The YT Potty Log

[broodizt]

Well I know I haven't posted for awhile, we have gone through so many changes. I'm kind of depressed because they are still not getting it and I think it is all my fault. Most recently I bought a puphead portable potty. The girls are taking to it smashingly, but I do still find poo on the rug. I only have it for a few days, so I am hoping by bringing it from room to room wherever I am with them, they will get used to it. I am also trying to train them to go outdoors. I'm a little confused as to how often I should be taking them out. Cassie is two years and Muffin is 10 months. Both are about between 2 and 2 1/2 lbs full grown. I try to take them out first thing in the morning, after lunch and dinner. is this enough? Should I take them out three times a day and the rest of the time reward them for going on the portable potty? This is so confusing and frustrating. I have yet to go one full day without either of them pottying on the rug. And to top it off, I found Muffin munching on my brand new woven basket even though she has a room full of toys including an everlasting treat ball.......Sob

Sincerely,

Running on Empty

[Corrine Parrott]

Hi There
I have two Yorkies one 161/2 yrs. and one 18 months. The old gal is helping to train the puppy. He has to go out every 11/2 hours as his bladder is so small. She has to go more frequently as she is so old. Getting themboth down the stairs in the cold and snow has not been fun. But he has only 1-2 accidents a day. No pea pad as he shredded them every where. Hope he will be completed trained as weather warms up!

[ILUVSADIE]

It seems that every time I think that Sadie is totally potty trained (pads in the house), even if it's been months since she made a "mistake" - she'll start piddling on my carpet again. She's three years old already!!!!!! I guess I can't complain cause I knew that was part of the deal with owning a Yorkie....

[QuickSilver]

WE'VE CLEARED THE TWO WEEK MARK! YEE HA!!

We're going all the way, baby! All the way!

I'm so proud of my little stinker. broodizt, last month, I felt exactly the way you do. Don't give up. Thor had 2 years of experience going anywhere he wanted, AND he's kinda dumb, AND he's stubborn. If he can catch on, anyone can. I think it's a matter of figuring out what's going to work for you and your yorkies.

One thing I'll say is that if you are discovering spots, I think you need to watch them more closely. If you can't watch them more closely, they should be crated. That seemed to be the turning point with Thor. Since I put him in his crate and didn't give him freedom until he pottied, he has not had a single accident. And I only needed to crate him a few times before he started taking the initiative to potty on his own.

The other thing is fabulous treats every time he goes, like a piece of cheese or roast beef.

Corrine Parrott, I love that little bone basket! Where did you get it?

[broodizt]

Okay,

I think there may be reason to have a glimmer of hope. This morning, when I woke up late (9:30 AM), and in another room (I slept on the living room sofa instead of with the girls in my room)-when I came in to them there was not a single poo on the carpet from either of them, and I didn't see any wet spots (although I can't really tell once it's dried on the rug since their wee's are so tiny). I took them out and they went potty outside in their doggie run. Yay!!!
Today we are off to a good start.

Thanks so much Quicksilver for imparting hope and encouragement to us all.

It means so much to those of us who are still struggling!!! I'll update the latest progress today. Shellie

[ParrotLady]

Penny made it through DAY 1, YIPEEEE!!

I just had to report. Looking for day 2 tomorrow.

[drabinowitz43]

