Potty Training Nightmare, about to give up - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Ahoo · 07-02-2009, 11:58 AM

Hello folks,

Our almost 3 month old female pup doesn't go number 1 or 2 in her crate but she'll go anywhere in the house. I know potty training takes time but my question is in the crate she'll hold both pee and poo for up to 4 hours but when out she can pee every 40min to an hour when in the house. I know it's not a good idea to take her out every 40 minutes so she can learn to hold it but these accidents are getting real annoying when they're on the couch, carpet, and pillows. Should I only keep her outside of the crate for 30min after pee than back to crate to avoid these accidents? She had plenty accidents and plenty times during which she heard us tell her no no no and we take her out right away afterward but doesn't seem to teach her a thing. She also growls, bites, and attacks our hands and arms on top of it instead of playing with her ton of toys. Should we have some sort of a punishment for her like putting her by herself in a basket for 10 minutes after accidents and bad behavior? Someone recommended getting a cowbell and shaking it before taking her out so she can learn to touch the cowbell when she needs to go, is this recommended? We read some books and asked around but we feel stuck whatever we try. We had her now for 3 weeks and 2 days and feel we have been pretty consistent.

Ahoo · 07-03-2009, 09:27 AM

bumpie bump

Mier · 07-03-2009, 09:34 AM

The puppy is 3 months old! she need time to learn my pups didnt 100% understand the whole potty place thing until she was 15 months old! I understand you not wanting to take her alot when your home cuz you wanna teach her to hold it, but trust me its not a good idea. When your home your pup is expecting you to take care of her aka taking her out every half hour to pee. Get her used to you asking her if she has to potty and then taking her out. When shes home alone she understands she has no one to take care or her (take her pee outside) so she will most likly hold it or have maybe one accident. Some are tougher to train than others but you really have to be on top of them when your home and taking them out almost every half hour because as a young pup she will pee where she pleases. Although make sure your asking her if she has to potty because eventually she will catch on. I hope this helps

navywifey · 07-03-2009, 12:03 PM

Would you expect a child newborn - 1 yrs old to learn to potty on the toilet??
have some patience!!! You need to be taking your puppy out EVERY HOUR! and Telling your pup WHILE its peeing "Go potty".. then after their done Treat him and say good boy(or girl).

I have a 1yr old chihuahua, and a 6 month old golden retriever, and i potty trained them great asap. My golden trained the fastest. We use the "Ring the Bell" Method to train him, he learned in 3 days, and we havnt had NOT ONE accident since he was 9weeks old. I was extreamly consistant! I had a timer set for every hour!!! Every hour i would walk him to the back door, i would take his paw, or nose, and have him ring the bell WHILE SAYING "ring the bell, -after its rang- "okay lets go potty"...

your puppy is SOO tiny and has a extreamly tiny bladder! Accidents will happen... your puppy will learn on its own to "hold its own bladder".. you dont have to teach it to do that.

Try the "ring the bell" method. best method ive used on training dogs so far

rebeccag · 07-05-2009, 03:18 PM

Title

angelakc · 07-05-2009, 03:52 PM

aww she will catch on eventually... shes still a baby... try taking her out more and let her stay out a little longer.. and reward her alot when she goes outside...

yoshimax · 07-05-2009, 06:52 PM

Your baby is still very young like everyone posted here. I have an 8 1/2 month yorkie who we got 2 months ago. he was totally not potty trained, he still sits on his pee pee pads whether it was his or his brother's. We have been extremely patient with him and he is starting to get it. He still has trouble with # 2. But getting much better.
We feed him on a timer so we know approximately what time to either put him in his pen so he can go.

We have 2 other dogs and they too had their problems, but they are sooo good now. It really takes a lot of patience. It will come. My husband and I always joke that our new baby will never be as smart as his 2 other brothers when it comes to potty training. But as long as he is getting it and the accidents are less. That's all we hope for.

