Wow! Every 15 mins? You're more determined than I am. :D I guess what everyone forgets, and I'm including those breeder and the professional trainer, is that every yorkie is an individual. Some get certain things quicker than others. So if she's slower to learn to potty outside, be happy she at least gets it inside on a piddle pad. After that, all you have to do is transition.

I had to go backwards, and go from a perfectly trained dog that peed and pooed outside, to teach him to use piddle pads and piddle pads only. He knew the potty command and everything, but our living situation changed. Honestly, he still doesn't 100% get it. I can't take him outside, really I can't (bad neighborhood) so he has to learn to potty indoors. He knows it's ok to potty in the bathroom where his piddle pad is, but he doesn't 100% grasp the concept of the piddle pad. If the pad is gone for some reason, he pees on the floor. He understands the location part, but not the pad part. But if I were to get frustrated and want to pull my hair every time he pees on the vinyl floor, then I'd get absolutely no where with him. Even if I don't vent my frustration at him, he knows I'm not pleased. These little ones are very perceptive. So I'm just glad he understands the potty in the bathroom part and continue to work with him, and mind you he's older than 16 weeks. Tricks are easy; teaching him to walk off leash with me was a breeze; switching potty habits not so much. Some yorkie owners have the potty part down, but struggle with tricks and obedience. Each yorkie is unique and certain things come more natural to them.

For now, to re leave some stress, focus on the pads, she's doing good from what you said, so don't fight it. Focus on the victories. Then when she's older and you and your kids take her out to the park or something, and when she can't hold it anymore, SHE WILL POTTY OUTSIDE. Trust me on that!

Maybe you didn't see my post so I would like to quote it above for you to reread. I promise you that I am not judging or attacking you. My post specifically said 5 minutes and then back into the crate or tether her to you. Please try this technique. It works! She is a puppy and at 16 weeks she is easily distracted. There have been plenty of puppymill dogs trained with the technique and you need to be consistent.

When you are crate training she needs to be taken outside for potty every 20 minutes. Pick her up and put her on the ground and tell her "go potty". If she doesn't go within 5 minutes take her back in the house and either into the crate or tethers to your side at all times. If she potties give immediate treats and praise. If she doesn't potty at your side or in the crate.

You are way too frustrated too soon. Yorkies are very hard to train but it does sound like you are willing to work hard with her. It will work but you need to follow the 20 tether or crate and 5 minutes outside to potty. My suggestion would be to tether her to your side.

If she didn't have the ability to wander around she would not be able to pee and poop on the potty pads. If you take her out every 20 minutes until you see the poop and pee there would be no need for the potty pad if you are outside training.

As for a trainer that would tell you to return your puppy~well I would get a new trainer :eek:

Sorry, one last thing I wanted to add. I'm with you on not wanting to have a dog potty indoors, I totally understand that since that's how I thought at first. Now I see it as an asset to have a dog "dual" potty trained. What if it rains? Kaji doesn't care and will run and play and potty in the rain, but not all dogs are ok with that. My roomies dog would pee and poo on the carpet because it happened to be raining outside. So really, dual potty trained has it's advantages, and once your baby understands potty on piddle pads, and potty outside are ok, you can focus on just one. It will be really easy for you since you're a stay at home mom. Keep your schedule consistent and she will eventually understand what it is you want her to do.

And, don't listen to people who tell you to take her back. They're pretty much telling you "she's broken, return her for a new one." Obviously, that's not how this works. Yorkies are living breathing creatures. I was told to return Kaji because one of the vets I visited told he was "broken." Like he was a faulty belt or something. :rolleyes:

HAHAHA! Jodi, you and I are giving conflicting advice. And you need to focus, you're needed in the DWTS thread. :p

To the OP, that's what's so great about this site. We have all been through this at one point or another, and we all tried different techniques. Choose one for now that sounds like something you can do, stick to it, and I mean really stick to it. If in a few weeks (3-4) you see no difference, try a different one.

Two hours outside is play time for any dog. She should only be able to play after she poops.

Yeah none of us are experts or have any experience so what do we know. I guess you have to listen to the 2 breeders and trainer who say she is defective and take her back.:rolleyes:

Seriously, will the breeder take her back? I think you probably should seriously think about taking her back. I just think your not ready for this puppy, maybe another one? Or none at all for now.

I have read all of your other posts and just a couple of weeks ago you said she was doing great and such a smart girl. This is puppy number 2 since your first puppy was killed. I really am convinced your expecting way to much from these little dogs.

Why wont you tell anyone what happened to the puppy you bought in March???????:confused::confused::confused:

Personally, I would think that training dual would be great. The impression that I was getting from her is that she didn't want to pad train. It just sounded to me like she was conflicting her training.

