Very long but I really need help...a little life maybe at stake...

[coroth]

Sorry for how long this is!

My parents are going MAD!!! We have had Lexie for almost 2 months and she is at a stand still when it comes to potty training. She will go outside...if we bring her outside but she doesn't tell us she has to go...she just walks around and if we don't read her mind she'll go where she wants to go. With Beau he literally took a few weeks to potty train so they don't understand that yorkies are harder to potty train. Anyways, my dad is a very traditional kinda guy and he still believes in HITTING dogs with newspapers and rubbing their noses in their accidents!! He doesn't do this to any of my dogs but he told me this morning that if I can't potty train her by mid-March he was going to train her HIS way...we got in a SCREAMING match about it and he told me that if I don't like it I can move out. I TOTALLY wish I could move out but I can't...I'm a full time student and I only work 16 hours a week...I can't pay for an apartment on that! I don't know what to do!! I can't explain to Lexie the problem...so she doesn't know what is on the line but I don't think I can handle watching him do that to her. I honestly think I would freak out and hit him.

I need help NOW!! Both of my parents totally don't understand and I'm pretty sure they are jealous of Lexie and Beau because they get most of my attention and I'm afraid that Lexie will become petrified of people and maybe even aggressive. She is VERY sensative as it is...

I've tried pee pads and that didn't work. I talked to my parents about diapers and about getting a bell and they both believe that "she should just act like a normal dog and bark when she has to go out". They told me that I can't get either of those (diapers or bells) because that would be a "waste of money". They HATE when I buy clothes for them or spend more than the average $14 on commercial dog food because "only my dogs get that...if it wasn't okay then every dog in America would be on that food..." I actually need to sneak around when I buy things for them.

I brought Beau to obedience and my parents undid everything I taught him!! I taught him to sit by the door and wait on command before he goes outside so that he goes out on MY terms...well my parents NEVER did this when they let him out so now he doesn't do it and looks really confused when I tell him to wait.

Sorry this is so long but I had to vent so you can get a feel for how ignorant my parents are when it comes to dogs. Please help...

[patty58]

Awww Honey I am so sorry you are going thru this. I wish I had some words of wisdom because it just takes patience. I will remember you in my prayers that Lexie catches on really fast. Good luck sweetie.

[kl1977]

Tough situation sound like. I have no advice I just want to wish you luck, and Im sure someone will give you some wonderful advice. Im sorry your haveing to go through this.

[Ladylavender]

I know this doesn't help, but really for some yorkies, they can be potty trained, as long as you take them out timely, because for some yorkies, the actual act of "asking" to go out could take up to a year or more.

I know that as diligent as I was with training Millie (it consumed my every moment of every second for about 3-4months) she did not really "ask" to go out until over a year old. She did not have potty mistakes in the house, because she was potty trained by 6-6 1/2 months, but I had to be the one to initiate the taking her out and watching for her "pre-pee" signs. We finally got a doggie door, so she could go out on her own and we left the front door open so she could go out the doggie door that was put into the storm door.

I know she can "ask" to go out now, because the other day the front door was closed (due to very cold weather) and she went to it and started scratching at. She is almost 3 years old.

Unfortunately, your father's methods will not get her trained. Yorkies are not wired that way. Harsh methods, tend to backfire and make it that more difficult to train the yorkie once they have been traumatized.

Are your parents stressed out because the shoulder of the responsibility of training them is upon them, since you go to school and work? Are you not around when your little one is having these mistakes? If you are around a lot and your little one is still having mistakes in the house, maybe you need to re-think your training method, because part of the potty training process is to eliminate any chance of having a mistake in the house and this requires due diligence on your part.

Just my thoughts and things to think about.

[Baby Madeleine]

I'm so sorry you are going through this. I completely understand your dilemma.

I wish I had some advice for you! It took Madeleine a long time to learn to "tell" me she has to go potty so I would take her out like every 45 minutes and then really reward her when she went potty outside.

Good luck!