Don't give up.... Consistency, patience, love and perseverance... They will learn and once they get it. They get it.

Lori63 · 07-06-2009, 09:38 AM

Ok well, for all of you that are shaming the woman that started this post with the 'have patience' comments. I have 2 yorkies. My oldest is 14, going on 15 and the youngest is 12. It took me every bit of 2 yrs to house break both of them!!! Even tho they are house-broken, they will still pee and poop in the house if they need to. BOTH have regressed to being unbroken..as tho they aren't trained at all. This is mainly due to the youngest potty habits. I don't want ANYONE to bash me and tell me that it's something that I'M doing wrong because they WERE broken!!! This breed is by far the most stubborn when it comes to housebreaking of any breed I have ever owned. The youngest of the 2 is a complete and utter tyrant that has destroyed every place I have ever lived with her nastiness. I am getting ready to have to move yet again only this time it will be without her. I have come to the conclusion that I will never have anything or be able to live a 'normal' life as long as she is sharing my dwelling. I have had all the patience anyone could possibly have while going thru this. I have trained, re-trained, and re-trained in every method ever written and some I concocted on my own. She WILLLLL lay in it, sleep in it, heck, she even eats her own poop as well as the other dogs poop! It's absolutely the grossest dog I have ever owned. I have put up with this for, as I've said, 12 years for the sake of her. She's at an age where no one will or would take her now. The no kill shelter here wont take her. So I have 1 alternative and that is to have her put to sleep. I am beyond disgusted with being forced to do such a thing when I have fought long and hard to keep her. 12 years!!!!???????? It comes a time when a person has to look at how they have to live for the sake of an animal. One such as what I have. Believe me, I love her as much as I hate her sometimes and I am not the kind of person to do what I have to do. I've cried my eyes out at the thought of this but I really have no choice left. I cannot live this way anymore. My home reeks of urine and it's just not fair! So, to the woman that is having the difficult time.....you have a long road ahead of you and chances are pretty great that potty training will never completely be done! Everyone I know with yorkies complain that they are the HARDEST to break and are rarely fully broken. They're just sneaky enough to hide the evidence well. They are beautiful, sweet companions but the down-sides to them out-weigh the good!

nailadee · 07-06-2009, 10:17 AM

There are exceptions to every rule, that's for sure. I'd heard all the horror stories about yorkies and still went ahead with getting one and haven't regretted AT ALL! She was 6 weeks old when I got her, I immediately started her with piddle pads, and I did crate her some. By the time she was 11 weeks old, she was totally pad trained but was willing to go outside, if given the chance. If she did make a mistake, she would actually go over to the hard surfaced floor areas of my house and #1 there! I was totally amazed by that!

Lori, there are just some dogs that are like that, I'm sorry to say and I'm really sorry you've got to make this terrible decision.

ahoo, the others gave good advice, it sounds like you need to be more consistent about letting your baby out. Complete run of the house should not be allowed until the dog understands that the WHOLE house is it's home, not just the crate. It takes a while to get that across but then again, look how long it takes to potty train a child......see the resemblance?

Nancy1999 · 07-07-2009, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lori63

