Frustrated at myself for Riley's behavior.

[knlboss]

Riley is my 6 month old Yorkie who is slowly but surely pushing me over the edge. I have raised several kinds of dogs over the years but I have never had one like this Riley. He sends me mixed signals. I realize it's hard to potty train these dogs, but its the attitude I can't quite understand. He gets along well with my other 12 dogs. (outside dogs) I take him to a friends house for his playdates, he likes her maltese (Devon) who is about 1 1/2 years and is also a male. I allow him plenty of exercise time. He has every toy he could possibly have. He uses the paper to potty on still. I have repeadely taken him outside. He has stayed out for hours and then still come inside to poop. Yes, I have taken his poop outside, that doesn't work either. There is just something about going behind that big chair in my newly furnished living room that appeals to him. He eats every little crumb, piece of paper or anything else he can get in his mouth. He does not bite. He has cost me $1200.00 in eyeglasses. I know he should not be able to get to them. But we are talking about Riley here, he can figure a way to get most anything doggy possible. He also likes designer shoes, pocketbooks, magazines, you name it, if it's a designer label its HIS. I have literally broke down and cried about my helplessness in this situation. The biggest problem is trying to figure out his little mind.
If you have any suggestions as to how I may rehabilitate me or Riley, please have at it.
knlboss

[jeanm1963]

Give him a big kiss he sounds like my dog

[manolos mom]

Welcome to YT. How old is Riley, You need to Puppy proof your home. Dont leave shoes around. Also, dont just leave him outside, take him out every 30 min and give him a comand. Mine is Hurry Up, you need to stay outside with him and when he goes, praise him and give a treat and bring him inside right away. You must repeat and repeat this. It may take a month or 2 or a week. Just be consistant. Never yell or hit.Good Luck and let us know....

[cobird2]

These furbabies sure have strong wills and just when you think you're making some headway, they regress. Skinbabies do that too.
Puppyhood is challenging.
If you can catch Riley in the act of pooping and say "no, no, no-o-o-o" while picking him up and bringing him outside, it could help.
Is he confined to certain parts of the house? Puppy-proof the house because they're curious about everything. Why not, there are so many interesting things to investigate.

[JoeyP]

LOL .... so you've found that you have a Yorkie

You found out the hard way that these little guys are very inquisitive
If something's on the floor or within reach they are going to test it

... and that means tear it to shreds - if they can

I stupidly left a roll of toilet paper on the floor in the bathroom
10 mins later I saw one chewing on a piece of cardboard
in that time they had not only unrolled the toilet paper but had shredded it into teeny-tiny pieces and were now working on the cardboard insert

Puppy proof your house
You must think if it's on the floor it's ok for him to eat

[ARCHIE]

Welcome to Yorkie ownership. I felt just as overwelmed as your do.
This was my first Yorkie as well. Buddy did everything yours is doing
he also ate the bottom out of a blue velvet chair in my LR, ate the
bottom row of lights off the Xmas tree and chewed the corner's off
of 13 throw rugs. I kept replacing them so he would get used to them.
It finally work after time. Hang in there because it will stop eventually.

[Gennies]

Oh, you poor thing!!! Do you crate or xpen him? Think of him like a baby and he needs to be in a safe place for him when you are not watching him. For a baby it's a playpen or crib. For your pup it should be a crate or x pen. I prefer the x pen as it gives them plenty of room to walk, play, eat and sleep. Plus there's room for a potty pad so they can go if you're gone a little long. And PLEASE, don't leave your baby outside by himself for so long. It's very dangerous to him. He's a baby and you really should have eyes on him at all times. Babies have natural curiosity to explore and learn about their world. This can get him into a lot of trouble and you need to watch him so it doesn't become life threatening. Keep his age in mind and you'll be over the puppy stage of chewing in no time and have him potty trained in no time. Good Luck!!!!

[stewartslucy]

We used some of the above suggestions when we potty trained our Nina.

Outside 1-2 times per hour, LOTS of praise while in the act, followed with a treat asap so they get that the treat is for the potty.

Also, CONFINEMENT was another key for us. We had an X-pen that Nina stayed in when we could not supervise her every move in the house.

She had to earn her run of the house freedom by becoming potty trained.

Her X-pen had a bed, toys, food & water. She didn't mind it one bit.
(She could still see us and was in the same room with us.)

Good Luck!

[RoxyLuv]

Are you cleaning the floor behind the big chair with an enzyme cleaner each time?

[jeanm1963]

I know how frustrating it can be and I am home all day and keep Laci with me , she doesnt have bathroom accidents but she likes anything other then her toys..anything and I mean anything she can find, whether its a sock, a leaf that has come in on someones shoe, and it scares me that she will choke , if we go for walks she will not realy walk , she likes to investigate every flower, bug , worm. and we never can come home with out some sort of stick she finds..IM afraid she will eat a bug, everyone says its just the puppy stage which is so much fun but just like a new baby it can be dangerous... The scariest thing for me is she wont come to me when something is in her mouth and she always tries to run out the door, so I have baby gates everywhere...

[kjc]

Welcome to YT!!! How's everybody doing?

It may help to schedule his feedings: do not free feed him. Mine usually have to poo 15 minutes after a meal, immediately after playtime and before bed. With my new dog I take her out almost every 2 hours. She usually pees/marks within a couple of minutes. Do you take him on walks on a leash? Sometimes even with a friend and their dog for as example. He may pick up scents that will entice him to poo. And the exercise will be good for him and you! Plus you make friends with your neighbors and if they ever see him loose they help you get him back.

I wouldn't tell him 'no' or scold him for doing it in the house. He may get the idea it's bad to poo at all. Besides, that would be your fault. If you catch him in the act, pick him up immediately and take outside to an area where poo is okay. if he poos again/still praise him and reward him.

[grandmatoall]

Good Luck with your training. It can be frustrating but it is so rewarding when they get the idea. Consistancy and praise are the best things you can use. (Never spank or yell.)

Puppy proof the area and use an X-pen. I had them all over my house when TJ was small. I literally blocked off the area he could be in. And we made trips outside every two hours and about 10-15 minutes after he ate or drank anything. This was in Dec with snow on the ground. But I did it. (He loves to play in the snow.) As soon as he pees or poops.. praise and reward him. They react well to positive reinforcement. They are very smart little angels and a little stubborn too. But it is all worth it.

Good Luck.

[Lolapup]

Originally Posted by stewartslucy

We used some of the above suggestions when we potty trained our Nina.

Outside 1-2 times per hour, LOTS of praise while in the act, followed with a treat asap so they get that the treat is for the potty.

Also, CONFINEMENT was another key for us. We had an X-pen that Nina stayed in when we could not supervise her every move in the house.

She had to earn her run of the house freedom by becoming potty trained.

Her X-pen had a bed, toys, food & water. She didn't mind it one bit.
(She could still see us and was in the same room with us.)

Good Luck!

I did exactly the same thing. On the spot praise and earned freedom in the house. Scheduled feeding also helped with the pooping. The xpen was the best investment. Keep the faith and keep at it.

[lgoodall]

My 7 month old , Tucker was very easy to pad train. I didn't know if he would ever go outside. We just got back from Florida. We took him with us. We put a pad in the car for him to use. He didn't use it at all. Instead, he waited until we were at a rest area. He learned to go outside. During thr entire trip, he went outside though we still had pads out for him. Now, back at home, he's doing both. He would prefer to go outside, but I always use a harness, and take him out.(fear of hawks) Sometimes, I don't feel like taking him out. He uses his pad.

[babyboots]

you just described my babyBOOTS....