Housetraining - Progress - YorkieTalk.com Forums

KarriAnn · 08-23-2005, 09:55 AM

I have been using a crate for Maddie since I brought her home at 8 weeks (she is now 4.5 months). She is really doing well with potty training - minimal accidents, usually goes to the door when she needs to go out, sleeps through the night, etc.

My question is when can I start to let her have a bit more freedom in the house. If I can't be with her (in the same room) she is in the crate. If we are in the same room together I usually have a gate up and/or keep a very close eye on her.

I'd like to start leaving her a bit in the house (not totally unsupervised or have free access) but I am wondering if that may hinder her potty training progress? When can I start to give her more freedom. I have read anywhere for 6 months to one year. Eventually, I'd just like to keep her gated in the kitchen with her toys, crate, etc. when I'm not available. She just chews up potty pads - so I haven't used those since 10 weeks and wouldn't be an option.

Any thoughts or suggestions...

Flakes · 08-23-2005, 10:10 AM

I must be really old school or something because I just don't understand why so many feel they have to crate or confine their dogs for months on end. If you confine a dog for six months or a year how are they supposed to ever learn what is acceptable behaviour. Not to mention at some point they have to become frustrated animals being locked up all the time. I understand the need to ensure your pet's safety but from I have been able to learn from reading the posts most appear to be using confinement as a means of dogsitting or convenience. If you want a well behaved, well socialized pet you have to spend time training it, lots and lots of time. Confine them and at the end of that confinement you will still have an untrained dog.

Maybe I'm missing something, but I've had dogs all my life and I've never confined one except to put them in a crate while travelling if they weren't yet comfortable with being in a car.

It really trouble me to hear of so many little angels being locked up in bathrooms, crates, kitchens etc.

KarriAnn · 08-23-2005, 10:16 AM

I do spend time training her - but I'm just curious on when I can give her more freedom when I'm not there - I totally agree with having a well socialized dog.

Ladylavender · 08-23-2005, 10:39 AM

KariAnn - I have read Yorkies for Dummies (and this has really become my bible). The author/writer (who is a yorkie owner and breeder) also agrees that you should not leave your yorkie alone (unconfined in your home) until over a year old. confinement does not = imprisonment or babysitting; it simply means establishing boundries. crating and confinement are tools utilized in training and are not by any means harsh or abusive (if used correctly, of which I am sure you are doing).

Millie will be 4 months old on 8/25/05 and I would not even consider allowing her the freedom of my entire home while at home or away. I either crate her or confine her in an x-pen. Just as you do.

I have allowed her more freedom in the house, while I am there and can be there to monitor her activities. I will still watch like a hawk. I think that doling out freedom when earned is appropriate and it sounds like your puppy is earning her freedom. I do want her to get used to the rest of the house and expose her to what is acceptable and not acceptable behavior (manners) like what not to chew or not to get into.

It will be a while before I allow her free reign of any room, while I am not there (much less the entire house). And when I do, it will be in hour increments, not whole days.

I have only just starting to allow her to sleep in her x-pen at night, whereas before she was crated. But she is doing great and she is not have any accidents in the x-pen at all. But I have the control of taking her out at night if she cries and needs to potty. I won't trust her in the x-pen during the day for quite sometime (since I am not there to take her out), so she will remain crated while I am at work.

I am going about this "freedom" thing, little by little and in baby steps. I know I am doing something right, because she is learning her potty training, not having accidents and is a happy little girl.

I am a happy owner too, because I don't come home to the place all torn apart or messed up on, so this is a win-win situation.

So based on my current progress, it could be a year before I let her have access to the house, while I am gone, but only for short periods of time. I really don't know when I will be ready to let her have free reign for a full work day. I will play it by ear and Millie and I will work on this together.

KarriAnn · 08-23-2005, 10:46 AM

Thanks Lady Lavendar!!

Yorkies for Dummies has been my savior!! It sounds were on the same track. Maddie gets into enough stuff while I'm watching her. I don't even want to think about how much fun she would have unsupervised.

Thanks again for the thoughts and reassurance!