Ok well, for all of you that are shaming the woman that started this post with the 'have patience' comments. I have 2 yorkies. My oldest is 14, going on 15 and the youngest is 12. It took me every bit of 2 yrs to house break both of them!!! Even tho they are house-broken, they will still pee and poop in the house if they need to. BOTH have regressed to being unbroken..as tho they aren't trained at all. This is mainly due to the youngest potty habits. I don't want ANYONE to bash me and tell me that it's something that I'M doing wrong because they WERE broken!!! This breed is by far the most stubborn when it comes to housebreaking of any breed I have ever owned. The youngest of the 2 is a complete and utter tyrant that has destroyed every place I have ever lived with her nastiness. I am getting ready to have to move yet again only this time it will be without her. I have come to the conclusion that I will never have anything or be able to live a 'normal' life as long as she is sharing my dwelling. I have had all the patience anyone could possibly have while going thru this. I have trained, re-trained, and re-trained in every method ever written and some I concocted on my own. She WILLLLL lay in it, sleep in it, heck, she even eats her own poop as well as the other dogs poop! It's absolutely the grossest dog I have ever owned. I have put up with this for, as I've said, 12 years for the sake of her. She's at an age where no one will or would take her now. The no kill shelter here wont take her. So I have 1 alternative and that is to have her put to sleep. I am beyond disgusted with being forced to do such a thing when I have fought long and hard to keep her. 12 years!!!!???????? It comes a time when a person has to look at how they have to live for the sake of an animal. One such as what I have. Believe me, I love her as much as I hate her sometimes and I am not the kind of person to do what I have to do. I've cried my eyes out at the thought of this but I really have no choice left. I cannot live this way anymore. My home reeks of urine and it's just not fair! So, to the woman that is having the difficult time.....you have a long road ahead of you and chances are pretty great that potty training will never completely be done! Everyone I know with yorkies complain that they are the HARDEST to break and are rarely fully broken. They're just sneaky enough to hide the evidence well. They are beautiful, sweet companions but the down-sides to them out-weigh the good!

One of the most important things in potty training is cleaning up any mistakes. You need to use an enzyme cleaner to do this, as it has special enzymes that actually "eat" the protein found in urine. If your house reeks of urine, you have not been doing this. The protein is what causes the smell and if there is even a slight odor the dog will return to the spot, that's how pee pads work, dogs are compelled to return to the spot where there is an odor. Even a protein odor from food dropped, can cause a dog to go on that spot. There are black lights you can buy, and you might be surprised at all the spots in your house that are visible to the naked eye, or even the human nose, but a dog can smell them.

To the OP, this site has some good advice on potty training. I don't think you can expect 100% tell you are closer to 1 year, but it sounds like you have given your dog too much freedom. Free House Training for Puppies and Adult Dogs - No More Accidents Starting Today!

Lori63 · 12-21-2009, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

One of the most important things in potty training is cleaning up any mistakes. You need to use an enzyme cleaner to do this, as it has special enzymes that actually "eat" the protein found in urine. If your house reeks of urine, you have not been doing this. The protein is what causes the smell and if there is even a slight odor the dog will return to the spot, that's how pee pads work, dogs are compelled to return to the spot where there is an odor. Even a protein odor from food dropped, can cause a dog to go on that spot. There are black lights you can buy, and you might be surprised at all the spots in your house that are visible to the naked eye, or even the human nose, but a dog can smell them.

To the OP, this site has some good advice on potty training. I don't think you can expect 100% tell you are closer to 1 year, but it sounds like you have given your dog too much freedom. Free House Training for Puppies and Adult Dogs - No More Accidents Starting Today!

This is an update on my 12 yo. I kept her afterall but ended up finding her a good home just 3 days ago. We did move and I brought her along. She surprised me and did well here, at least as best as she could. As it turns out and after many trips to the vet, I found out that she was having an issue that was causing her to pee the way she was peeing. She had a UTI twice! Her health began to deteriorate and after having tried to give the vets in my area chance after chance to fix her so that I could keep her and we could all be happy again, they failed us both. Miserably!! I spent all that I had to get her help. I've been unemployed for almost 5 months now and there's no one hiring anywhere near me. Living on a measly unemployment check to pay it all. Savannah needed health care. She was going out and doing her business and I would praise her and give her treats and it became a game to her. She knew if she went out and even dribbled she'd go in and get a treat. But I'd find dribbles in the floor and the towel in her box soaked. Her urine reeked of cat urine. The vet told me she had a high ph in her urine and that was it!!!! She had also developed a cough that the vet told me not to worry about! Yes! they were horrible people!!!!!! You go looking for answers and these are the answers you get!!!! Right now she is with an older lady that has nothing but time, money and patience. I am immensely heartbroken, having cried for the last 3 days virtually non-stop. I miss her more than I ever imagined I would. I've said this before but I've never had an animal test me to the limits she tested me. In the end tho, I did all that I could to help her and keep her with me. She was a very loving part of our family and was worth all that I endured. I will always, always miss her!!!

