Potty Training Help - YorkieTalk.com Forums

DrakesMom · 02-16-2005, 06:28 AM

Drake is doing really well with pee'ing on his puppy pads but the problem is pooping! I watch him VERY closely at all times and when I catch him in the act of getting ready to poop, I tell him "no" and pick him up and take him to the pad and then he just won't poop at all! Am I doing something wrong?

Mya'sMom · 02-16-2005, 05:10 PM

My yorkie began to do the same thing. She would pee on the pad and poop right next to the pad! I have heard many people saying the exact same thing so we are not alone. I couldn't take using the pads because of the smell so I am attempting to crate train. We'll see how this works!
Gabriel

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DrakesMom · 02-16-2005, 05:22 PM

Thank you so much for your reply! I was beginning to wonder if anyone was out there! lol I'm curious.....what is the difference between using the pads and crate training? This is my first Yorkie, and I have lots of questions and would like to learn a lot, which is why I joined this forum.....it's great and has tons of useful information! Again, thank you!

Mya'sMom · 02-16-2005, 05:46 PM

undefinedundefined I am a first time Yorkie owner so we have something in common. With crate training, a crate is used to confine the dog. Dogs generally don't like to pee or poop where they eat and sleep so they hold it until you take them out. The dog should be taken out to eliminate every few hours so it learns where to go. If you are consistent, it will begin to develop a pattern and learn the appropriate place to eliminate (wherever you bring them when they are taken out of the crate). Here is a useful link for crate training

http://www.perfectpaws.com/crt.html

With pad training, you just encourage them to use the pad to potty. I stopped doing this because the smell was horrible. I don't know if it is her food or what but the little lady will learn to go outside! LOL

bld2751 · 02-17-2005, 04:24 AM

I'm an advocate of crate training because that's what I'm doing with my little guy. Hercules is 5 1/2 months now and he seems to be doing really well with the crate.

Mya's Mom is right about the crate training info she gave you, here's my two cents worth to add....

The crate is supposed to be a comfortable, happy place for your dog. It's like their little home, or den. I think the earlier you introduce the crate, the better. That way they will get used to it and not be scared of it. Put the crate in a place where your puppy can see you. Put a towel or bed, and some toys in the crate. Introduce the crate to your puppy and put him in there for like 10-15 minutes while you are still around. He will most likely whine at first, but it's ok. It is not hurting them. When he stops whining, let him out and praise him. Give him a treat. Don't respond to the whining, or he will think whining will let him out. Slowly increase the amount of time you leave him in the crate. And eventually leave for a little while. Sometimes leave and sometimes don't. They should know that by being put in the crate, it does not automatically mean you are going to leave them. If I'm cleaning, or doing something around the house when I can't devote all of my attention to Hercules, then I put him in the crate. He'll usually just curl up and go to sleep. He is completely ok with it now and will even go in it on his own.

As for the pee pads, it's completely a personal preference thing. And for some people, if they live in extremely cold areas, they decide to use pee pads. I live in MD, which does get cold and gets snow, but I've decided to go with outside training. But it actually involves the pee pads too... We live on the 3rd floor of an apartment, and were getting tired of running up and down the steps all the time. So we built a little box to put on our balcony with the idea of putting some sod in it, so he gets used to going outside and on grass. Well sod was out of season when we came up with this idea (in November), so we put pee pads in it instead. Hopefully when we move out of the apartment he'll be able to make the switch to going on grass. I guess that'll be an issue later.

Anyway, I hope this helps. Sorry it's so long!

Clioe · 02-17-2005, 10:08 AM

I just got my Yorkie on Monday and am in the process of training her to pee and poo at one place. She will be 3 months old on the 21st. I've been watching her very very closely but she's too fast! She squats and there it is... sigh...

