New Owner - Potty Training Frustration - YorkieTalk.com Forums

NalaLuv · 08-11-2008, 06:50 AM

Hello Everyone,

I am a new Yorkie owner and I'm having problems potty training my 9 week old Yorkie. She was 90% trained when I got her from the breeder and was doing okay when I had her in a pen, but after a day she was able to climb out of her pen (Yes the 2 pounder climed out of her exercise pen) and has not been consistent with going on the wee wee pads. I have since put her in a cage with a wee wee pad and she won't go in the cage. She holds it and even though I have another potty disignated area for her outstide of the cage, she goes off somewhere else no matter how many times I place her on the wee wee pad. It's getting really frustraiting have to watch her all day to make sure she's not going somewhere she's not supposed to. Anybody have any advice?

AMMARI · 08-11-2008, 06:54 AM

Welcome! They can be very frustrating at times.

I would put her on the wee-wee pad and wait until she goes. If she doesn't go put her back in the pen. She won't hold it forever-she will either decide to go in the pen (on the pad) or next time you let her out she will go on the other wee-wee pad you have for her. Do not let her run away. Sammy used to do this and pee in other places I wouldn't notice till hours later when it got stepped on!
After I got so frustrated I followed my friend's advice I tried this with Sammy at the beginning and he started going on his own after about 2 weeks. Of course I'm no expert.

LaPeque · 08-11-2008, 07:11 AM

Hi there - I had similar frustrations with Oscar when we first started his house training. I've posted this on another thread but wanted to copy it here for you too ... it is a synopsis of a house training guide I found online. Oscar and I have been following it carefully, and he's doing really well! I'm box and outside training my little guy, but if you want to train yours just to go on pads, then replace everywhere it says "take the dog outside" below with "put the dog on his puppy pad."

__________________________________________________ _
"First off, crate training is key. Get a crate that is just big enough for your puppy to stand up, turn around and lay down. Anything larger will encourage him to potty on one side and sleep on the other.

Starting first thing in the morning, take your puppy from the crate outside on a leash. Give him enough room to sniff around, but be boring ... don't move and don't play with him ... he needs to understand that the purpose of going outside is to eliminate. Give the command "go potty." (Or whatever you use). Once your dog goes, immediately reward with a treat. Then reward him by letting him off the leash for a short outdoor play period, and give him 30 minutes off the leash in the house. Then he goes back in the crate.

Approximately every hour, (and after feeding) repeat the same scenario. Once he goes, immediately reward with a treat and off leash play time. If you take him out and he doesn't go, put him back in the crate. Take him out about 20 minutes later and try again. Repeat crate - outside - crate - outside until he goes. Then, treat & off leash play time.

Once your puppy has gone a couple weeks without accidents, begin to increase the off-leash play time by 10 or 15 minute increments. If he has an accident, slightly reduce the play time until he's able to go a week again with no accidents. Eventually he will be spending more and more time out of the crate until you have established a pottying routine, and he doesn't need to be crated. I've tweaked the times based on my own puppy's schedule and intestinal needs, and you can be flexible. (Also important - if you actually catch your dog going off the pad, clap your hands loudly and tell them "No" and immediately put him on the pad. When he finishes on the pad, give him a treat. But don't scold them if you find an old pee spot or poop ... they won't understand why you are angry.)

It takes a ton of energy, but it so worth it! If we don't give them an opportunity to have accidents, life will be so much easier for us and the puppies!

Hang in there and good luck!"

stacylee · 08-11-2008, 07:18 AM

Welcome to YT!

When I got Sebastian, he was trained by the breeder to use pee pads. After I got him home, I kept him confined to just the kitchen and a pee pad. Then I let him have the kitchen and the dining room. I put his pee pads in the area he had his first accident and then I watched him...closely. When I wasn't able to keep an eye on him all the time, I put him in his pen. If I saw him circling or sniffing I would take him to his pee pads. Eventually, he remembered where they were and started using them. I always praised him and gave him a treat for going potty.

