At a loss, don't know what to do, about to get rid of our dog!
 

This is going to be long, but I really need your help. I hope you can take the time to read this and help me out.

Most of you probably don't know me, but I've been on the board a few times looking for advice. We have an 8-month-old male yorkie. He was doing great, but about a month, month and a half ago, he started peeing in the house regularly at night. We'd take him out, he'd pee 2, 3, even 4 times, we'd bring him in and he'd pee a half hour later. We took him to the vet after two weeks of this and they said it was time to neuter him, he was marking. So he got the surgery almost two weeks ago. Nothing has changed. He is still going in the house, even if he's been out recently.

Granted, my husband and I have been lazy about letting him wander around the main room in our apartment (we always shut the bedrooms door), and that's where he does the majority of the peeing.

He doesn't seem to care or want to hold it at all. We've tried the bell on the door and while he'll ring it with his nose as we're standing at the door, saying "outside," he won't go over and ring it on his own when he has to go to the bathroom. Instead, he chooses to go inside somewhere. It's like he just doesn't care.

Last night, while we were eating, we put his gate up so he wouldn't jump up on us while eating. He had eaten previously, but I know he won't go in area.
After we were done eating, I went over his gate to put the wash into the dryer and start a new load. I had to open the second bedroom door to get to the dirty cloths. I went in, grabbed the cloths, turned around and he had peed. Now, I know this is partly my fault because I probably should've let him out first, before doing the laundry. But really?? At 8 months he can't hold it a little longer than an hour? I literally sat down and cried. I'm so upset, I don't know what to do.

My husband took him out and then told me he was going into the second bedroom and that he'd be out in a little bit. He had his phone. I jumped up and was like "What are you doing?" He said "I'll be out in a bit." I knew it was bad. He told me he was going to make some phone calls and try to find a new home for Samson. "If we can't give him what he needs, we need to find him someone who can." I got so upset, I started bawling. I can't get rid of him, I LOVE HIM!!! I know my husband does too, but he hates seeing me get so upset.

So then we sat down and said we'd go way back to the beginning. We'd let him out every half hour. If he didn't go, we'd put him in his crate. If we couldn't watch him, he'd go into his play area. So I took him out, he peed a few times, but didn't poop. He'd already gone poop twice in the evening, so we didn't think he'd go again. And he didn't. But exactly one half hour later, while on the other side of the chair, where we can't see him, he peed. Again. A HALF HOUR LATER!!!!!!!!!! I DON'T understand. I seriously don't know why he's doing this or what's going on in his little head. Can he seriously not hold it or is he still marking?!?!? My husband picked him right up and put him in his crate and said "You're going to bed, goodnight." I don't want to use the crate as punishment (and we've been careful not to up to this point) but everything else we are doing isn't working.

I know we've been very slack about watching him all the time. I keep telling my husband that we need to keep one eye on him at all times and if we can't, he has to be contained to one little area. My husband hates to do that, though, and doesn't want a dog that's always gated somewhere. I keep trying to tell him that I don't want that either, but for now, it's what's best for him and us and that it won't be like that forever (hopefully). But we just don't do it. I know I need to take a stand and gate him into his play area when we aren't watching him constantly, but I just don't.

We took him to the vet and they said nothing was wrong with him. They said his urine was concentrated. They checked for kidney failure, any kind of infection,and they found nothing. So I know he's fine physically.

I'm so afraid that we are going to have to go get rid of him. I don't want to, I love him and would be devastated, but I don't know what else to do. Please, help me out if you can. I don't know what I'm doing wrong and nothing we try seems to be working.

Thank you!

You might try belly bands. They won't train him, but they will sure save you a lot of grief! I hate to see you give up your dog over this.

I would also suggest Belly Bands.

And start back at the basics. Mine took a good year of potty training, and believe me there was good times and then they reverted, so when that happened I had to 'cut' there 'free run' of the house. They had to be contained (I used expen panels or I opened card board boxes and taped together to block off areas).

Also, I use positive praise and a good treat reward for doing potty where they should. A good little treat is Peanut Butter Chips (from the baking isle). They are so small, but so good! Works like a charm, but this treat is ONLY for good potty, don't use it for anything else....and in the meantime, get some belly bands and maxi pads ;)

P.S. After TJ was neutered he also would pee in all sorts of places. I asked the Vet 'what the hell happened" b/c he didn't ever do that before. The Vet said maybe TJ was a little upset...but I don't know if I buy that or not. I just 'up'd' the Postive Praise for good potty and I got him back on track!

Hang in there. There was a point where I thought Baxter would never "get it". It was hard and he may have an accident tonight but he hasn't peed indoors in about 2 months. He has jsut turned 10 months. I do watch him like a hawk. Good luck.