Yesterday I reprimanded her for peeing on the carpet and sent her to her crate as punishment. I let her out after a while and then she peed on the carpet again. I reprimanded her again and sent her to her crate for a longer while. She became afraid. When I brought her to the living room, she will make straight for the bathroom and hide behind the toilet bowl. Now we've moved her newspaper to the kitchen where I hope I can teach her again.

She's generally a good baby but I'm up to my neck in teaching her where to potty.

Can someone please help? SHould I grab her as she's about to go and bring her to the newspapers? What should I say then? How do I reprimand her when she's had an accident?

ruby05 · 02-17-2005, 11:40 AM

I am having the same problem. My puppy will be 4 months this week. SHe knows to pee on the pads but either poops next to it or on the towel I have down. If she's out of her Pen she knows to pee on the oad but will than find a place she shouldn't and poop.

What do we do?? Thank goodness its small, hard and doesn't smell b/c than there woluld be a bigger problem

bld2751 · 02-17-2005, 11:45 AM

Clioe - just remember that your baby is still very young.

One of the things that I would not do is put her in the crate as punishment. You should try to make the crate a positive thing, not negative. By putting her in it when she's done something bad, it will make her hate it, which is definitely not good.

When you do take her out of the crate though, you should immediately take her to where you want her to eliminate. Also after you play with her, take her to the elimination place. While she's still so young, you should take her there a lot. I mean a lot. Maybe every 15 minutes while she's up. It might seem excessive, but until you catch onto her routine and her signs that she needs to go, you need to be extra cautious.

As for punishment, you really shouldn't punish her. Instead, praise her a lot when she does go where she's supposed to. Give her a treat if you want. If you do catch her in the act of going, give her a firm NO and then take her to the proper place.

My little guy is 5 1/2 months, and these are the things I did. It's tough, but it will get easier. The way I see it is that if Hercules has an accident, it's really my fault. I wasn't paying attention to how long it had been since he had been out last, or something like that.

Good luck!

Clioe · 02-17-2005, 03:59 PM

Thanks... I will try. I've changed my tactic for today. Whenever she woke up, I'd bring her to the newspapers. After she ate, I brought her there. After playing too. But she just walks off it. So I will carry her back and say "Pee Pee" repeatedly. I suppose I will have to continue with this?

miezzi · 02-17-2005, 05:09 PM

Yes!!! Repitition, repitition,repitition!!!! They need that. And stick to the same schedule. It becomes a habit fot them. So after doing that for a while, they know what to do. For Luigi its about 20 mins after eating that he knows he has to go out, so now he goes to the door to wait for me. Same with play time. And when we say "Time for bed," he runs to the door!!! Because that is what we used to do all the time.

Wake up- We's pick him up and take him out
eat- 20 mins later, we'd pick him up an take him out
play- same

So just keep being repetitive and stick to your schedule!!! Soon you won't have to tell her, She'll tell you!!!!

bld2751 · 02-18-2005, 04:45 AM

Like miezzi said, repitition is key!!

Yes, just continue with what you are doing. I would always say pee and poop too when Hercules is in the action, hoping he would start to register that is what he was doing. I know it's rough, but just keep with it! And pay attention to when she does end up going. Maybe she won't go until 5 minutes after she plays, for example. So then you should be on the look-out and take her to the newspaper then. Sounds like you're doing the right thing though, so hang in there! And keep us updated too!

anne_nyc · 02-18-2005, 01:16 PM

We have been crate training our puppies and using pads indoors. We give them each a tiny treat everytime they get it right. It seems to be working pretty well (but not flawless yet). The good news is they do understand which room they are to use for the bathroom. The last two days they have managed to knock down the baby gate we use to keep them in one room during the day and they had no accidents!

simplythi · 02-18-2005, 05:05 PM

my toby is 7 weeks old and he is such a handful. i can tell when he needs to me, he starts to wander away from me and starts sniffing around. by the time i run to him and grab him before he pee's he would have already let out a puddle. im trying to use the pad but it seems like he likes the feel of carpet more than the feel of the pad. he also refuses to pee outside. what should i do. should i just confine him to his crate and only let him out to pee?