Good luck!

luvmyYorkieJack · 08-11-2008, 07:32 AM

Hey. Just from my lovely little experience with Jack, I know that he will never be pee pad trained. I don't think the lady, who claimed she was a breeder, really even tried to potty train any of her puppies. We brought Jack home and he peed where ever he felt like. Now, a little red flag should have went off when I asked her how the puppies spend their days. She said they slept in kennels and then in the morning she would let them out into the sun room. Well, I am speculating here, but I am assuming that the puppies just peed whereever they liked. We tried the pads but he would sniff them, walk off it, and pee moments later on the carpet. We had much better sucess taking Jack outside because now he hardly has any accidents and potty training is much more enjoyable.

I hope you find something that works. Oh and you might want to try and find her motivator. Such as Jack loves cheese, so he gets a small bit of cheese when he pees outside and poops outside. Good luck!

NalaLuv · 08-11-2008, 07:55 AM

That sounds like what my Nala does. She sniffs the wee pad, chews on it...and sometimes even sleeps on it. When I see her circling around I run and place her on the wee wee pad, and she runs right off...then she'll even stay there for a while staring at me and she will not go. Then I'll pute her in her crate and she won't go. Then as soon as I let her out she goes. I've tried taking her outside, but I think it's all so new to her (she's only 9 weeks) she just romps in the grass and never goes to the potty.

LaPeque · 08-11-2008, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NalaLuv

That sounds like what my Nala does. She sniffs the wee pad, chews on it...and sometimes even sleeps on it. When I see her circling around I run and place her on the wee wee pad, and she runs right off...then she'll even stay there for a while staring at me and she will not go. Then I'll pute her in her crate and she won't go. Then as soon as I let her out she goes. I've tried taking her outside, but I think it's all so new to her (she's only 9 weeks) she just romps in the grass and never goes to the potty.

Ah! One thing I forgot to add ... I got a spray bottle of house training aid ... when I put Oscar on his pad, I'll also spray a little on the pad ... he'll occasionally do the same sit-and-look-up-at-mom thing as Nala. (The spray smells like urine to dogs, and they'll begin to associate that smell with where they should be going ...) He generally sniffs it, circles, and then goes on his pad.

The problem with the urine smell association is that if you don't get the scent completely off the floor where they've had accidents, they will continue going to those places. I've been using Avenge spot cleaner (it's an enzyme cleaner) and it has worked wonderfully.

NalaLuv · 08-11-2008, 09:13 AM

Wow, that sounds great...maybe that will work...I'm not a big wake up early and walk my dog person, so I'm really trying to keep her in door trained...thanks for the advice everyone!

Timmy · 08-11-2008, 09:26 AM

First....Welcome to YT!

This is a great site with loads of information.

I'd like to say that 9 weeks is still too young...time & patience is all you need. Always remember that with any dog no matter what the age is....if they are brought to a new environment they are going to have accidents. Its like you have to start all over again. Also know that it doesn't happen over night so you have to be patient...some take way longer to train than others. Be consistant and if you're not able to watch her she must be confined. Always use one word that will help identify what you want her to do. I used "go potty" with my furkids. Mine are 100% pee pad trained.
Also, PRAISE PRAISE & PRAISE her and offer treats! I use to make a big deal when mine pottied on the pad....I think my entire neighborhood heard me...LOL

Good Luck!

dmnevil · 10-19-2008, 11:49 AM

Hello, my name is Carla and we are the new proud family members of our baby boy duke who made 12 weeks today. He also made one week with us.

I have a few questions if someone can help us.
Similar to the others.
1. He urinates in the right area, but does not poo in the right area. Please help us understand this.
2. About the same time every night he gets up and bark and whine for no reason. Please help us understand this.
3. Most important, we are undecided of which brand of food we should get him. Want to get the brand which will be the best for him. The ones we are considering are: Old mother hubbard, eukanuba, nutro natural choice, [COLOR=green! important][COLOR=green! important]royal [COLOR=green! important]canin[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR], or authority. Please let us know which of these or another brand which you suggest.

