Potty Training Issues with very timid dog

[HarrisFamily]

Hello,

I got Abby when she was almost a year old, she's always been very timid. If you just look at her she'll start shivering and shaking and run and hide. I suspect that she was abused in her past.

Almost every time I take her outside she just shivers and shakes and tries to run back toward the house. I've had her for a few months now, she's had plenty of time to settle in. She had been using potty pads pretty well, so I just let her stay inside, but now she's missing the pads and peeing and pooping on an old couch of ours that's off in a corner. We just discovered the couch, so we've got to do something about her potty training. So we've decided to cut out the potty pads and try to get her to go outside only.

I started crating her, I just put a pee pad down in the crate with her food so she's not laying on the plastic. I leave her in the crate all night, and during the day while I'm at work. I come home at noon for an hour for lunch.

She pees at night in the crate, I change the pad and take her out in the morning, but she won't potty. I come home at noon and she's held it all day, but won't go outside. Then she potties again between noon and 5. I wonder if the potty pad is confusing her so she thinks she needs to pee on it? Should I just use a towel instead? I thought the potty pads would be nice so I could throw it away if she had an accident.

She pees on the pad and then wads it up in a ball in the corner. Should I put her in a smaller crate where she can't get away from it to try to teach her not to potty in the cage.

I've never had to crate train before, my boys love to pee outside, I've never had a problem with getting one to want to go outside before!

She peed outside tonight, I make sure to praise her and give her treats when she goes outside. She loves treats, and I've actually cut out all treats except after she goes outside, so maybe she'll put the two together soon.

Does anyone have any ideas or advice? I would appreciate any!

Whitney

[ImCKN]

Whitney, You are giving your baby mixed messages by putting the pee pad in the crate. Put only soft, cuddly material things in the crate with her. You don't need a littler crate, just put a large object like a box or a large plastic container in the back of the crate and use the towels to cover it for comfort. Give her enough room to turn around and to sleep comfortably.
Continue to take her outside as often as you can, and stay with her with treats..we call them cookies, in hand. Walk with her in the area you want her to do her business, talking calmly, and praising all good behaviors.
Our male was very hard to train so during that time training time we got washable diapers for when he was in the house and he learned after awhile he didn't like the diapers so he went outside. You may want to try the diapers when she is inside for awhile.
The shaking and shivering is really sad. If she was abused physically or emotionally, training is going to be harder, and you will need to have a lot of patience with her.
The sofa she has peed and pooped on needs to be cleaned really good and that area of the house that she has marked must be off limits for her right now...maybe a fence at the doorway? Limit the rooms she is allowed in so you can keep a close eye on her while she is in the house.
Yorkies are smart, and she will learn, it might just take some time and patience on your part. Please give her a hug and kiss for us, and tell her we will celebrate with all of you when she potties outside. Good Luck to both of you!!

[LouisLove]

I agree IMckn. you should remain consistant with the pads. I can understand how frustrated this situation can be, but you have to remain consistant and praise the heck out of her when she does her business outside. Hope all goes well. keep us posted on her progress!

[SJK1113]

I agree with the others. Also, I was reading something about how to change from pee pads to going outside, and they suggested moving the pad closer to the door each day and then taking it outside with you.

Since you are crating Abby, I would try taking a pee pad outside with you for a few times and see if that gives her the idea that she's supposed to go outside now.

[HarrisFamily]

Hi,

I hope I don't jinx myself, but she pottied outside last night, then held it all night and woke me up this morning and pottied outside. Then she's held it all day and went outside three times today so far! No accidents in the cage or house at all.

I tried the potty pad outside and she just looks at it. I even took one she had peed on so she could get the pee smell outside. She does best if we go a little ways away where she can't quite see the house, if she can see the door all she does is try to run back in. That's also away from where the boys go, they pee everywhere in the front yard. Maybe she doesn't like their smell.

We got rid of the couch, and if she's loose in the house from now on she's going to have to be in the same room so we can watch her. She was doing so well for a while that we were trusting her too much I think.

Thanks for all of the ideas, I'm going to get her a towel in the crate and put a fleece blanky in there on top of the towel. Hopefully she won't pee all over it!

Whitney

[kalina82]

i think your doing good with retraining her outside. I agree with taking the pee pads completely out of the picture. By putting them in her crate i think you are confusing her. Good luck and i hope she continues to do good outside.

[reeses]

Yea the pee pad in the crate probably would confuse her. I take my yorkie outside to potty frequently because he has never learned how to tell me he needs to go out so I just kinda have to guess. but if I dont get him out quick enough he will use his pee pad that I leave down in the corner of the living room for accidents or "I gotta go!!" moments. Lol.

[littlewhip]

sounds like your moving in the right direction, keep up the good work best of luck to you.