grouper · 12-22-2009, 11:32 AM

I have had my Yorkie for a year and half, I have heard other people say that they had a hard time training their puppy, we had Marley house broke in about 3 wks. unlike a big dog, you really have to watch the smaller dogs when they go to the door, a bigger dog you will see standing at the door to go out, a smaller one is harder to see. Marley would go to the door and if my wife or myself did not let her out she would come over to me and sit in front of me and stare, I would ask her if she had to go potty and she would run to the door. she was very easy to house brake, you just have to watch them a little closer than the bigger dogs. good luck with the training.

Kirby · 12-22-2009, 12:34 PM

Potty training a puppy can be tricky. No rhyme or reason why sometimes they get it and sometimes they don't. I chalk it up to maturity. By putting your puppy on a strict schedule, she'll come around. Give her breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the same time everyday. Play with her for an hour and let her eliminate in the proper spot, but then put her back in her crate until the next meal. After reading, "How to House Train Your Dog in Seven Days," this was Sydney's schedule, and it worked:

7 a.m. potty, breakfast, play, potty, play
9 a.m. crate
12 p.m. lunch, play, potty, play
1:15 p.m. crate
5 p.m. dinner, play, potty, play
6:15 p.m. crate
8 p.m. last drink of water for the evening, play, potty, play
9 p.m. crate
11:30 p.m. last time to potty for the evening.

I could almost set my watch by when she had to potty and what kind of potty she had to do. When Sydney regressed, which happens, I went back to the strict schedule until she go it. Don't give your puppy free roam of the house. As she improves, then give her a bit more access under close supervision. When you can't watch her, gate her off in a small area with wee wee pads or use an exercise pen.

Dogoftwo · 12-26-2009, 08:53 PM

I have a 4 month old male Yorkie. No matter how many times I take this dog outside, he will still use the bathroom in his crate....doesn't matter to him if he stands in it, sits in it. He is in a small crate. I even tried sectioning off so he only had enough room to lay down....doesn't matter at all. Does anyone have any advice? I understand that I need to be patient but most dogs don't eliminate in their crate.

Ladymom · 12-26-2009, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dogoftwo

I have a 4 month old male Yorkie. No matter how many times I take this dog outside, he will still use the bathroom in his crate....doesn't matter to him if he stands in it, sits in it. He is in a small crate. I even tried sectioning off so he only had enough room to lay down....doesn't matter at all. Does anyone have any advice? I understand that I need to be patient but most dogs don't eliminate in their crate.

This is an old thread. I'd suggest starting a new thread to get some help.

07-05-2009, 03:18 PM	#5
rebeccag Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1,183 Blog Entries: 2	Title __________________ I'm hoping God helps me be the person my dogs think I am.... Rebecca , Jonah & Ksena

07-05-2009, 03:52 PM	#6
angelakc <3 by Zsa Zsa & Pixie Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: sunshine state Posts: 738	aww she will catch on eventually... shes still a baby... try taking her out more and let her stay out a little longer.. and reward her alot when she goes outside... __________________ Zsa Zsa and Pixie have me wrapped around their paws "Whoever said you can't buy happiness forgot little puppies"

12-22-2009, 11:32 AM	#12
grouper Yorkie Talker Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: livonia mi Posts: 13	potty training I have had my Yorkie for a year and half, I have heard other people say that they had a hard time training their puppy, we had Marley house broke in about 3 wks. unlike a big dog, you really have to watch the smaller dogs when they go to the door, a bigger dog you will see standing at the door to go out, a smaller one is harder to see. Marley would go to the door and if my wife or myself did not let her out she would come over to me and sit in front of me and stare, I would ask her if she had to go potty and she would run to the door. she was very easy to house brake, you just have to watch them a little closer than the bigger dogs. good luck with the training.

