Potty training
 

I've been potty training my Yorkies for 17 months. They are 19 months and still have accidents. They are litter box crate trained and never have an accident in their xpen. They have an outside fenced in area to go in and I walk them also outside on a leash. What is my problem? I don't know what else to do. I have caught them several times and showed them their mistake. I would love to let them run around all day long but that is not a cool idea. Will they eventually get the idea? Any ideas? Oh, they go on the paper things you buy also when there at the Kennel. I don't know if they have mistakes there. She lets them loose during the day sometimes. They have only been twice in two years! but they will be back for 10 days when we go to Hawaii. She also lets them go outside without a leash and they are very good dogs. They fetch, sit, etc. HELP!:mad:

Have you tried crate training? I don't think it's too late.

Consistency is really important.

How often do they eat? Do you free feed? Do they always have water available? When are they most likely to have an accident?

Praise for good behavior & pottying where they are suppose to is also important

Thanks for replying. They have been crate trained since they were 7 months old. I have always consistently praised them and they are fed twice a day. I was taking them out 6 times a day and have dropped down to 4 times a day. I volunteer during Jan. and Feb. on Mon. and have discovered that they can hold it for a very long time. I leave at 7 and get back home around 5 or 6 usually. Bob takes them out and noon and again at 4. Then they run around the house till I get home. I had no idea my little one (less than 3 lb) could hold it that long. From 7 till 12 is a long time. Anyway, the first hour after I take them out I can count on them not having any accidents. Sometimes they will go 2 hours with no accidents. I guess they'll just get stuck in their crate and hopefully one day they'll quit doing it. I may have given the impression that they have lots of accidents. They don't. We may go a week without one but I am watching them like a hawk. The little one usually wants to be on my lap all the time but I do believe he is the primary culprit. The 7 pounder can and does have accidents too. I also praise when they go in the litterbox and they know they will get a treat. They love cheerios! Thanks for responding.