[jencar98]

Reno's breeder gave us very good instructions on potty training and they do work if I follow through. The first year of a yorkie's life you can not let them on carpet (it's one giant pee pad to them) Keep them gated in an area with tile and use the pee pads. I don't know if this is possible for you but it's worth a try if you can. As long as I keep my two gated in the kitchen they DO use the pads. Good Luck!

[4doggiemama]

Do you have an x-pen that you can contain her in when you aren't around? Then when you are around your home have her by your side at all times? When you sit have her on your lap. When you go to the bathroom take her with you. When you go get a drink take her with you. Get the pic? I think the general rule for house-training is piddle every 15-20 minutes when playing, right after eating, right after waking up. I am going to ask something and I don't want you to take it wrong. I have a 22 yr. old who is in pharmacy school and I know how much you want to be and should be independent. There's bound to be clashes of wills. The only problem is that you are living under your parent's roof and therefore are somewhat responsible to them. No offense meant. Not only are you ingratiated to your parents but according to you they are "very traditional." Now comes the difficult question. Is this the right time in your life to have a little furbaby? My daughter would love to have either a cat or dog, but she realizes that there just isn't time in her life right now to take care of a furbaby. Classes, homework, a job, volunteer work all take their toll. These are just some things for you to think about. Re-homing is always an option if your father makes good his word. You have to protect your little one at all costs, IMO.

[coroth]

Thanks everyone for the great ideas. I actually am home a lot...I live VERY close to my university and I work while my parents are home. They are only frusterated because Lexie is confined to the kitchen and living room. They are one big room...and they hate having to jump gates so my mom took the gate down and Lexie literally ran out there and peed. It was like she was DYING to pee on the carpet...and we just got new carpeting. I do spend every minute with Lexie that I'm home but the minute I'm at school or at work my parents are in charge. They really don't mind being in charge since our other yorkie plays with her, but they don't get that she doesn't ASK to go out. I understand that it will be a long time, I'm not frusterated at all about it. Patience is key in my eyes...but my dad is the one with the issue. I sat down and talked to him earlier and we decided with my mom that he is going to have nothing to do with her. It may sound harsh but trust me...its best.

I've tried an x-pen but Lexie is a little escape artist...she has a kennel she sleeps in and spends 2-3 hours a day in while I'm at school.

I really think she'll catch on soon...and now that I've gotten my dad to ignore her I think it will all be just a little bit easier...

[4doggiemama]

Sounds like you have made some positive decisions. Nothing compares to a Yorkie furbaby in your arms. As for Lexie escaping from an ex-pen, I've read on some threads ideas on how to put different types of covers over the top to keep those little escape artists from escaping. From the amount of posts it sounds like a lot of YT members have escape artists.

[hha]

I never put my dogs noses in their poop, but, i do put it down by it, tap them on the butt softly, change my tone and take them to the pee pad...the only dog I've ever had problems with, is the one that just turned 7 mos. she pees on the pad and has for a long time, and she doesn't poop on the carpet, but, she poops on the laundry room floor, sometimes on the pad...it takes consistency...your dad sounds like he grew up like us...although I don't swat with a newspaper, I do slap one in my hand to scare them..

[hha]

I never put my dogs noses in their poop, but, i do put it down by it, tap them on the butt softly, change my tone and take them to the pee pad...the only dog I've ever had problems with, is the one that just turned 7 mos. she pees on the pad and has for a long time, and she doesn't poop on the carpet, but, she poops on the laundry room floor, sometimes on the pad...it takes consistency...your dad sounds like he grew up like us...although I don't swat with a newspaper, I do slap one in my hand to get their attention..

[LuvMySissy]

Courtney - definitely start taking Lexie outside every hour or so and say "potty" to her. If you see her start to go inside, tell her "potty outside". Although Sissy (2 1/2 years) now uses pee pads, this is how she trained to go outside originally. She never did give me any signals, or ask to go outside other than to sit and look at me. If I didn't see her or notice that was her signal, she would then go elsewhere.

I hope this works for you. We're all rooting for Lexie!!!!!