[SophieKatesMom]

I can feel your frustration, trust me I was there last Winter with Sophie Kate. She was around 7 or 8 months old and still not getting the potty training routine.

I know in my case it was mostly my fault, I was not being consistant with her. The members of Yorkie Talk all gave me really good advice and I followed it all and finally about a year old she got it. I almost was like a bell went off in her head and she got with the program.

Here are some of the things I learned.

1. Be consistant, take her out at the same time every day and stay outside until she goes. When she did "go" we would have a mini celebration full of YAYS and good girls.

2. I "Cheerio" trained, or as we call them "Good Girl treats", when she went outside she got a Cheerio (which she loves). I learned that Cheerios are only given for potty and not a special treat for anything else (that was rough).

3. The Crate is her "hangout" or her bedroom when we are gone. I never leave her in the crate for anylonger then 4 hours without taking her out of a potty break (when I am gone I have a dog walker come over and take her for a walk).

4. If I caught her going in the house I would pick her up, say "Outside" and take her out. Trust me she would stop the minute I picked her up and she would finish outside. This one confused me with the Cheerio reward but if she finished outside she got a Cheerio and all the praise.

As someone mentioned in an earlier post, the crate is Sophie Kates kingdom (or queendom), she now woulld never consider going in the crate unless she is sick (it has happened but it was a sign and I knew something was wrong).

I am sorry you are frustrated, I know the feeling and as you know it will get better but riding it out is trying at times.

Good Luck, I hope it works out for you.