YorkieChanel · 08-23-2005, 11:58 AM

You guys are more helpful than those websites and some books. Tahnks for all the tips. And i was thinking of getting the yorkie for dummies book also.. Now even more than before..Mine is 8 months old and i just leave her in my room. thats her place. and when i come home i always find her sleepin on my rug. So i am thinking of crate, but i see that i mgiht not really need since we are doing well as is... i would say out of 5 days she has done it on the floor in house maybe 3 times. Before we would come home and find poop, and like 3 or 4 pee spots with a mountain of shoes in the middle of the living room. And tonite i start in the petsmart training clases for puppies. So hopefully it all keeps on well and she understands right and wrong and learn tricks after..

vainchick5 · 08-23-2005, 12:02 PM

I crate trained my girl till she was 4.5 months. Now I gate her in my vanity area when I leave for work and it's great. She' got her crate (I took the door off so she can come and go) her toys, puppy pads and food and water. But she's gated. It's just enough space to romp a little but not enough for accidents. When I come home she gets access to the rest of the house (she is 6 months). But only while she's with me. I don't let her wander off somewhere. She is always in my site and her potty training is going wonderfully.

Flakes · 08-23-2005, 10:29 PM

For clarification, my pup is never unattended, either my husband or I am with her at all times and will be until she is of age to be left with the other two adult yorkies.

Carolina girl · 08-24-2005, 08:02 AM

Some of us don't have all day to potty train so penning is very useful. My husband is hardly ever home to help. Thats why she is with me. I don't have small children but I know some on here do and I know they can't consistantly keep and eye on the dog.
Plus most books say to confine your pup until potty training is finished. When mine doesn't have accidents or they are few and far between then we can talk about freedom of the house.

08-23-2005, 09:55 AM	#1
KarriAnn Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Gilbert, MN Posts: 85	Housetraining - Progress I have been using a crate for Maddie since I brought her home at 8 weeks (she is now 4.5 months). She is really doing well with potty training - minimal accidents, usually goes to the door when she needs to go out, sleeps through the night, etc. My question is when can I start to let her have a bit more freedom in the house. If I can't be with her (in the same room) she is in the crate. If we are in the same room together I usually have a gate up and/or keep a very close eye on her. I'd like to start leaving her a bit in the house (not totally unsupervised or have free access) but I am wondering if that may hinder her potty training progress? When can I start to give her more freedom. I have read anywhere for 6 months to one year. Eventually, I'd just like to keep her gated in the kitchen with her toys, crate, etc. when I'm not available. She just chews up potty pads - so I haven't used those since 10 weeks and wouldn't be an option. Any thoughts or suggestions... __________________ KarriAnn -owned and loved by Madeleine Iris A dog has the soul of a philosopher - Plato

08-23-2005, 10:16 AM	#3
KarriAnn Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Gilbert, MN Posts: 85	I do spend time training her - but I'm just curious on when I can give her more freedom when I'm not there - I totally agree with having a well socialized dog. __________________ KarriAnn -owned and loved by Madeleine Iris A dog has the soul of a philosopher - Plato

08-23-2005, 10:46 AM	#5
KarriAnn Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Gilbert, MN Posts: 85	Thanks Lady Lavendar!! Yorkies for Dummies has been my savior!! It sounds were on the same track. Maddie gets into enough stuff while I'm watching her. I don't even want to think about how much fun she would have unsupervised. Thanks again for the thoughts and reassurance! __________________ KarriAnn -owned and loved by Madeleine Iris A dog has the soul of a philosopher - Plato

08-23-2005, 12:02 PM	#7
vainchick5 YT 6000 Club Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: CA Posts: 6,588	I crate trained my girl till she was 4.5 months. Now I gate her in my vanity area when I leave for work and it's great. She' got her crate (I took the door off so she can come and go) her toys, puppy pads and food and water. But she's gated. It's just enough space to romp a little but not enough for accidents. When I come home she gets access to the rest of the house (she is 6 months). But only while she's with me. I don't let her wander off somewhere. She is always in my site and her potty training is going wonderfully. __________________ Mommy to Coco and Rocco

