I understand. Like I said, I'm not a fan of the crate AT ALL. But, if everything else hasn't given you results, why not give crate training a try? What harm will it do to try something else, even if it's only slightly different? This is just an idea, and how I would do it. No piddle pads in the house at all, crate train Abbie as if she was a puppy. Leash her when you take her out, which might be different and will start to show her you're not out in the yard for play, or sunbathing. Walk her the perimeter of your yard and tell her, "Abbie, go pee pee." If she sniffs, tell her, "good girl Abbie, go pee pee." When she does eliminate, PRAISE PRAISE PRAISE! It might take a while at first since it might be new and foreign to her, but yorkies are smart and she will get it.
You can do diapers, but I find that to be more of a band aid than an actual solution. Is she incontinent? If Abbie is, then no amount of training will help, and diapers are an awesome solution.
__________________ Littlest JakJak 
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