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Originally Posted by Believer I am also a first-time Yorkier owner and Boy its rough. He can be so good and so smart most of the time. But he can also be sooo bad. I crate him only when we are not going to be around. He sleeps with us all night, getting up early with us and goes to the balcony (where his pad is) right away. When we come home, we take him out of his crate and straight to the balcony. He usually goes in a big way about 98% of the time. HOWEVER, while we are home with him, he goes all over the house with these tiny little quarter sized pee spots. And for some strange reason, he likes to poop in our bedroom (usually within the same area). I can't figure it out. I have read books, I have read posts here on YT and I have done it all. Except, I haven't yet tired the bell thing. I think I might give it a shot.
We have been working on other training too. He has SIT, but nothing else. I have been working with him on DROP IT, COME, QUIET, STAY and LAY DOWN. He hasn't picked up on those as quickly. I was thinking of enrolling him (and me) in a class. But my BF says that I am alrady doing the things they are teaching. Meeko is very well socialized so that isn't much reason to enroll him. What do ya'll think?
Oh Meeko is 6 months, I've had him for about 3 months. |
A training class is the most valuable thing you can spend your money on when you have a new dog. If you find a really good, certified, positive trainer you will not regret it. Petsmart is OK for socialization and things, but their trainers vary from store to store and if they were certifed the way my trainer is, they would not be working at Petsmart, make sense? Petsmart is fine if that's all you've got. Our classes were actually 2 weeks longer than Petsmart and only $20 more, so the price was nearly the same.
The class really is for you to learn how to train your dog, which also helps you bond with your dog and you begin to understand things that work and don't work more quickly. In our puppy class, we even covered housetraining, chewing, jumping up, and other puppy problems. The trainer would give us tips so we didn't make the problem worse.
If he is pooping in your bedroom, don't let him go in your bedroom. Then clean it with an enzymatic cleaner and then if possible a steam cleaner. If he smells it there, he will go again. This is true for pee and poop. Smelling poop stimulates dogs to go. Also, he could be pooping there because he is hiding and he does not want to get yelled at for going. When you catch him in the act, it is OK to startle him but not get mad, and carry him to his spot on the balcony. Typically when Loki pooped in the house it was because he couldn't hold it - like if he was sick or he was running around too much and all of the sudden had to go. Now he has better control and he knows how to tell us. He rings his bell frantically when he needs to poop - he does NOT want to have to poop in the house. Does Meeko know how to tell you he needs to go out? Try the bells! They empower the dog to let you know when they need to go, then they get rewarded for doing so. It's win-win.
Also, if it's TINY spots he may be marking. If so, you'll have to get him neutered ASAP if he's not already. If it marking, try belly bands. You can still teach him that it's not appropriate to mark in the house. Again, a profesional trainer can help you with that! Good luck!