08-24-2005, 08:02 AM	#9
Carolina girl YT Addict Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Aiken, South Carolina Posts: 320	Some of us don't have all day to potty train so penning is very useful. My husband is hardly ever home to help. Thats why she is with me. I don't have small children but I know some on here do and I know they can't consistantly keep and eye on the dog. Plus most books say to confine your pup until potty training is finished. When mine doesn't have accidents or they are few and far between then we can talk about freedom of the house. __________________ Love is... when your puppy licks your face even though you left him alone all day! Izzabella and Cindy

08-23-2005, 10:10 AM	#2
Flakes Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Victoria Posts: 218	I must be really old school or something because I just don't understand why so many feel they have to crate or confine their dogs for months on end. If you confine a dog for six months or a year how are they supposed to ever learn what is acceptable behaviour. Not to mention at some point they have to become frustrated animals being locked up all the time. I understand the need to ensure your pet's safety but from I have been able to learn from reading the posts most appear to be using confinement as a means of dogsitting or convenience. If you want a well behaved, well socialized pet you have to spend time training it, lots and lots of time. Confine them and at the end of that confinement you will still have an untrained dog. Maybe I'm missing something, but I've had dogs all my life and I've never confined one except to put them in a crate while travelling if they weren't yet comfortable with being in a car. It really trouble me to hear of so many little angels being locked up in bathrooms, crates, kitchens etc.

08-23-2005, 10:39 AM	#4
Ladylavender YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Soddy Daisy, TN Posts: 733	KariAnn - I have read Yorkies for Dummies (and this has really become my bible). The author/writer (who is a yorkie owner and breeder) also agrees that you should not leave your yorkie alone (unconfined in your home) until over a year old. confinement does not = imprisonment or babysitting; it simply means establishing boundries. crating and confinement are tools utilized in training and are not by any means harsh or abusive (if used correctly, of which I am sure you are doing). Millie will be 4 months old on 8/25/05 and I would not even consider allowing her the freedom of my entire home while at home or away. I either crate her or confine her in an x-pen. Just as you do. I have allowed her more freedom in the house, while I am there and can be there to monitor her activities. I will still watch like a hawk. I think that doling out freedom when earned is appropriate and it sounds like your puppy is earning her freedom. I do want her to get used to the rest of the house and expose her to what is acceptable and not acceptable behavior (manners) like what not to chew or not to get into. It will be a while before I allow her free reign of any room, while I am not there (much less the entire house). And when I do, it will be in hour increments, not whole days. I have only just starting to allow her to sleep in her x-pen at night, whereas before she was crated. But she is doing great and she is not have any accidents in the x-pen at all. But I have the control of taking her out at night if she cries and needs to potty. I won't trust her in the x-pen during the day for quite sometime (since I am not there to take her out), so she will remain crated while I am at work. I am going about this "freedom" thing, little by little and in baby steps. I know I am doing something right, because she is learning her potty training, not having accidents and is a happy little girl. I am a happy owner too, because I don't come home to the place all torn apart or messed up on, so this is a win-win situation. So based on my current progress, it could be a year before I let her have access to the house, while I am gone, but only for short periods of time. I really don't know when I will be ready to let her have free reign for a full work day. I will play it by ear and Millie and I will work on this together.

08-23-2005, 11:58 AM	#6
YorkieChanel Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Miami Posts: 72	You guys are more helpful than those websites and some books. Tahnks for all the tips. And i was thinking of getting the yorkie for dummies book also.. Now even more than before..Mine is 8 months old and i just leave her in my room. thats her place. and when i come home i always find her sleepin on my rug. So i am thinking of crate, but i see that i mgiht not really need since we are doing well as is... i would say out of 5 days she has done it on the floor in house maybe 3 times. Before we would come home and find poop, and like 3 or 4 pee spots with a mountain of shoes in the middle of the living room. And tonite i start in the petsmart training clases for puppies. So hopefully it all keeps on well and she understands right and wrong and learn tricks after..

08-23-2005, 10:29 PM	#8
Flakes Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Victoria Posts: 218	For clarification, my pup is never unattended, either my husband or I am with her at all times and will be until she is of age to be left with the other two adult yorkies.