Have you thought of training him on a wee wee pad?
I know some owners prefer the crate and going outside method, but I'm thinking maybe if there's a pad in the house for him, he might go there instead?
Duke is trained on the pad so he goes inside but he too also pees on my new rugs multiple times and no matter what type of cleaner i use to get rid of the smell/stain, he still does it every once in a while. He is neutered so it's not that he's marking.

I hope someone will give you a workable solution soon so you wouldn't have to get rid of your lil one.

Yorkies are so hard to potty train!! It seems like everytime they 'get it'...something happens and they back slide. My dog also had a set back after he was neutered.

I would think you need to go back to the basics of potty training. The most important thing with a yorkie is consistancey! You have to be very consistant with everything! You can not give in even a little.

My advice would be... to gate off a safe area were the dog can be, preferably with you and your DH. Yorkies need and want to be with people! Keep him in this area at all times. I used my family room, because this is the room my family is always in. I used boxes to create a wall between the family room and kitchen. I also moved all of my furniture around so that there was no where to hide! I never left him alone in this area. If I needed to go to another room... I would carried him with me, put him on a leash, or put him in his crate. Once he was potty trained to this area I slowly added more space...the kitchen. I did this until he had supervised access to the whole downstairs.

**Potty training is a long process! Don't give up. Most yorkies are not potty trained until about a year old.

As I read this...
 

As I'm reading your dilemma, and I can relate, one of my yorkies is pooping in the diningroom behind me! My male was potty trained at about 8 months and we got a female about 2 months later. She is 13 months now and still has a lot of accidents. I do keep them confined for the most part in one room and send them outside before taking them upstairs, etc. I've been where you are, and now that my carpets are cleaned, they are starting it up again, little by little. Although my current problem is barking and upset neighbors, the potty issue is still at large and I'm not sure it will ever change. I recently caught my male lifting he leg on the water dispenser! We put in a doggy door but they are too afraid of going thru it on their own, even using the treat method, and so we leave it open and they use it, but now it's gettng too cold to leave open so it's up to us to make sure we let them out, CONSTANTLY! Of course, if it's raining or cold, they just want to do their business inside. We used the pee pads but stopped once they learned to go outside, and now it seems they don't even know what pee pads are! I will say, that I started watching "It's Me or the Dog" and have been encouraged to try some new ideas. Maybe this issue will get addressed and she'll give you some good insight?? Maybe controlling their water intake might work?? Dunno.....best of luck to you....I've been in your place...and now people are sending me private messages to take my dogs of my hands!

DoggiePotty Indoor dog bathroom. Doggie potty a training solution.


:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Belly Bands
 

What are they and where can I check them out??

Alot of ppl here on YT make and sell them. Belly Bands are a band of layered sewn fabric with velcro. Ususally you put a full or 1/2 a maxi pad inside and you wrap it around your boys belly, covering his 'p' and this way if he tries to 'mark' or flat out pee inside, the belly band/maxi pad absorbs the urine ;)

:) Try the belly bands ..i wouldnt be without mine,Harley is now 15 months but still has a few accidents, when he is not crated he has one on at all times.i take him outside every 2-3 hrs during the day,he is fine at night now and when he is crated..these little dogs just need time and patience. Good luck..

Thanks for the advice and well wishes everyone. My husband spoke with a trainer at PetSmart yesterday and the guy basically told us that our little one isn't marking, he's just being extremely stubborn and isn't making the connection between being inside and going outside. So we've rededicated ourselves to going back to the beginning and start retraining Samson. In one month, we'll re-evaluate and see where we are.

The trainer told us that using pee pads in the bathroom (where Samson is gated during the day when we're at work) confuses him. He says it's teaching him to go on something soft, so when he's on the carpet, he thinks it's okay to pee there because it feels like the pee pad.

I had done a ton of research online here and other websites before we got Samson and after we got him. I told my husband everything I found(consistency, watching him like a hawk when he's not crated/gated) but when the trainer from PetSmart told him pretty much the same stuff I did, I think that made it really sink in. The trainer asked him "Was he doing really well at one point?" My husband said "Yes! He was doing awesome." And the petsmart trainer said "Yeah, that means he was getting it and was just starting to understand. A lot of owners do that, though, where they think the dog has it, so they start slacking and the dog becomes confused and then goes back." He also told us that whenever we take Samson directly from his crate of the bathroom (where he's gated) pick him up and don't let his feet touch the floor. This way he'll learn that he has to go outside before he can do anything else. We had been opening the crate/gate and letting him jump on the bed first thing in the morning or run to the door across the carept.

We had a good night last night. My husband was bowling for the evening, so it was just me and the baby. I took him out as soon as I got home and then crated him for an hour or so, I had laundry to do and wanted to have a quick dinner. The Petsmart trainer told us to crate him if we can't watch him 100% so that's what I did. Then I took him out again and sat down on the couch with him to watch some TV. However, this time, I didn't let him roam free. I kept him on his leash so he couldn't wander off. An hour later or so later, I let him out again. Soon after that my husband came home and took him out again. Then my husband took Samson, some of his toys and went to lay down in bed with him. I went to bed an hour or so later and Samson was already in his crate.

