I am potty trained, but when will my yorkie be?
 

I have a five month old Yorkie. She does very well with potty training and has few accidents since we got her two and a half months ago. I believe this is because I am the one who is potty trained. I take her out often and at all the times you are suppose to and she takes care of business. My questions are when will she let me know that she needs to go out? And is there anything I can do to help this along.
Thank you so much for your help!

Christina

HOw do you take the pup out now. Do you walk him to the door? Try putting on the leash somewhere else in the house and walk your pup to the door, this way they will associate leash, out, door and eventually will walk to the door to let you mo.

Hi, happy puppy training! I found that putting a bell on the back door was the best communication for Jazzie to let me know she has to go outside. Ring the bell every time you take her outside. Jazzie smacks the bell and if I don't hurry, she smacks it again. Bossy lil girl, ey?

Hope this helps.

I am so happy to have some replies! Yes, I put a leash on her every time we go out to potty and we go out the same door. I praise her when she goes and say good potty. She does really well and I am happy with her great potty progress but am wanting her to let me know when she has to go so there are no accidents. I was considering doing the bell training, but was not sure if it would help in this situation. I am very welling to try!

Bell training is a wonderful idea. I know of Yorkies who are over a year and still don't really give any clues. I've never heard it put like this before and I like it because it's so true - YOU have to be the one that is potty trained. :D It may take a while.

Just want to say hello and welcome! You should go over to the General Section of the board and introduce yourself so we can all make a big fuss over you and welcome you officially :)

When Zander came to my home, he was 3 months old, I would say he was potty trained trustworthy by 7 months, meaning he hasn't had an accident since that age, he is now going to be 2. Jazzie came home when she was 4 months, she learned faster than Zander, when she'd go 1 or 2 I would give her a cheerio, plus taught her to ring the bell. She has been trustworthy, no accidents since she was 7 months, she is 1 yr. old. I have read to stay vigilant until they are at least 2 years. Just to give you some idea of what to expect.

It's a great feeling when your home is not their toilet ;) :thumbup:...Good luck.

I would like to say that I loved your thread title!! That's really it, isn't it? ;)

Mine have it a bit easier as they are both outdoor and pad trained. So they go on their own inside but always come and tell us afterward to get their treat. I don't know if Reggie's missed a potty treat in 11 years. ;)

Sounds like you're doing GREAT. Here's something else to maybe try: Since you are using the leash to take her out, start weaning her a little by dropping the leash while saying "Gotta Go Potty?" or something. Let her start going to the door by herself. And if you start getting her "excited" during the walk to the door, you might train a certain recognizable behavior. Then you can drop the leash until it's time to go outside. She'll be telling you to go get the leash!

My older Reggie goes to the stairway and gives me the "look". I ask "Do you need to go potty?" and he goes crazy, whirling in circles, and jumping. I take that as a yes. :) Then he waits. I say either "Outside" (nice day) or "Downstairs" (pouring down rain) and he takes off in whatever direction I say. Coby will get their eventually. And so will you!

Great work so far tho.

I felt the same way. I had never had a dog before and wasn't sure what to do.
Punkin was 8 months when we got her and I was running her outside all of the time. I tried the bell and she was scared of it. In the end when she made a little cry sound I would take her out. Now that is how she tells me - she makes the little cry sound. If I ignore her it gets a little louder and if it's an emergency she makes one loud bark and paws at my leg. She will be 3 in a few weeks and this works perfect for us.

It is amazing how well they can communicate with us. It amazes me everyday how I read her and how she reads me.

Thank you so much for all of your help! I will try some of your suggestions and I guess just give her time. She really is doing well taking care of business outside! I remember when my girls (human) were potty training I said the same thing and they eventually got to the point where they were telling me they had to go potty. Maybe Paisley will be the same way, I hope!

Still working on my potty training
 

Freyja is trained to use pee pads inside but will gladly go both outside if we take her for a walk. Our winters are pretty brutal so she couldn't stand outside long enough for her to get the idea to do "her thing". Now that it is spring we can take her out, but WE need to take her out because she will not let us know when she has to go. We tried the bell thing but the sound freaked her out. And she is such a sneaky pooper; she will let it go in seconds before we have a chance to catch her. Plus she likes to play with it:eek: if we don't keep an eye on her. Sigh, I guess it's a good thing that she's so darned cute and such a sweetie! We love her to bits!