Thank you,
duke's family

08-11-2008, 06:50 AM	#1
NalaLuv Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: New York Posts: 49	New Owner - Potty Training Frustration Hello Everyone, I am a new Yorkie owner and I'm having problems potty training my 9 week old Yorkie. She was 90% trained when I got her from the breeder and was doing okay when I had her in a pen, but after a day she was able to climb out of her pen (Yes the 2 pounder climed out of her exercise pen) and has not been consistent with going on the wee wee pads. I have since put her in a cage with a wee wee pad and she won't go in the cage. She holds it and even though I have another potty disignated area for her outstide of the cage, she goes off somewhere else no matter how many times I place her on the wee wee pad. It's getting really frustraiting have to watch her all day to make sure she's not going somewhere she's not supposed to. Anybody have any advice?

08-11-2008, 06:54 AM	#2
AMMARI Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: New York Posts: 181	Welcome! They can be very frustrating at times. I would put her on the wee-wee pad and wait until she goes. If she doesn't go put her back in the pen. She won't hold it forever-she will either decide to go in the pen (on the pad) or next time you let her out she will go on the other wee-wee pad you have for her. Do not let her run away. Sammy used to do this and pee in other places I wouldn't notice till hours later when it got stepped on! After I got so frustrated I followed my friend's advice I tried this with Sammy at the beginning and he started going on his own after about 2 weeks. Of course I'm no expert. Last edited by AMMARI; 08-11-2008 at 06:56 AM.

08-11-2008, 07:18 AM	#4
stacylee Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Iowa Posts: 66	Welcome to YT! When I got Sebastian, he was trained by the breeder to use pee pads. After I got him home, I kept him confined to just the kitchen and a pee pad. Then I let him have the kitchen and the dining room. I put his pee pads in the area he had his first accident and then I watched him...closely. When I wasn't able to keep an eye on him all the time, I put him in his pen. If I saw him circling or sniffing I would take him to his pee pads. Eventually, he remembered where they were and started using them. I always praised him and gave him a treat for going potty. Good luck! __________________ Stacylee Prince Sebastian It was love at first sight!

08-11-2008, 07:32 AM	#5
luvmyYorkieJack Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Mankato, MN, US Posts: 180	Hey. Just from my lovely little experience with Jack, I know that he will never be pee pad trained. I don't think the lady, who claimed she was a breeder, really even tried to potty train any of her puppies. We brought Jack home and he peed where ever he felt like. Now, a little red flag should have went off when I asked her how the puppies spend their days. She said they slept in kennels and then in the morning she would let them out into the sun room. Well, I am speculating here, but I am assuming that the puppies just peed whereever they liked. We tried the pads but he would sniff them, walk off it, and pee moments later on the carpet. We had much better sucess taking Jack outside because now he hardly has any accidents and potty training is much more enjoyable. I hope you find something that works. Oh and you might want to try and find her motivator. Such as Jack loves cheese, so he gets a small bit of cheese when he pees outside and poops outside. Good luck! __________________ Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass... it's about learning to dance in the rain. Jack & Madden Last edited by luvmyYorkieJack; 08-11-2008 at 07:34 AM.

10-19-2008, 11:49 AM	#10
dmnevil YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Pearland, Texas, USA Posts: 8 Blog Entries: 1	Someone please help us with the concerns below Hello, my name is Carla and we are the new proud family members of our baby boy duke who made 12 weeks today. He also made one week with us. I have a few questions if someone can help us. Similar to the others. 1. He urinates in the right area, but does not poo in the right area. Please help us understand this. 2. About the same time every night he gets up and bark and whine for no reason. Please help us understand this. 3. Most important, we are undecided of which brand of food we should get him. Want to get the brand which will be the best for him. The ones we are considering are: Old mother hubbard, eukanuba, nutro natural choice, [COLOR=green! important][COLOR=green! important]royal [COLOR=green! important]canin[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR], or authority. Please let us know which of these or another brand which you suggest. Thank you, duke's family