12-26-2009, 08:53 PM	#14
Dogoftwo YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: New Jersey Posts: 6	Puppy poops and pees in crate I have a 4 month old male Yorkie. No matter how many times I take this dog outside, he will still use the bathroom in his crate....doesn't matter to him if he stands in it, sits in it. He is in a small crate. I even tried sectioning off so he only had enough room to lay down....doesn't matter at all. Does anyone have any advice? I understand that I need to be patient but most dogs don't eliminate in their crate.

07-02-2009, 11:58 AM	#1
Ahoo Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: chicago Posts: 15	Potty Training Nightmare, about to give up Hello folks, Our almost 3 month old female pup doesn't go number 1 or 2 in her crate but she'll go anywhere in the house. I know potty training takes time but my question is in the crate she'll hold both pee and poo for up to 4 hours but when out she can pee every 40min to an hour when in the house. I know it's not a good idea to take her out every 40 minutes so she can learn to hold it but these accidents are getting real annoying when they're on the couch, carpet, and pillows. Should I only keep her outside of the crate for 30min after pee than back to crate to avoid these accidents? She had plenty accidents and plenty times during which she heard us tell her no no no and we take her out right away afterward but doesn't seem to teach her a thing. She also growls, bites, and attacks our hands and arms on top of it instead of playing with her ton of toys. Should we have some sort of a punishment for her like putting her by herself in a basket for 10 minutes after accidents and bad behavior? Someone recommended getting a cowbell and shaking it before taking her out so she can learn to touch the cowbell when she needs to go, is this recommended? We read some books and asked around but we feel stuck whatever we try. We had her now for 3 weeks and 2 days and feel we have been pretty consistent.

07-03-2009, 09:27 AM	#2
Ahoo Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: chicago Posts: 15	bumpie bump

07-03-2009, 09:34 AM	#3
Mier Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Calgary AB Posts: 127	The puppy is 3 months old! she need time to learn my pups didnt 100% understand the whole potty place thing until she was 15 months old! I understand you not wanting to take her alot when your home cuz you wanna teach her to hold it, but trust me its not a good idea. When your home your pup is expecting you to take care of her aka taking her out every half hour to pee. Get her used to you asking her if she has to potty and then taking her out. When shes home alone she understands she has no one to take care or her (take her pee outside) so she will most likly hold it or have maybe one accident. Some are tougher to train than others but you really have to be on top of them when your home and taking them out almost every half hour because as a young pup she will pee where she pleases. Although make sure your asking her if she has to potty because eventually she will catch on. I hope this helps

07-03-2009, 12:03 PM	#4
navywifey Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Maryland Posts: 11	Would you expect a child newborn - 1 yrs old to learn to potty on the toilet?? have some patience!!! You need to be taking your puppy out EVERY HOUR! and Telling your pup WHILE its peeing "Go potty".. then after their done Treat him and say good boy(or girl). I have a 1yr old chihuahua, and a 6 month old golden retriever, and i potty trained them great asap. My golden trained the fastest. We use the "Ring the Bell" Method to train him, he learned in 3 days, and we havnt had NOT ONE accident since he was 9weeks old. I was extreamly consistant! I had a timer set for every hour!!! Every hour i would walk him to the back door, i would take his paw, or nose, and have him ring the bell WHILE SAYING "ring the bell, -after its rang- "okay lets go potty"... your puppy is SOO tiny and has a extreamly tiny bladder! Accidents will happen... your puppy will learn on its own to "hold its own bladder".. you dont have to teach it to do that. Try the "ring the bell" method. best method ive used on training dogs so far

