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Originally Posted by Zoe2012  I am getting a Yorkie in 8 weeks. I am trying to do some research on potty training. Neither my husband or I are home durning the day, so I'm wondering what the best method would be for us. My cousin has a yorkie/Shih tzu mix that she got as a puppy. She blocked off her bathroom and put a potty pad in the area with her pup. Her dog used the pad while she was at work and when she got home she would take her outside every hour or two on the dot. One day she started coming home and her dog had not used the pad, so she knew she was holding it. She took the pad out and then eventually gave her free roam of the house. I'm just thinking maybe she got lucky. I want to make sure my dog will eventually go outside only. Any advise?
THANKS! |
That sounds like a good plan, and many dogs prefer going outside, but how long will you be gone? Eight hours a day is too long for many breeds to hold it, I wouldn't try for over 4. There are great individual differences, but can you hold urine for 8 hours? Urine production slows down at night, so humans and dogs can hold it longer, but don't expect a dog to go as long as it can go at night. Pee pads are actually made for human convenience, so we don't have to be there to let the dogs out. I think I would do what you’re planning to do, but always have a pad available, just in case. Don't tempt a dog to make a mistake. Another advantage of getting them use to pads, is it’s easier to take them to hotels, and when they get old and infirm you won’t have to train them to use a pad, and they won’t feel badly about using one.