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FirstYorkie · 05-26-2007, 12:03 AM

Thanks for the added information. Now that I reread your first post, I realize that there was more that I should have asked. The biggest question is: Where do you want to train them to potty? In the kitchen or outside?

While some people have success in training their dogs to go 2 different places, it's usually easiest to pick one or the other and focus on that.

In order to newspaper train in the kitchen, I would cover the entire kitchen in newspaper so that they have no choice but to go on the newspaper. That way, they get used to the feel of the newspaper under their feet when
they are going and will eventually develop what is called a "substrate preference" for the paper. You can then gradually decrease the amount of the floor that is covered by paper until there is only a small area.

If you are wanting to train to go outside, you could keep them in the newspaper-lined xpen anytime that you can't watch them with an "eagle eye". There are tons of threads here about training to go outside so you might read them.

As far as letting you know that they need to go out, I've had great success using a bell hung on the back door. What I have found to work best, is to simply suspend a bell from the door knob. It will ring naturally anytime the door is opened. You can occasionally give it an extra ring as you open the door to call their attention to it. They eventually learn that bell ringing = door opening. The tricky part is being there when they first make that connection. Then, anytime they make the slightest jingle of the bell (whether accidental or not), you have to run to open the door. You have to open the door everytime they ring the bell whether they just want to go out to play, whether they just went 5 minutes ago, etc. Only then will they get that "I ring the bell = Mom opens the door".

My experience is that it's best not to try to teach them to ring the bell on command. You soon have a dog that will ring it when you tell him to but he thinks that is all the bell is there for. It takes much longer for him to get that ringing the bell means going outside.

05-26-2007, 12:03 AM	#5
FirstYorkie YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: American in London Posts: 1,739	Thanks for the added information. Now that I reread your first post, I realize that there was more that I should have asked. The biggest question is: Where do you want to train them to potty? In the kitchen or outside? While some people have success in training their dogs to go 2 different places, it's usually easiest to pick one or the other and focus on that. In order to newspaper train in the kitchen, I would cover the entire kitchen in newspaper so that they have no choice but to go on the newspaper. That way, they get used to the feel of the newspaper under their feet when they are going and will eventually develop what is called a "substrate preference" for the paper. You can then gradually decrease the amount of the floor that is covered by paper until there is only a small area. If you are wanting to train to go outside, you could keep them in the newspaper-lined xpen anytime that you can't watch them with an "eagle eye". There are tons of threads here about training to go outside so you might read them. As far as letting you know that they need to go out, I've had great success using a bell hung on the back door. What I have found to work best, is to simply suspend a bell from the door knob. It will ring naturally anytime the door is opened. You can occasionally give it an extra ring as you open the door to call their attention to it. They eventually learn that bell ringing = door opening. The tricky part is being there when they first make that connection. Then, anytime they make the slightest jingle of the bell (whether accidental or not), you have to run to open the door. You have to open the door everytime they ring the bell whether they just want to go out to play, whether they just went 5 minutes ago, etc. Only then will they get that "I ring the bell = Mom opens the door". My experience is that it's best not to try to teach them to ring the bell on command. You soon have a dog that will ring it when you tell him to but he thinks that is all the bell is there for. It takes much longer for him to get that ringing the bell means going outside. __________________ FirstYorkie We Love Clicker-Training!