Victri · 02-19-2005, 04:12 AM

Hi all I went out and bought Sydnee some puppy pads but she thinks they are toys like her chew bone and plays with them

Is that normal.
I mean she won't even tinkle on it much less go further with the next step and poo poo on it.

She just drags it around like its a blankie?

I take her outside if I see that she is trying however to her the yard is a plaything also, all that nice grass to pull on and leaves to chase and chew on.

Wondering if maybe I should kind of like try this more in another week or so when she has matured to the ripe old age of 10 weeks?

Viki

bld2751 · 02-19-2005, 04:36 AM

simplythi - I don't think you should only confine him until pee time because he should be out and play like normal. Instead, when you do take him out of the crate, make that the time when he learns about peeing. What I mean is make sure that when you take him out the crate, you take him immediately to his pee area. And wait until he pees. Praise him lots! Hopefully he'll associate that with what he's supposed to do. If you aren't able to be around him, then I would say put him in the crate. I know it's hard in the beginning and you think that he will never learn, but just hang in there!

Victri - Hercules used to do the same thing with the pee pad. It was so frustrating. It made me decide that I was going to train him to go outside instead. But the problem with that for me is that we live on the 3rd floor of an apartment, so that was too much running up and down. What we did was build a little box and put it on our balcony. We were going to put sod in it, but it was out of season, so we put the pee pad in it. And when the pee pad was in the box, he wouldn't mess with it as much. So the point of my long story

is that maybe you cojld find a box or something like that to put the pee pad in.

02-16-2005, 06:28 AM	#1
DrakesMom Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Missouri Posts: 107	Potty Training Help Drake is doing really well with pee'ing on his puppy pads but the problem is pooping! I watch him VERY closely at all times and when I catch him in the act of getting ready to poop, I tell him "no" and pick him up and take him to the pad and then he just won't poop at all! Am I doing something wrong?

02-16-2005, 05:10 PM	#2
Mya'sMom Yorkie Talker Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Baton Rouge Posts: 21	I understand! My yorkie began to do the same thing. She would pee on the pad and poop right next to the pad! I have heard many people saying the exact same thing so we are not alone. I couldn't take using the pads because of the smell so I am attempting to crate train. We'll see how this works! Gabriel undefinedundefined __________________ Gabriel & Mia

02-16-2005, 05:46 PM	#4
Mya'sMom Yorkie Talker Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Baton Rouge Posts: 21	We're in the same boat! undefinedundefined I am a first time Yorkie owner so we have something in common. With crate training, a crate is used to confine the dog. Dogs generally don't like to pee or poop where they eat and sleep so they hold it until you take them out. The dog should be taken out to eliminate every few hours so it learns where to go. If you are consistent, it will begin to develop a pattern and learn the appropriate place to eliminate (wherever you bring them when they are taken out of the crate). Here is a useful link for crate training http://www.perfectpaws.com/crt.html With pad training, you just encourage them to use the pad to potty. I stopped doing this because the smell was horrible. I don't know if it is her food or what but the little lady will learn to go outside! LOL __________________ Gabriel & Mia

