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Originally Posted by TLC  Liter boxes are good, but I wouldn't use actual 'cat liter' - instead put the pee pad inside the box. Alot of us do that. The reason not to use cat liter, is he could play with it, eat it, or bc it is so small, I have heard that little pieces of cat liter can get lodged in their privates and cause infection.
They make dog liter but I have heard the same thing, they eat it or play with it all over the place.
So placing the pads inside the box is much better. Purina also makes a special dog liter box.
As far as breeding. Your girlfriend needs to do alot of research first. Our country is inundated with back yard breeders. Ollie may be cute, but that doesn't mean he is breed worthy. Reputable breeders already have their own stud dogs, and even if you find a reputable breeder in need of a stud dog, they are gonna want back up genetic testing, want to know a complete lineage, and also tested for STDs (yup - dogs can have sexually transmitted diseases) Both males and females should be tested before any breeding takes place. So all that pre stuff is going to cost a small fortune, unless she goes the back yard breeder route 
Did you know the most common genetic defects in Yorkies range from Liver Shunt to Luxating Patella and they seem to be showing up more and more. The cost to have surgery to repair is on average $4000 ~ Imagine buying a pup and getting hit with that 
Tell her to put $100 every month in a box. In 9 months she will have the $900 and in the meantime she can have Ollie neutered, trained and into the happy 'pet' he truly wants to be. She will also have complete peace of mind that Ollie is her baby, and that she didn't add to mix that is already out there. |
I would seriously not consider using any sort of litter...cat or dog...as mentioned above by TLC. I highly recommend pee pads over litter and you can purchase a tray holder at a Petsmart (see link below) or Petco store to prevent Ollie from shredding it. Furthermoe, I think the pee pads are much more sanitary and easier to clean-up.
Premium Pad Training Tray - New Puppy Center - Dog - PetSmart
Another option to the pee pad tray holder is getting the Ugodog. This is a really great product b/c you can use either pee pads or newspaper under the tray. The grate on top of the tray will always keep your lil furry friend's feet dry since it will prevents them from stepping into their wet pee spot. The only thing is that you'll need wash the grate on the tray every 3-4 days.
Dog Litter Box | UGODOGŪ | Indoor Dog Litter Box - MOST POPULAR
As for the belly bands, you can purchase some from one of the YT members '2Parises'. They are very well made and for a reasonable price too.
Last but not the least, I hope you can convince your girlfriend about NOT using Ollie for breeding. I would seriously leave the breeding to the experienced breeders. Just the other day when DH and I were having dinner at this Japanese hibachi place, we sat next to a really nice couple and apparently they also had a yorkie, but it got hit by a car and died when it ran out of the house. The first question I asked was whether the dog was neutered and they said 'no'. So keep in mind if you keep Ollie as an intact male, you run the risk of him getting injured or lost, b/c if he does smell a female in heat, he will run towards the scent.