Deegan's Mom,
My yorkie is now almost 12 weeks young(General Patton). Tomorrow will be two weeks since I've had him. For the most part he is piddle trained, though I think he gets confused b/c I have four piddle stations throughout the house. I crate him at night, like you, while asleep. In the middle of the night, when I need to go to the restroom, I take him out of the crate and bring him in my bathroom, where I have a piddle station. I reward him by letting him stay in bed with me for the rest of the night now that he's peed. That has worked for me. He's never had an accident at night. In the morning, when I see him going towards the end of the bed is my cue he needs to go and then I take him to my bathroom. Then I reward by spending 1:1 time playing in bed, then we eat. My issue is more that he gets distracted when he sees my other dog, my Smooth Fox Terrier. When he had an accident in the first few days after I got him, I moved the piddle station to where he just had peed. He since has done his business on the new station. When I leave to go to work, I leave him in the basement, that is air conditioned, in his playpen. I always feel guilty, but many of us have to work, so I create an environment for him that he will feel safe and comfortable. Of course, he misses me as I miss him.
You may want to consider a playpen, where he has a small fleece bed to sleep in, his water and food bowl, some toys, and a piddle pad. The playpen is large enough(and you can even buy some additional panels) for him to move around, sleep etc.
Also, I would only reinforce good behavior, and like bld2751 praise him lots when he's mastered it. I wouldn't try to take him out every 1-2 hours b/c you are reinforcing that he's got to often. I know his bladder is small because he's a puppy, but I'd keep an eye out ten to fifteen minutes after he drinks water or eats.
I am by no means an expert. I am still learning myself. But this has worked most of the time. I'd like it to work all the time, but I need to be patient myself. After all, he is a puppy who has only been with us for less than two weeks, and he like us, is adjusting to so many things.
Hope this was helpful. Let us know how it's working out for you.
~Bella, General Patton, & Maria~ |