02-17-2005, 04:24 AM	#5
bld2751 YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 861	I'm an advocate of crate training because that's what I'm doing with my little guy. Hercules is 5 1/2 months now and he seems to be doing really well with the crate. Mya's Mom is right about the crate training info she gave you, here's my two cents worth to add.... The crate is supposed to be a comfortable, happy place for your dog. It's like their little home, or den. I think the earlier you introduce the crate, the better. That way they will get used to it and not be scared of it. Put the crate in a place where your puppy can see you. Put a towel or bed, and some toys in the crate. Introduce the crate to your puppy and put him in there for like 10-15 minutes while you are still around. He will most likely whine at first, but it's ok. It is not hurting them. When he stops whining, let him out and praise him. Give him a treat. Don't respond to the whining, or he will think whining will let him out. Slowly increase the amount of time you leave him in the crate. And eventually leave for a little while. Sometimes leave and sometimes don't. They should know that by being put in the crate, it does not automatically mean you are going to leave them. If I'm cleaning, or doing something around the house when I can't devote all of my attention to Hercules, then I put him in the crate. He'll usually just curl up and go to sleep. He is completely ok with it now and will even go in it on his own. As for the pee pads, it's completely a personal preference thing. And for some people, if they live in extremely cold areas, they decide to use pee pads. I live in MD, which does get cold and gets snow, but I've decided to go with outside training. But it actually involves the pee pads too... We live on the 3rd floor of an apartment, and were getting tired of running up and down the steps all the time. So we built a little box to put on our balcony with the idea of putting some sod in it, so he gets used to going outside and on grass. Well sod was out of season when we came up with this idea (in November), so we put pee pads in it instead. Hopefully when we move out of the apartment he'll be able to make the switch to going on grass. I guess that'll be an issue later. Anyway, I hope this helps. Sorry it's so long! __________________ Brandi, Hercules, & Athena

02-17-2005, 10:08 AM	#6
Clioe Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 27	Bother Bother... I just got my Yorkie on Monday and am in the process of training her to pee and poo at one place. She will be 3 months old on the 21st. I've been watching her very very closely but she's too fast! She squats and there it is... sigh... Yesterday I reprimanded her for peeing on the carpet and sent her to her crate as punishment. I let her out after a while and then she peed on the carpet again. I reprimanded her again and sent her to her crate for a longer while. She became afraid. When I brought her to the living room, she will make straight for the bathroom and hide behind the toilet bowl. Now we've moved her newspaper to the kitchen where I hope I can teach her again. She's generally a good baby but I'm up to my neck in teaching her where to potty. Can someone please help? SHould I grab her as she's about to go and bring her to the newspapers? What should I say then? How do I reprimand her when she's had an accident?

02-16-2005, 05:22 PM	#3
DrakesMom Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Missouri Posts: 107	Thank you so much for your reply! I was beginning to wonder if anyone was out there! lol I'm curious.....what is the difference between using the pads and crate training? This is my first Yorkie, and I have lots of questions and would like to learn a lot, which is why I joined this forum.....it's great and has tons of useful information! Again, thank you!

02-17-2005, 11:40 AM	#7
ruby05 Yorkie Talker Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 11	I am having the same problem. My puppy will be 4 months this week. SHe knows to pee on the pads but either poops next to it or on the towel I have down. If she's out of her Pen she knows to pee on the oad but will than find a place she shouldn't and poop. What do we do?? Thank goodness its small, hard and doesn't smell b/c than there woluld be a bigger problem

02-17-2005, 11:45 AM	#8
bld2751 YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 861	Clioe - just remember that your baby is still very young. One of the things that I would not do is put her in the crate as punishment. You should try to make the crate a positive thing, not negative. By putting her in it when she's done something bad, it will make her hate it, which is definitely not good. When you do take her out of the crate though, you should immediately take her to where you want her to eliminate. Also after you play with her, take her to the elimination place. While she's still so young, you should take her there a lot. I mean a lot. Maybe every 15 minutes while she's up. It might seem excessive, but until you catch onto her routine and her signs that she needs to go, you need to be extra cautious. As for punishment, you really shouldn't punish her. Instead, praise her a lot when she does go where she's supposed to. Give her a treat if you want. If you do catch her in the act of going, give her a firm NO and then take her to the proper place. My little guy is 5 1/2 months, and these are the things I did. It's tough, but it will get easier. The way I see it is that if Hercules has an accident, it's really my fault. I wasn't paying attention to how long it had been since he had been out last, or something like that. Good luck! __________________ Brandi, Hercules, & Athena

02-17-2005, 03:59 PM	#9
Clioe Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 27	Thanks... I will try. I've changed my tactic for today. Whenever she woke up, I'd bring her to the newspapers. After she ate, I brought her there. After playing too. But she just walks off it. So I will carry her back and say "Pee Pee" repeatedly. I suppose I will have to continue with this?