This morning I woke up, let him out, fed him (bad habit we started, he loves to eat his breakfast in bed with us) and let him play on the bed with my sleeping husband while I showered. When I got out of the shower, I noticed there was some pee on the carpet right up against the wall. It was pretty much dry, so I know it wasn't this morning. However, it was still a tiny bit damp and smelly. My husband went into the bedroom with Samson last night while I stayed and watched tv. I heard him say "Samson, get up here" a few times, so I wonder now if Samson went off the bed and peed in the bedroom last night.

***VENTING**** I swear, I get so frustrated with my hubby. It's like he just doesn't watch him. I've told him repeatedly - and now the trainer guy has told him - that Samson needs to be watched while he's out of the crate. But I just don't think he does it or even tries to do it. I just don't understand and it makes me so angry. If he's not going to watch him, put him in his crate or keep him on his leash. It's not that hard!!! ***VENTING OVER***

So, that's what's going on right now. We have a huge uphill battle but hopefully we'll come down the other side soon.

Sounds to me like your hubby needs to go in for some training. You both have to be consistent with these wonderful little babies. You were doing the right thing last night. But your hubby didn't, so this in confusing your baby. If he can't watch him and keep him close while you shower, then put him in his crate.

The very first thing you should do when he comes out of his crate or gated area, is to carry him outside and let him potty. Really praise him and fuss over him when he pottys outside. These babies want to please you and they learn so much better and faster when praised. Say "Potty" and give a little treat immediatley after he pottys outside.

If you really want to keep him.. you need to do the work required to make sure he is healthy and happy and potty trained. Yes, it takes work but the rewards are a lifetime of love and affection. It is soooo worth it.

Good luck with your baby.

I wish you luck. It sounds as though you have the tools and the knowledge but just not the consistency. It is very difficult when 2 people do not work together for the common goal. Unless your hubby helps you with this, your baby will keep slipping. It is not the dogs fault because he keeps getting mixed signals.

I use pee pads for that reason. There are times that I am not home and for me it is good to know that they can go potty. I have the frames for the pads so I guess this may make a difference.

When we were trying to train one of ours, hubby kept her on a leash so he knew when she would start to wonder off. It really takes consistency and diligence. I wish you luck...you and hubby really need to be together on this.

Don't give up....
 

I have watched training shoes where the trainer puts the dog on a leash and attached it to the owner's belt when the dog was out of the crate or ex-pen. This seemed to work when you were doing house work and could not keep your eyes on the little one....but the little stayed with you..... This may be something you want to try before giving him free run of the house again. Both of my Yorkies were trained when I got them but we did have a few accidents during the adjustment period. But, I had a dachshund one time that I had lots of problems with. We did the leash thing mentioned above and it really helped out. I hated to crate him just because I could not stop to watch him. This worked great! Hang in there. It is just like potty training a child....some catch on earlier than others. For some, it takes a long time with lots of sweat and tears along the way! It is worth it in the end!

Yes, I think it's my DH that needs some training, too!! :)

I kept him on his leash for most of the night last night so I could control his wandering. It really seemed to work, except he would chew on the nylon leash from time to time. That's when I kind of knew he was getting restless, so we went outside pretty much immediately. Other times, he would lay on the ottoman and play with his toys.

We do treat him immediately after peeing/pooping. We also used to praise him, but once we got him going outside more, that slacked off. We have started doing the praising thing again, along with treating. Hopefully that will help. Samson gets so excited when we say "Good boy" because he knows a treat is coming. It's also gotten to the point where he will lift his leg for two seconds and then run over and look up at me like "Where's my treat lady??"

I will have to talk with the husband about watching him. I know he hates it because he feels like I'm criticizing him, but it needs to be consistent and we have to do it together.

A crate may be the answer
 

Maybe using a crate at night may help. I know I can't trust my female to hold it unless she's in the crate. When she wakes up, we immediately take her outside. I can't let her walk by herself (my male sleeps on my daughter's bed all night and then runs to the back door when he wakes up) to the door because she'll stop and pee on the way! At first I didn't see much benefits to crating, but once they get used to it (it may take some sleepless nights) it is great! Good luck.

joeysowner - as per my posts, we do use a crate. Samson sleeps in it all night, with no problems at all. He's been sleeping in a crate, with no crying or whining, since the end of the first week with us.

Sorry
 

I was keyed into the "peeing by the bed" when he was with your hubby and overlooked the fact that he was in the crate by the time you came into the room.