Originally Posted by Sweetlips6

LOL. I am afraid that my Bonnie will never be allowed out of the bathroom. I had the image of me, sitting on the couch reading with my sweet baby on my lap. Not only will she not sit on my lap, she doesn't even act like she really loves me. I am with her every second I am home (except cooking and eating) For two hours in the morning before work I am either in the bathroom with her or taking a small walk around the yard. I even drink my coffee sitting in the bathroom!!
As soon as I get home from work, we go out for a walk, I feed her and leave her in the bathroom while I get supper. Then I am back in the bathroom til I tuck her in at 9. (so that I can have 1 hour to myself before bedtime.) We have just this week branched out to playing in the bedroom (carpet flooring) when she proved she would use the pad when I wasn't supervising. At least I can watch TV in there. She even barked the other day. When I went into the bathroom she was barking at the poop on her pad. LOL I guess she wanted me to see so she could get a treat.
The following is a copy of what I posted on another thread:
I have been married for 28 years. My husband has been against having a dog in the house, and just now gave in to my getting Bonnie, to help me through my empty nest syndrome. And because I have cried for 4 years over my last (outside) dog that died.
Because of my husbands feelings on the subject, I don't dare let Bonnie have an accident in the house (that he knows of)
Bonnie is doing OK using her pad. But *please don't flame me* my pup lives in my bathtub. It is a huge garden tub. I laid down a plastic table cloth on the bottom with a towel over that. The pad is on the drain end. Her bed, small crate and food dishes are on the other. She has never had an accident while in the tub. When I am home, she can be with me, at my side or running loose in the bathroom by herself. (like when I am cooking supper or eating) I have spent countless hours sitting in the bathroom floor, training and playing with her. She now uses the potty pad on the bathroom floor also. We also go outside for play and walks (and she uses the potty outside also).
SO far I have kept her out of trouble and I think she is growing on DH. HOWEVER, a few weeks ago she chewed the closet door facing and scratched and licked a huge hole in the drywall in the bathroom (which I have hid behind her bed) Last night she ate the corner off the wall by the shower. There is no way to hide that I am just sitting here waiting for DH to notice Sigh.....

Sorry I realize this is all a little off topic, but you see how worried, and depressed I am that Bonnie will not get trained and not excepted by DH.

I'm not sure if you posted prior to this, but can you confine her to a room where she can see you, even when you are not with her, like the kitchen? Dogs experiencing separation anxiety will bite holes in drywall and it becomes a difficult habit to break. The theory is they are literally trying to chew their way out of the room to find you. My morkie chewed a huge hole in our kitchen wall, right next to the back door and even after we repaired it, she would go back to that same spot and chew. There also could be a boredom factor involved, so I would give her plenty of chew toys and try bitter apple on that surface.

[dalnna]

I'm a new poster in this section and I have to tell you, I've laughed so much reading about the antics of all you're little babies! So smart, aren't they?

Well, I'm here because I have two UN housebroken little girls. Abbie is 3 1/2 and Lucy is 2 1/2. We've lived with dirty carpets for longer than I can stand and my husband has finally agreed to get new carpeting which will happen in a couple of weeks. I can't stand the idea of them going on the new carpeting. I'm home with them all day most days and they go out all the time and usually pee or poo each time but still I find pee and poo all over the living room, dining room and even my bedroom! Lucy even pees on the ottoman and once on the sofa!!!! AND my bed!!! At least I think it was Lucy. Abbie is a carpet pee'er. I can tell becasue she walks and pees so it's a wobbly little line. Lucy usually pees in one spot. On the other hand, Abbie poos in one spot and Lucy poos as she walks. Fun around here huh? Today, I'm recommitting to potty training. I've put them both in one of those 6 sided fences along with a bowl of water and their beds. Lucy is fine with it, just sleeping, Abbie is barking continueously. I'm taking them outside every couple of hours and then throwing the ball for a bit when they come back inside. I just don't know what else to do. I'm at my wits end eith them. HHHHEEEEELLLLLPPPP!!!!

[Corrine Parrott]

Yrkies have small bladders so they have to go more often. My 18 year old get put out each time I put out our puppy. Pup usually goes. First thing in morning they always pea and poop. Zipper my new pup poops 3 x a day. I always go out with them. They are unleashed nd run around a bit looking for spot to go. I was hard with snow deeper than the pup.so we shovelled off an area. DOWN SIDE PUP CAN'T do stairs yet so one of us must go up and down. During the day we take him out every 11/2 hour and because of this very few accidents. But to be sure it is us who are trained as he would rather go inside where it is nice and warm........

[ParrotLady]

Originally Posted by dalnna

Today, I'm recommitting to potty training. I've put them both in one of those 6 sided fences along with a bowl of water and their beds. Lucy is fine with it, just sleeping, Abbie is barking continueously. I'm taking them outside every couple of hours and then throwing the ball for a bit when they come back inside. I just don't know what else to do. I'm at my wits end eith them. HHHHEEEEELLLLLPPPP!!!!

