the family, but the crate training has him in there so much that I feel like I have a rabbit instead. Does anyone have any suggestions/advice/even words of support? I'm started to get so frustrated and feel so helpless..

[JeanieK]

Do you have a fenced yard? Is a doggie door an option? If they are fed on a schedule, they should need to poop on a schedule. If you have to take him out on a leash, go for a walk, this usually stimulates them.

Mine all poop first thing in the morning and after their canned food in the efvening. they are crated during the night. During the day they are in the laundry room with a doggie door. They free feed fall day and get canned food first thing in the morning and around 5:30 PM. I pick their food up at around 7 pm, they are put in crates at 10 pm, f they eat later than that then they tend to need to poop in the night.

[mairin]

No we don't have a fenced in yard so that definitely makes it difficult. I've figured out Duncan usually needs to go once he's woken up in the morning, when I get home from work, and sometimes right after to dinner. I'll take him for walks, try to make him run a little... doesn't usually work.. It seemed like he was getting it for alittle while, but now has taken some steps back

[ARCHIE]

Schedule, IMO, is key! Get him on a schedule. Are you free feeding him?
If so stop and put him on a feeding schedule. Buddy was trained by 5months.
Fully trained because of a schedule. I never varied from it rain or shine.
It payed off. He was crate trained as well and I couldn't wait to get rid of it!
I got up a six, walked him first thing to potty, fed him at 6:30am and played with him for 1/2. Back in crate while I got ready for work and out for another walk at 8:00am. Back in crate and off to work. I came home at lunch for 6weeks to let him out and walk him. Back in crate until 5:30 for another walk.
Feed him at 6opm and back out around 7:00pm and then we played. I kept him out of the crate during the evening to play and enjoy him. He had a couple pee accidents. Back out around 9:45 and into the crate for the night.
No water during the night! Whenever he drank water out of the crate I knew we would have to go out in about 20mins. I also gave him a tiny piece of
liverwurst each and everytime he potted outside. Trainer told me that.
It has to be a treat he would not get any other time. Within 6 wks crate was gone and he was fully trained. He stays in the house for 9hrs while I'm gone and has never had an accident. Schedule is everything.
Good luck. Once he is trained of course water should be available to him at all times.

[mairin]

Thanks! luckily he has no peeing accidents so I think it's ok to leave him with water- Do you agree?? I just really hate the idea of him being all day without it.

I'll definitely work on a tighter schedule with him and I like the idea of a treat he doesn't ususally get.. Liverwurst (sp?) sounds like a perfect idea!! thank you!!!

[simplyyorkies]

Try walking with him. A lot of dogs will do this - however if you take him for a walk the body naturally will attempt to eliminate. Just make sure to bring a baggie with you to clean up after him. When he finally finds the perfect spot praise him and tell him. Soon he'll get the idea.

[JeanieK]

Originally Posted by mairin

No we don't have a fenced in yard so that definitely makes it difficult. I've figured out Duncan usually needs to go once he's woken up in the morning, when I get home from work, and sometimes right after to dinner. I'll take him for walks, try to make him run a little... doesn't usually work.. It seemed like he was getting it for alittle while, but now has taken some steps back

Well the training process is two steps forward and one step back. I'm sure he will catch on if you feed him on a schedule and walk him on a schedule. and if he is pooping in the house, try to find a pattern.

Good luck

[Punkin&Piper]

Just be patient it takes forever mine still will pee if they are to busy to go to the puppy pad.

[Raja's Mom]

They have been known to eat poo... so if you think that's what's going on in the crate you can mix pumpkin (unsweetened. canned is easiest) with his food. It will prevent him from eating any accidents in his crate b/c it makes it taste bad... as if it shouldn't taste bad in the first place!

Alternatively (if he won't go for the pumpkin) you can make use of doggie diapers. Just make sure you get diapers that cover his backside. Many are made for females in heat & have a tail-hole big enough to allow for #2, and that would defeat the purpose.

These suggestions are back-up and would be best used along with getting him on a good schedule like everyone else is suggesting.

[Smalano58]

im some what having the same problem.
ive been trying to do the crate training but seems hopeless because he doesnt mind peeing and pooping in there. and he is "selective" when he uses the pad now. half the time he'll run straight for the pad and other times he'll just poop and pee where ever he see fits.

[iloveclyde]

I have the same problem with my 5 month old yorkie Clyde ! I'm currently crate training him but so far it's not going too well.

I have two Maltese who will litteraly bark and go crazy if they somehow get poop on themselves. Clyde, on the other hand, doesn't mind if he's sitting or sleeping on his urine/poop in his crate.

I have him on a schedule and when I take him outside to potty, he'll sit there and stare at me or find something (leaves, dirt, grass & grasshoper - yuck) to eat or play with. I get frustrated and take him back to the crate only to come back seconds later to find a pool of urine and poop in which he finds quite tasty and decides to make a meal of! So gross!

This poor little guy! I guess I'll just have to be patient and give him awesome treats when he does relieve himself in the right places. Any tips or advise would be great.

[Holly_QD]

I've had a little trouble with my Holly, too. Right when it seemed like she was potty pad trained, she started going everywhere. Luckily I always keep her gated in a room with tiled floor. She has her crate in there with a blanket over it and her water bottle (a gerbil one) and some kibble. I am here all day however and I can kind sort of tell when she has to go. I just make her stay on the pad until she goes. She still has a few accidents, but I did have to start over. She knows what she's doing. She even goes to her pad and squeezes out whatever she's got in her little bladder just for a treat. I think it's cute but I treat it just like regular training. The emptier her bladder the better right.
Well just a little sharing so you know you are not alone. I guess just stick to a schedule like others have suggested and this time I think if you just stick to one method it will be better to avoid confusion. I believe that consistency is key.
Good Luck and keep us posted.

[melmel84]

crate training for me was not an option (even though I bought one), Tino would scratch at the cage until he would practically rip his little paws open. It stressed him out so much being in there I had to forget the idea completely. I did puppy pads for a while and then outside with puppy pads, and back to just puppy pads in the winter becuase of his refusal to go into the snow. It seems to work for me, I free feed him becuase he doesnt really eat much to begin with. He has an accident from time to time but usually its just him marking things becuase he is a stud dog. As for the pooing he doesnt really do that inside unless he misses the pad or he goes in the middle of the night by my bedroom door...(present for mommy) i guess. I got lucky I think becuase training just came natuarally to him, but like I said we are definately not perfect. But if anyone needs a crate for cheap lemme know...I definately dont use it.lol

[lcbear]

You all are not alone. My Teddy is 7 months old (yesterday) and as smart as they come until it comes to going potty outside. I can have him out with me for hours and then when he comes in he heads for my diningroom to pee and poo. I am so frustrated. When I first started I would set my timer for 10 minutes and every time it when off, out we would go. But to no avail. He just does not seem to get it, yet if he is out and wants in, he will bark at the door.

I don't believe in spanking him or rubbing his nose in it, so when I catch him peeing or pooing, what do I do. I tell him no Teddy, pee outside and then pick him up and we go outside but then he looks at me with this stupid look like "mom, I don't need to pee, I just did in the dining room". You got to laugh because he is so right, but seriously, when I catch him going in the house, what do I do?????

I always tell him it is a good thing you are such a cute boy.

Any help would be appreciated.

[xxmxaxrxyxx]

sorry to hear your troubles...

but for what i have learn is that being consistant is the key to success...

schedule, schedule schedule..it will be frustrated for a while but once they get it..its the best thing ever for them and you...keke