Housetrained at last - YorkieTalk.com Forums

terrier_love · 09-28-2005, 12:38 PM

I just wanted to post a positive result in the housetraining department to let those struggling with this know it can be done! I posted a while back that I was having real difficulty with this along with so many other people. My little girl is now 11 months old (I adopted her as a rescue at 6 months old and I'm sure she had 6 months of peeing and pooping in the home and that is why she was dumped at a shelter) and she is 90% there. I say 90% because I know she is not ready for an 8 hour day free reign in the house. But she has had no accidents now for a month or more. My plan is to write my training protocol to achieve this - but in short I had to be consistent, take her out on a schedule, watch her EVERY SECOND at first when she had free access to the house, and put her in her crate (with a stuffed kong toy) whenever I coudn't watch her. Her free time at first was 20 minutes - and there were failures with that short amount of time! Gradually build on that time. The mistakes I made along the way was making too big of time jumps. Then I'd have to go back to whatever previous time I was at where she was successful.

Having only had large dogs in my life I will say I found this process difficult. I had to reach deep inside for every ounce of patience I could find. I honestly think a lot of the training was just her bladder maturing enough to handle the "I gotta pee" pressure. I also want to add that when I was watching her and she started to squat I would clap my hands or say "ah! ah!" and take her out. This was enough of an aversive for her that she learned to squat when I was not looking (MY mistake, not hers). So, I would suggest making every effort for rewarded successful outings and avoiding aversives as much as possible.

For those of you struggling with housetraining - it can be done but it's all up to you!!

beth

Lexi Rae · 09-28-2005, 12:47 PM

yippie, good for you, you must be soooo happy, i would be.

Mydogkelsey · 09-28-2005, 12:50 PM

That is amazing..thanks for sharing! Kelsey is 98% there! woo hoo!

alaskayorkie · 09-28-2005, 01:05 PM

Great post. I'm sure that's going to help a lot of others who are at wit's end.

sunshine22 · 09-28-2005, 01:12 PM

I wonder if Sunshine will ever be housetrained.
I'm so glad to hear of your success. It gives me hope.

09-28-2005, 12:38 PM	#1
terrier_love Yorkie Talk Newbie! Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 9	Housetrained at last I just wanted to post a positive result in the housetraining department to let those struggling with this know it can be done! I posted a while back that I was having real difficulty with this along with so many other people. My little girl is now 11 months old (I adopted her as a rescue at 6 months old and I'm sure she had 6 months of peeing and pooping in the home and that is why she was dumped at a shelter) and she is 90% there. I say 90% because I know she is not ready for an 8 hour day free reign in the house. But she has had no accidents now for a month or more. My plan is to write my training protocol to achieve this - but in short I had to be consistent, take her out on a schedule, watch her EVERY SECOND at first when she had free access to the house, and put her in her crate (with a stuffed kong toy) whenever I coudn't watch her. Her free time at first was 20 minutes - and there were failures with that short amount of time! Gradually build on that time. The mistakes I made along the way was making too big of time jumps. Then I'd have to go back to whatever previous time I was at where she was successful. Having only had large dogs in my life I will say I found this process difficult. I had to reach deep inside for every ounce of patience I could find. I honestly think a lot of the training was just her bladder maturing enough to handle the "I gotta pee" pressure. I also want to add that when I was watching her and she started to squat I would clap my hands or say "ah! ah!" and take her out. This was enough of an aversive for her that she learned to squat when I was not looking (MY mistake, not hers). So, I would suggest making every effort for rewarded successful outings and avoiding aversives as much as possible. For those of you struggling with housetraining - it can be done but it's all up to you!! beth

09-28-2005, 12:47 PM	#2
Lexi Rae Gina, (Lexi's Mommy) Donating Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: LONG ISLAND,NY Posts: 9,499	yippie, good for you, you must be soooo happy, i would be. __________________ Gina & Lexi CLICK HERE for our Photo Album ...

09-28-2005, 12:50 PM	#3
Mydogkelsey YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Orlando, Fl. Posts: 1,126	That is amazing..thanks for sharing! Kelsey is 98% there! woo hoo! __________________ R.I.P. Amy girl 01/06/06

09-28-2005, 01:05 PM	#4
alaskayorkie Race to 7,000 champ Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Anchorage Posts: 10,498 Blog Entries: 25	Great post. I'm sure that's going to help a lot of others who are at wit's end. __________________ Meet Eddie and Jack: www.dogster.com/?159686 YouTube vids: http://www.youtube.com/alaskayorkie Picture site: http://web.mac.com/mlewishome

09-28-2005, 01:12 PM	#5
sunshine22 YT Addict Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 388	I wonder if Sunshine will ever be housetrained. I'm so glad to hear of your success. It gives me hope. __________________ I my little Sunshine ...!