08-11-2008, 07:11 AM	#3
LaPeque Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: State College, PA Posts: 177	Hi there - I had similar frustrations with Oscar when we first started his house training. I've posted this on another thread but wanted to copy it here for you too ... it is a synopsis of a house training guide I found online. Oscar and I have been following it carefully, and he's doing really well! I'm box and outside training my little guy, but if you want to train yours just to go on pads, then replace everywhere it says "take the dog outside" below with "put the dog on his puppy pad." __________________________________________________ _ "First off, crate training is key. Get a crate that is just big enough for your puppy to stand up, turn around and lay down. Anything larger will encourage him to potty on one side and sleep on the other. Starting first thing in the morning, take your puppy from the crate outside on a leash. Give him enough room to sniff around, but be boring ... don't move and don't play with him ... he needs to understand that the purpose of going outside is to eliminate. Give the command "go potty." (Or whatever you use). Once your dog goes, immediately reward with a treat. Then reward him by letting him off the leash for a short outdoor play period, and give him 30 minutes off the leash in the house. Then he goes back in the crate. Approximately every hour, (and after feeding) repeat the same scenario. Once he goes, immediately reward with a treat and off leash play time. If you take him out and he doesn't go, put him back in the crate. Take him out about 20 minutes later and try again. Repeat crate - outside - crate - outside until he goes. Then, treat & off leash play time. Once your puppy has gone a couple weeks without accidents, begin to increase the off-leash play time by 10 or 15 minute increments. If he has an accident, slightly reduce the play time until he's able to go a week again with no accidents. Eventually he will be spending more and more time out of the crate until you have established a pottying routine, and he doesn't need to be crated. I've tweaked the times based on my own puppy's schedule and intestinal needs, and you can be flexible. (Also important - if you actually catch your dog going off the pad, clap your hands loudly and tell them "No" and immediately put him on the pad. When he finishes on the pad, give him a treat. But don't scold them if you find an old pee spot or poop ... they won't understand why you are angry.) It takes a ton of energy, but it so worth it! If we don't give them an opportunity to have accidents, life will be so much easier for us and the puppies! Hang in there and good luck!"

08-11-2008, 07:55 AM	#6
NalaLuv Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: New York Posts: 49	That sounds like what my Nala does. She sniffs the wee pad, chews on it...and sometimes even sleeps on it. When I see her circling around I run and place her on the wee wee pad, and she runs right off...then she'll even stay there for a while staring at me and she will not go. Then I'll pute her in her crate and she won't go. Then as soon as I let her out she goes. I've tried taking her outside, but I think it's all so new to her (she's only 9 weeks) she just romps in the grass and never goes to the potty.

08-11-2008, 09:13 AM	#8
NalaLuv Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: New York Posts: 49	Wow, that sounds great...maybe that will work...I'm not a big wake up early and walk my dog person, so I'm really trying to keep her in door trained...thanks for the advice everyone!

08-11-2008, 09:26 AM	#9
Timmy Mimi & Gabby too! Donating Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Vineland, NJ Posts: 3,208	First....Welcome to YT! This is a great site with loads of information. I'd like to say that 9 weeks is still too young...time & patience is all you need. Always remember that with any dog no matter what the age is....if they are brought to a new environment they are going to have accidents. Its like you have to start all over again. Also know that it doesn't happen over night so you have to be patient...some take way longer to train than others. Be consistant and if you're not able to watch her she must be confined. Always use one word that will help identify what you want her to do. I used "go potty" with my furkids. Mine are 100% pee pad trained. Also, PRAISE PRAISE & PRAISE her and offer treats! I use to make a big deal when mine pottied on the pad....I think my entire neighborhood heard me...LOL Good Luck!