HELP! my 8 m.o. is regressing on potty training!

[Princess10]

Hello my fellow Yorkie lovers, it is nice to have a place to go to where people are as passionate about their pooch as I am. But I have a problem and need your help.
My 8 month old "Princess" has never been fully potty trained. I debated doing inside or out, stalled because I live on the 3rd floor & was lazy I admit,etc. and expected it to happen on it's own. Obviously it never did so I finally took the more aggressive approach & began taking her outside every hour & finally saw some success, though I could never get her to poop outside. She started doing good, peeing outside several times a day. But the last few days she'll maybe go once & today she never went at all...outside that is. I have read that toy breeds can be harder to train and I wanted your opinion & advice. How did you do it? I am very desperate (my carpet is ruined!) and will try any non-violent method. Please help me so I can reside happily with Princess & stop this resentment (of the behavior) from growing.
Thank you.

[Reese1]

I know training Yorkies can be difficult. We had one we got at 12 1/2 weeks that was like 99% trained when we got her and a breeze!
Then we got one at 2 1/2 yrs that had lived in horrible conditions and it took almost a year before she really got it!
Consistency & positive praise is key! Like we know ours go right when they get up and how soon they go after meal times and before bed.
Also do you restrict her when you aren't home or can watch her closely?
Ours use pads and go outside and do not have any trouble between the two!

Keep her on a schedule and be patient, you will get there!! Good luck!

[Princess10]

thank you. it's sounds like time & timing are still going to be key.

[Reese1]

Originally Posted by Princess10

thank you. it's sounds like time & timing are still going to be key.

Yes, they are key! Yorkies are all about routine, so staying on course and consistent is really important! I swear they are little alarm clocks, so they will learn and know their schedule with time!

[bfforever]

Back to basics. Try the potty pad since you admit to not being fully committed to taking pup outside. Be firm. Be consistent. Probably need to crate. Not too late but get serious or you will be living in a permanent toilet for many years.

[babiehammer]

Hammer is like 95% outside potty trained (NEVER tried pad training). He has never peed inside, but sometimes #2's while im work.

He will be a year next month and we STILL have give him a treat every time he goes outside . Just be patient

[Princess10]

Thanks everyone. Today I found a new tactic in some of the literature the vet gave me. It's tethering her to me so I can watch her every move & take her out as needed. I'm still taking her out every single hour but still no luck. I'm going to try to tough this method out for a few days, though I know she hates it's for her own good & in reality not harming her.
But keep 'em coming, I'd love to hear more!

[Princess10]

well the well advised method of good old patience & consistency is paying off. we're at least getting some success & i know this time i can't back off & expect too much out of her. thanks everyone for the advice.

[shoefelmeyer]

I had similar difficulty with my "Princess". She would do well with her potty training and then would regress. I finally started to put her in her kennel during the day and only take her out to go potty. This method worked extremely well.

Now we just arrived home from going to Georgia for my Grandmother's funeral and I had to take Princess with us. She had just had her spay surgery last Friday and we received the call about my Grandmother on Sunday. Called our vet to ask what I should do. I knew I should not leave her home with my husband and daughter since they work all day. So, I brought Princess with me.

She is finally entirely trained. She had no accidents at all. I am so proud of my little girl.

I also found that if I have a pee pad down and she needs to go before I could get her outside, she will use this, not the carpet or floor.

Every single time I take Princess outside she is going potty. She is almost 8 months old.

Just be patient with your little one and praise her, giving treats each time she goes outside. These little ones love to be praised and rewarded.

[Princess10]

Thank you, and I am truly sorry about your grandma. I'm sure Princess served as some comfort for you & that is why we are so lucky to have such wonderful little companions.

Princess has been going out more, though sometimes she just drags me out to check out the area I believe (we live in an apt. complex). I have to reward her with treats once we get back inside as she will not accept a treat outside, weird habit I know. I do lavish her with verbal praise however, and even got a funny look from the neighbor the other day, I'm sure she thinks I'm a little crazy but it's all for a good cause! She's getting better everyday which gives me hope that I thought I'd lost.

[winston2010]

Winston has been doing great with pads and also outside. He is only allowed in the kitchen and family room alone, they are tile and hardwood. But the pass 2 days we got a little trusting and let him follow us down the hall. He poop in the computer room when no one was watching and peed a little on one of the carpets later on and I caught him. Back to having the gate up. I guess we were trying to rush things.