Any suggestions on how to de-diaper/housebreak a two-year old Yorkie male who is just fine with being soggy and stinky?
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There are so many of us YTers, I always feel I should "re-introduce" my pups and explain the situation:
Keegan (2 yrs.) came to us at 7.5 weeks and missed socialization with his mom, who died not long afterward as a result of
more irresponsible breeding. His breeder was a friend of a friend (live and learn) and was in a hurry to get the litter placed to focus on large breeds. Keegan has remained a fearful dog despite professional training at two different places.
We provide potty pads and indoor "turf" because our 15 mo. old female Yorkie has stress (and just-woke-up) incontinence. It's improving but not resolved. Despite neuter surgery, Keegan marks every place she pees--potty pad or carpet, astro-turf or sofa. We keep belly bands with cut-to-size "Depends" on him almost all the time. Whether kenneled or walking around, he will wet his "diaper" with no concern whatsoever.
Asking to go out never took off with our pups. Bells on the back door serve only to alert the pups when barking maniacally and bouncing around like popping corn would be fun to announce someone's arrival.
Our other male, Finn (a neutered, housebroken rescue) is learning social skills from Piper. It's amazing to see her teaching him how to play. Less impressive is her teaching him to potty in the house. This does not go over well with Keegan who already is so aggressive and neurotic that we have to keep the boys separated at all times to avoid injury to Finn--who is slightly larger but inexperienced with other dogs.
Keegan's stubbornness, incessant demands (he whines even when he's getting what he wants) and aggression led us--after a private trainer failed to do anything but make him ill--to try Prozac. It's a last resort and too soon to tell if it will help with his issues...but I know it won't convince him to stop wetting himself.
Any experienced YTers know how to convince a male Yorkie that he should go outside and spare his pee-stained tummy? Thanks for reading all this!
