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Originally Posted by JenniferLeigh  When you catch her in the act, what do you do? When you find her droppings, what do you do?
I personally have never used pee pads, but it seems to me that she thinks it's ok to go in the house. If I were you (and keep in mind I'm no expert this is only my opinion) I would try to teach her to go only outside. If she had an accident inside, I would show it to her say "no" in a big mean voice and put her outside. Go outside with her for the first little while and when you see her go, praise her like crazy. Give treats, and associate a word with the action ie "good potty".
Some people tend to think that disciplining a dog without catching them in the act is useless, but I disagree. If you find droppings or she went in her kennel make sure she knows she has done something wrong. Don't rub her noise in it but rather show it to her and say "no" - then put her outside or on her pee pad.
I don't know, personally I think pee pads are great if you have a puppy or older dog or if you can't take them out (you live in an apartment). But IMO if you can teach them to go outside you probably should. |
When you 'catch them in the act', you pick them up and put them where they should be 'going', either peepad or outside. Then Praise and give a treat. When you find droppings, you clean it up, and say nothing to the dog. Word association is good but be consistent and say the 'word' only once, and only while they are doing the deed.
Telling a Yorkie 'No' if it's eliminating in the wrong place, may make them want to hide the next time they 'go'. They think that 'No' means don't go potty at all, not that you mean 'No, wrong place'.
Yorkies live 'in the moment' as all dogs do. Especially puppies. Showing them old poop means nothing to them. That's 'old school', but sometimes does work.
The new method found to be most effective, most humane, and quickest is through 'positive reinforcement' which basically involves rewarding the good behavior and totally ignoring the bad.
Yorkies are very sensitive little beings and to be scolded when they don't have a clue will confuse them and cause them to distrust the owner.
One of my dogs has a delayed signal. I keep a peepad mainly for her, she doesn't know till the very last second that she has to go. Progress is slow, but she tries to make it to the door, and many times it's my fault, I am not quick enough... though my dash times to the door behind her are improving also. Working on timing after a meal has helped.
When she doesn't make the door, she knows she's doing wrong, I can see it in her eyes and her body language. I don't say anything. When we both make it to the door and outside, she gets praise, which she loves, and a treat. So she does know the difference. If I scolded her, she would run behind a chair and 'go', rather than try to reach the peepad or the door, because she is very sensitive, and loves to please me, and scolding her would hurt her feelings immensely, and make her very sad.