07-06-2009, 09:38 AM	#8
Lori63 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Missouri Posts: 34	Ok well, for all of you that are shaming the woman that started this post with the 'have patience' comments. I have 2 yorkies. My oldest is 14, going on 15 and the youngest is 12. It took me every bit of 2 yrs to house break both of them!!! Even tho they are house-broken, they will still pee and poop in the house if they need to. BOTH have regressed to being unbroken..as tho they aren't trained at all. This is mainly due to the youngest potty habits. I don't want ANYONE to bash me and tell me that it's something that I'M doing wrong because they WERE broken!!! This breed is by far the most stubborn when it comes to housebreaking of any breed I have ever owned. The youngest of the 2 is a complete and utter tyrant that has destroyed every place I have ever lived with her nastiness. I am getting ready to have to move yet again only this time it will be without her. I have come to the conclusion that I will never have anything or be able to live a 'normal' life as long as she is sharing my dwelling. I have had all the patience anyone could possibly have while going thru this. I have trained, re-trained, and re-trained in every method ever written and some I concocted on my own. She WILLLLL lay in it, sleep in it, heck, she even eats her own poop as well as the other dogs poop! It's absolutely the grossest dog I have ever owned. I have put up with this for, as I've said, 12 years for the sake of her. She's at an age where no one will or would take her now. The no kill shelter here wont take her. So I have 1 alternative and that is to have her put to sleep. I am beyond disgusted with being forced to do such a thing when I have fought long and hard to keep her. 12 years!!!!???????? It comes a time when a person has to look at how they have to live for the sake of an animal. One such as what I have. Believe me, I love her as much as I hate her sometimes and I am not the kind of person to do what I have to do. I've cried my eyes out at the thought of this but I really have no choice left. I cannot live this way anymore. My home reeks of urine and it's just not fair! So, to the woman that is having the difficult time.....you have a long road ahead of you and chances are pretty great that potty training will never completely be done! Everyone I know with yorkies complain that they are the HARDEST to break and are rarely fully broken. They're just sneaky enough to hide the evidence well. They are beautiful, sweet companions but the down-sides to them out-weigh the good!

07-06-2009, 10:17 AM	#9
nailadee YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Huntsville, TX., U.S.A. Posts: 4	There are exceptions to every rule, that's for sure. I'd heard all the horror stories about yorkies and still went ahead with getting one and haven't regretted AT ALL! She was 6 weeks old when I got her, I immediately started her with piddle pads, and I did crate her some. By the time she was 11 weeks old, she was totally pad trained but was willing to go outside, if given the chance. If she did make a mistake, she would actually go over to the hard surfaced floor areas of my house and #1 there! I was totally amazed by that! Lori, there are just some dogs that are like that, I'm sorry to say and I'm really sorry you've got to make this terrible decision. ahoo, the others gave good advice, it sounds like you need to be more consistent about letting your baby out. Complete run of the house should not be allowed until the dog understands that the WHOLE house is it's home, not just the crate. It takes a while to get that across but then again, look how long it takes to potty train a child......see the resemblance?

12-22-2009, 12:34 PM	#13
Kirby YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 618	Potty training a puppy can be tricky. No rhyme or reason why sometimes they get it and sometimes they don't. I chalk it up to maturity. By putting your puppy on a strict schedule, she'll come around. Give her breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the same time everyday. Play with her for an hour and let her eliminate in the proper spot, but then put her back in her crate until the next meal. After reading, "How to House Train Your Dog in Seven Days," this was Sydney's schedule, and it worked: 7 a.m. potty, breakfast, play, potty, play 9 a.m. crate 12 p.m. lunch, play, potty, play 1:15 p.m. crate 5 p.m. dinner, play, potty, play 6:15 p.m. crate 8 p.m. last drink of water for the evening, play, potty, play 9 p.m. crate 11:30 p.m. last time to potty for the evening. I could almost set my watch by when she had to potty and what kind of potty she had to do. When Sydney regressed, which happens, I went back to the strict schedule until she go it. Don't give your puppy free roam of the house. As she improves, then give her a bit more access under close supervision. When you can't watch her, gate her off in a small area with wee wee pads or use an exercise pen.