I suggest that you give them water three times a day on a schedule. Don't give any food or water 3.5 hours before going to bed. Penny is getting food and water in the morning and evening and water in the middle of the day.

I have learned here, and very good advice it has been, to slowly expand her "free territory" as she proves herself. At first she was crated or "lapped" at first until she did business on the pad. Once she got the pad down 80%, we let her out and watched her in a small area of my office.

Oh, treats are an absolute must during training. Penny is like Thor, she will even fake us for a treat. That means she knows that when she goes on the pad she gets a treat, so she goes on the pad almost all the time. Yesterday she did not have one accident!

Many have said that you should not expand their territory until they have been consistent in the area they have been confined in for a good while. I think that must be true, because after she just got a reward for potty and poop on the pad in my office, I sometimes let her run around the house. She will often potty somewhere else within minutes, even though there IS a pad in the room that she went on the floor in.

We are looking for some inexpensive gates so that we can work on training her in the kitchen too. At least that way she could have two rooms to be trained in, and eventually we are going to have the Pet Loo we are getting located in the kitchen.

[QuickSilver]

Originally Posted by dalnna

Abbie . . . walks and pees so it's a wobbly little line. . . . Lucy poos as she walks.

Maybe you should re-named them Hansel and Gretel. You know, they're leaving a trail behind them so they find their way.

Originally Posted by ParrotLady

We are looking for some inexpensive gates so that we can work on training her in the kitchen too. At least that way she could have two rooms to be trained in, and eventually we are going to have the Pet Loo we are getting located in the kitchen.

LaurenLemon had this great suggestion of using cardboard boxes instead of gates. The way my place is laid out, I would need four ENORMOUS gates, and there's not an obvious place for an xpen either. The cardboard boxes are kind of a pain and they're definitely not pretty, but they don't cost anything and they get the job done.

[ParrotLady]

We will try the boxes tomorrow and see if hubby can handle the "messy look." The scary part will be when we "box" her off so that she can also have the room between the kitchen and the office. That room is has laminate flooring and it would be disastrous if she goes potty and the floor warps.

Thanks for reminding me about the boxes!

[nacke]

Originally Posted by QuickSilver

WE'VE CLEARED THE TWO WEEK MARK! YEE HA!!

We're going all the way, baby! All the way!

I'm so proud of my little stinker. broodizt, last month, I felt exactly the way you do. Don't give up. Thor had 2 years of experience going anywhere he wanted, AND he's kinda dumb, AND he's stubborn. If he can catch on, anyone can. I think it's a matter of figuring out what's going to work for you and your yorkies.

One thing I'll say is that if you are discovering spots, I think you need to watch them more closely. If you can't watch them more closely, they should be crated. That seemed to be the turning point with Thor. Since I put him in his crate and didn't give him freedom until he pottied, he has not had a single accident. And I only needed to crate him a few times before he started taking the initiative to potty on his own.

The other thing is fabulous treats every time he goes, like a piece of cheese or roast beef.

Corrine Parrott, I love that little bone basket! Where did you get it?

Go Thor!!!

We're getting close. Shes 95% tinkling on the pads! She wont go outside though

[QuickSilver]

nacke, have you tried bringing the pad outside for her to pee on? I've also read that people start moving the pad closer and closer to the door, and eventually take it outside.

Everyone is doing really well! I was looking at the first page of this thread, and all the doggies have made a lot of progress. Keep it up, people! And dogs too, of course.

[nacke]

Originally Posted by QuickSilver

nacke, have you tried bringing the pad outside for her to pee on? I've also read that people start moving the pad closer and closer to the door, and eventually take it outside.

Everyone is doing really well! I was looking at the first page of this thread, and all the doggies have made a lot of progress. Keep it up, people! And dogs too, of course.

Nah, its been too cold here really! So i havent tried. Though the one time i moved it, she went where the pad used to be. At least for the most part, shes got it down, so im happy! When we are out walking, she will actually head back inside to tinkle

Oh well, its working! We live in an apt, so i dont have a yard for her to just run out to. Im happy