It's been one of THOSE potty training days! Advice/Encouragement needed!

[kyancer]

I need to vent a little. And, I want some advice to see if you all think I'm on the right track with what I am doing.

My Yorkie is 9 months old. He is my first puppy, and I admit to making a lot of potty training mistakes with him in the first 3-4 months that I had him. After educating myself a little better I feel like we've been working in the right direction over the last 2 months. I do a combination of crate training and just keeping him by my side. He sleeps in his crate at night and has no accidents in there. Then during the day he stays in a playpen when I'm out running errands or when I can't have him with me and supervise him. Then we have play time probably 3-5 times a day for about 30-45 minutes. The rest of the time he I keep him on a leash and he follows me around the house.

He got sick and was in the hospital for a week recently. Up to that point we had been doing very well, and were having almost no accidents. Then when he was getting sick he started having several accidents a day...even in the crate. Since he's been home and better we were back to having almost no accidents! I was so happy...and starting to feel like I might be able to start giving him longer play periods off leash...

Then there was today! While we were playing he decided to run under the kitchen table (a favorite spot of his) and have a quick pee. Then while I was in the bathroom he decided to pee outside the bathroom door. I corrected him both times and immediately took him outside where he finished peeing and I praised him like crazy. But, it's just frustrating to have been doing so well and then suddenly have two accidents so close together .

Do you think what I am doing to potty train is ok? Any advice? Do you think he is getting enough free time off leash and out of crate? The books I was reading said to crate them for 2-3 hours and then let them out to play for 30 minutes throughout the day. But, I don't want to crate my baby for so much of the day, so that's why I started letting him be out on the leash during the times when I need to do chores and can't be chasing him all over the house. Do you think this is ok?

Sorry for the long post! If you've gotten this far thanks for taking the time to read.

[Patti]

Sounds like you are doing everything right. I know I have the same issues with Roxie. Good for awhile and then just pees on the carpet.

[rufus]

I have a bit of trouble, if I catch Rufus having a pee I pick him up and put him on his mat but no matter how little he has done he will never finish it off when I put him there, I have to encourage him again later. What is the reason for this?

Thanks, Lisa

[Gracie2006]

I have the same problem with Holly. She will do well for several days and then all of a sudden, it is like she has never been introduced to the concept! Consistency is key. I can't think of one thing you could be doing different or better. Gracie is 21 months old and every once in a while I catch her peeing next to her pen rather than in it on her pee pad. She knows better. I scold her and she if fine for several more months. I just don't have an answer for you, but I am with you!

[KathyinCali]

Lucy backslid after she was spayed for some reason. It doesn't seem to take much for them to digress but she's back to normal (at least for now). I knew going in she could be a bear to train so we just do the best we can and most of the time it's okay

[max4pups]

first off Gracie2006, my Chloe looks just like you darker colored yorkie

we have problems like this wiht Chloe, she is just coming up on 5 months and we have had her since 8 weeks.

she does great and then boom accidents, and i swear sho knows cuz she runs and hides.

my only explination is that we have rearranged (gotten new furniture) and it messed up her space....it is funny because she comes ot me and trys to make up

anyway, i think i have not been concsistent enough.....maybe....i just nee dot get back to the crate more often, unless we are constantly with her, but even then is doesn't always seem to work.

as you can see i'm no help, and really just adding to yokie stubbornness *sigh*

[Hoggbond]

Hear hear!!! I hear ya! We have pee pad trained our lil dog, and he also has a litter box! We have the clicker. THere are some days, he does well, and then other days pee everywhere! If you dont wash the floors directly after a pee, he will go back later and try again. Washing floors constantly and his cage is a good idea. I think that deters him. He gets a treat everytime he goes to his pad or litter box. WE even have started outdoor training. For reasons, when we go on trips, he needs to take a pee break. We went on a 15 hour car ride, and he only peed once!!!! he held it all day/nite. Then on the way home, he wouldnt pee, its like he is scared outside. (he has peed a few times outside and number 2 too.) On that trip home, he decided to pee on his master! so we pull over to let him finish outside, and he doesnt go.
LIke what is up with these dogs, pee on the most inopportune times. We can teach him to come, roll over and dance, but he cant piss on his mat?? good lordy!!

[blueeyes_jd]

I know its REALLY frustrating... for awhile Gracie would just look at me while peeing on the floor... but in books I have read... they say not to get mad at them for having an accident because it teaches them to not pee in front of you... its SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO hard not to get mad... especially after the 100th time of cleaning it up... so for me I would pick Gracie up and stick her in "time out" and tell her no and that was notty to pee in the house... and I would take ALL of her toys away until she would go potty outside ... it seemed to work... she doesn't have any accidents now... keep up the good work you are doing the right thing!! it does get better! you are a GOOD MOMMY!!

[Sandysbabies]

I'm glad I am not the only one having problems. I thought for awhile it was me. Mine is also 9mo. old. We even get up around 3:00 a.m. to take her out because she sleeps with us. Does fine until after breakfast and from then on she will go outside with the other 2 (doggie door) and come right back in and tee tee. I don't have any advice, except maybe it just takes patience and longer for these little guys. My shnauzers were potty trained in nothing flat. Mine also loves to tear up paper of any kind so the pee pee pads are out. HELP> I keep the cleaning solutions and air freshers in business.

[Tammyh]

I know it's frustrating but I highly recommend the crate training method. If you look in the training forum there's a thread titled "Crate Training Article" that is full of great information. I know it's hard to keep your baby in the crate on and off during the day but it provides the consistency and repetition that your baby needs to figure out what he/she is supposed to be doing and it really works. We've always crate trained our babies, it's the best and fastest method. I never left Bella in the crate for 3 hours while training (unless we were gone for that long) so I don't think you need to leave them in that long. Bella was COMPLETELY potty trained by the time she was 5 months old, she never has accidents. If you haven't already I would read the article and follow what it says. I will save you so much time and frustration. Good luck

[Brookef18]

I just posted a thread here... Sadie is using onesies because she was spayed and I didn't want her to lick the stitches. She has not had an accident in 2 weeks! I think the onsies are helping remind her to hold it. Does this sound crazy??? It seems to be working.

[kyancer]

Thanks for all the empathy and advice! Things have been going much better lately. He still isn't getting free reign of the house (I think that will be FAR in the future ), but I've been able to make his play times a little longer and don't have to stress so much because he hasn't peed on the floor since I started this thread!!! That is a huge accomplishment for him! He still doesn't give any indication that he needs to go out. So, I just take him out every hour and he's been holding it until his potty breaks. Sometimes I'm really impressed because he will go lots of pee and poop while we are out which shows he has been holding it and chose to wait until I took him outside to relieve himself. I just got him neutered today, so we will see if this helps or hinders the process.