Here's your problem's ^^^^^!! It's not the dog, You Need to keep an eye on him for sign's he has to go potty, Otherwise he's going to go on the floor You can't expect him to hold it.
Get up & take him out & there won't be any problems.

Have you taken him to the vet to see if he might have a bladder infection?

Yes, we took him about two weeks ago to make sure nothing was wrong. They checked for everything, including kidney failure. They found nothing. We then got him neutered later that same week.

I don't mean to be rude, but I really don't think this is just about us getting up and letting him out. It's not like we were keeping him inside for hours at a time, expecting him to hold it. It was a HALF HOUR AFTER he'd been out. Don't you think it's a bit strange that an 8 month old dog can't hold his urine for more than a half hour??? I mean, if he were two or three months, yeah, we'd be going out every half hour. As it is, we were letting him out every
1 1/2 - 2 hours, as we thought that was a reasonable amount of time for him to hold it. Somewhere he's not making the connection.

And as for watching for signs that he has to go potty, there are none or they are very small, very tiny signs that I would never notice. He doesn't whine or go to the door or bark. He just goes wherever he wants.

But thanks for the helpful advice.

I do not find it strange at all! He is a yorkie. If you have not already done so, websearch for yorkie information and you will find that housebreaking a yorkie is time consuming and difficult. It is one of the major drawbacks of the breed and also one of the main reasons they end up being dumped.

It sounds like you have the right ideas from what I have read...you just need to hang in a bit longer.

When I am out with my yorkies and people stop to talk to me, if they start telling me they always wanted a yorkie, I tell them to please study the breed first.

Is he getting enough water? Concentrated urine is heavy, they have to urinate more often because they just can't hold it. They can hold urine longer if it is less concentrated. Normal urine is pale, straw colored and almost odorless. Make sure that the little fellow is hydrated. It is just a thought. Maybe this will help.

Yorkies, I believe, will never be 100% trained, so don't try to aim for that. You can probably, if your're lucky, get him to 90%. My guy is at about that maybe less since he just pooped on the floor this morning after going out, but when it rains, that's what he does. You just get to know them and accept it, they are very stuborn, they hate to be alone and they are very hard to train. My guy is 1 and I'm starting to realize its just the way it is. I have tried it all and he still has occassional accidents. The bellybands save my rugs and carpet, when i let him roam he wears it, I would reccomend you getting one immediately.

Well said..i feel exact same way,i am just grateful that Harley is probably about 90% trained but still at 15 months has a few accidents..i have learnt not to stress about it and he too wears a bellyband when he is roaming they are a godsend.

some are perfect, some are not
 

It's all about compromise and tradeoff. My life has a lot less stress in it since I discovered belly bands. I buy Depends pads and cut them in half to make waterproof liners for the bands and I can now enjoy my little boy's company without worry about urine messes. They make little panties for the girls too. Yes, it is better to have them trained to do their business in a designated place, but I'm a lousy trainer and this is manageable.

Oh boy does this all sound so close to home.. Well first of all I have been through this as well and what i found out is that the dye in carpet has been cleaned over and over with amionia and the dogs smell it and think it is okay to pee on it.. so I fixed that problem took up the carpet and put hard wood floors or tile down.. It is a proven fact all dogs will do this and even the owners that think that ther little angels are not . Well wait til they take up the carpet and look under is they will see alot of pee tracks.... anyway the belly bands do work but they will learn to use them like a diaper which makes them stink... take them to a trainer and be right there .., or just keep them off the carpet.. good luck.. Mother of 6 yorkies...:aimeeyork

Behavior
 

I don't know too much but after reading your message I got the distinct feeling he is upset over something and it is his way of retaliating. My year old yorkie sometimes goes outside and come in to pee. She has puppy pads in a container (open cat litter box). She is finally getting much better but the baby still has her accidents. I made up my mind that they are more important to me than their markings and just clean it up. I reward them when they go outside. Some people take a clicker and treats with them and when the dog goes outside he/she is rewarded. I have 3 that I walk at the same time so that has not worked for me. Just a thought. Another strange thing, I had a female cat who was fixed and every May she'd stand on top of the couch and urinate on the wall. I took her to the vet, etc. Finally, after doing this for several years it just stopped. Who knows???? Good luck. Kindness works more efficiently than getting upse. Like kids, anything for attention, good or bad. Hang in. Mother of 3 -2 yorkies, 1 poodle and loving it. Judy

I will have to disagree with that. My 11mth old Yorkie is 100% potty trained, she's alone with full run of the house for 8 hours / day while I'm at work - no accidents. My key to success was consistency, not just letting her outside but watching to make sure she goes. While she was younger I would leave her in the kennel while at work, popping by at lunch to let her out. I believe this helped her learn to control her blatter. Not only that, when she did have an accident, I got mad - gave her a little smack on the bottom and toss her outside. At about 9 months she was completely potty trained.

Stay strong and stern. He'll get it eventually.