[seekinganswers]

Hello everyone,

I just brought home an eight week old boy yorkie named bandit. I've been doing as much reading as I have time to on this forum on how to housebreak a puppy. I have been getting a lot of conflicting advice on how to housebreak him.

The breeder I bought him from advised me not to take him out until he has gotten all his shots and is fully immunized, otherwise he may contract parvo. I spoke to someone that worked at a vet and she confirmed the same thing. Other people I talked to just say take him out it should be no problem. I live in an apartment complex and there are other dogs around, so I am iffy about that. And I would rather be safe than sorry.

A little background info on me. I am currently single and in the military. I do shift work that goes about 9 hours a day and sometimes 12-hour shifts. Because nobody will be home when I am working, I do not want to crate a small puppy like him for that long. I just don't think that's right. So I bought a baby gate and confined him in the kitchen with all his toys, food and water, pee pads and crate. The crate is left open so he can freely go in and out to sleep.

I was thinking of trying to train him to use the pee pads for when I am working and away for extended hours or when it is raining or too cold for him to go outside. When he has gotten all his shots, I will start on taking him outside.

I have gotten him to go on the pads a few times, but whenever I come home from work there's always poop and pee all over the kitchen floor. How long does it general take to pad train a puppy yorkie? Any advice and suggestions would be great. Please tell me what I am doing right and wrong. In the meantime, I will continue to read this forum to pick up more training information.

Thanks