02-17-2005, 05:09 PM	#10
miezzi I Love My 3 Lovebugs! Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: north east ohio Posts: 4,776	Yes!!! Repitition, repitition,repitition!!!! They need that. And stick to the same schedule. It becomes a habit fot them. So after doing that for a while, they know what to do. For Luigi its about 20 mins after eating that he knows he has to go out, so now he goes to the door to wait for me. Same with play time. And when we say "Time for bed," he runs to the door!!! Because that is what we used to do all the time. Wake up- We's pick him up and take him out eat- 20 mins later, we'd pick him up an take him out play- same So just keep being repetitive and stick to your schedule!!! Soon you won't have to tell her, She'll tell you!!!!

02-18-2005, 04:45 AM	#11
bld2751 YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 861	Like miezzi said, repitition is key!! Yes, just continue with what you are doing. I would always say pee and poop too when Hercules is in the action, hoping he would start to register that is what he was doing. I know it's rough, but just keep with it! And pay attention to when she does end up going. Maybe she won't go until 5 minutes after she plays, for example. So then you should be on the look-out and take her to the newspaper then. Sounds like you're doing the right thing though, so hang in there! And keep us updated too! __________________ Brandi, Hercules, & Athena

02-18-2005, 01:16 PM	#12
anne_nyc Yorkie Talker Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 22	We have been crate training our puppies and using pads indoors. We give them each a tiny treat everytime they get it right. It seems to be working pretty well (but not flawless yet). The good news is they do understand which room they are to use for the bathroom. The last two days they have managed to knock down the baby gate we use to keep them in one room during the day and they had no accidents!

02-18-2005, 05:05 PM	#13
simplythi Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 47	my toby is 7 weeks old and he is such a handful. i can tell when he needs to me, he starts to wander away from me and starts sniffing around. by the time i run to him and grab him before he pee's he would have already let out a puddle. im trying to use the pad but it seems like he likes the feel of carpet more than the feel of the pad. he also refuses to pee outside. what should i do. should i just confine him to his crate and only let him out to pee?

02-19-2005, 04:12 AM	#14
Victri Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 197	Puppy Pads Hi all I went out and bought Sydnee some puppy pads but she thinks they are toys like her chew bone and plays with them Is that normal. I mean she won't even tinkle on it much less go further with the next step and poo poo on it. She just drags it around like its a blankie? I take her outside if I see that she is trying however to her the yard is a plaything also, all that nice grass to pull on and leaves to chase and chew on. Wondering if maybe I should kind of like try this more in another week or so when she has matured to the ripe old age of 10 weeks? Viki

02-19-2005, 04:36 AM	#15
bld2751 YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 861	simplythi - I don't think you should only confine him until pee time because he should be out and play like normal. Instead, when you do take him out of the crate, make that the time when he learns about peeing. What I mean is make sure that when you take him out the crate, you take him immediately to his pee area. And wait until he pees. Praise him lots! Hopefully he'll associate that with what he's supposed to do. If you aren't able to be around him, then I would say put him in the crate. I know it's hard in the beginning and you think that he will never learn, but just hang in there! Victri - Hercules used to do the same thing with the pee pad. It was so frustrating. It made me decide that I was going to train him to go outside instead. But the problem with that for me is that we live on the 3rd floor of an apartment, so that was too much running up and down. What we did was build a little box and put it on our balcony. We were going to put sod in it, but it was out of season, so we put the pee pad in it. And when the pee pad was in the box, he wouldn't mess with it as much. So the point of my long story is that maybe you cojld find a box or something like that to put the pee pad in. __________________ Brandi, Hercules, & Athena