Off to DWTS! :p

I have always dual trained the yorkies. My Chihuahua was so tiny when we got her and the weather was so bad we litter box trained her. She will go outside sometimes but for the most part uses the box still. I tried this with Pennie as well and she would have nothing to do with the box..lol.. Mindy however will go over and try to pee in it and misses (she is much bigger) so I have a large washable pad under the litter box now so she at least hits that..lol. But now that the doggy door is in she uses it for the most part.

I know it seems like I am being a bit hard on the OP but it's because she did the exact same thing with the yorkie she got in March and has learned nothing.

PS: what is DWTS?

Dancing With The Stars. My guilty pleasure thanks to Jodi.

Ahhhhh...LOL.. ;):D

Uni is dual trained as well. We started her off on the pads, then once she got that, when we would take her on walks, she would just go. It didn't happen all at once though. Sometimes she would hold it during a walk, then come back in and go on the pad. They get it eventually. Katie is opposite. She goes outside really fast, but kind of gets it on the pads inside.

I would really suggest to keep at the pad training first if she seems to get that more. Also, she is only 16 weeks, I really wouldn't be taking her out of your yard yet anyway. She hasn't finished all her shots.

AND, you still haven't answered my question, how old was she when you got her?

don't worry! I have an 11 wk old yorkie who poops and pees in her crate indiscriminantly. I switched to confining her in my bathroom with a gate up so she is not secluded by herself and can still view everything outside of the bathroom. I just found that crate training didn't work with her. I think training methods depend on the personality of the dog. I have her pad, food, and bedding all in once place. She is starting to get the hang of using the pad. I think at 16 weeks she is a bit young for you to have high expectations but I myself am struggling through the same thing that you are and so I just discarded crate training all together.

It's frustrating for me too trying to housebreak my puppy and I got her when she was 6 weeks. I've been working with the potty training for almost 6 weeks now and she is no where near close to being reliable.

This is definitely the best place to ask for advice because many problems that I've had and brought to the forum have always been answered but I do have to agree that there were some people who were a bit disrespectful in what they had to say to you and the problems you were having with your puppy.

I hope you figure something out that works for you and her! They are such smart little dogs and very sensitive to their owners. She wants to make you happy! She's just taking her time trying to figure everything out. Good luck!

Crate training always works. You cannot expect an 11 week old puppy to learn anything. If you crate train correctly it works. I have done it with every dog I have owned in the last 20 years and it has always worked. It is unfortunate that you have given up on crate training.

A puppy is just way to young at 6 weeks to do any kind of training. But of course, if what your doing now is working that is great. However, crate training does work if done properly and also at a proper age.

i know it works. I crate trained my german shepherd and he is now completely housebroken. on the other hand, my yorkie didn't do well with crate training and since she is so young the only goal in my mind right now is to teach her where she can and cannot pee. there is no reason to make her learn how to hold it since she is entirely too young to hold it. she is also an exceptionally smaller sized dog than most normal or average sized yorkies which makes it even more difficult for her to hold it even for 3 hours. i didn't say i gave up on crate training which is funny for you to say when you don't even know who I am and what I do with my dogs.

I already plan on working with crate training with her when she is much older since she will need to accept it when she is in situations like traveling or home alone for a few hours.

Ahhh...she is still a baby :(

Mine were fully 100% trustable trained until 1.5 y/o

I think a yummy treat reward for good potty (outside) may do the trick.
I have had a lot of success, using Peanut Butter Chips from the baking isle. Do you have a Whole Foods by you? These are the ones I used to get and they sell them at Whole Foods (or online):

Sunspire Natural Chocolates - Products - Peanut Butter Chips (1000 Count)

Best Wishes

I wonder when the OP's gonna come back. :rolleyes:

I thought Buddy was never gonna get the idea that he had to poo outside, then one day it just clicked with him, never crated him, dont believe in it, but I am shocked that someone wants a 16 week old puppy to do miracles, way too impatient if you ask me

Don't listen to these noobs recommending pee-pads/exercise pens. Those are the worse god-awful contraptions and always lead to pooping/peeing in the house. She'll still pee/poop on anything soft if you use pee-pads and encourage her to go in the house - including her crate.

There's a reason this breed has such issues. Breeders/owners don't treat them like dogs and they're small and don't have as much concept as to what is their "den".

Treat her as you would a large breed dog. Stick to a tight schedule and try to remove any urine/poop scent in the house/crate. You may not be able to smell it, but she still can. Buy new bedding for the crate if necessary. Take her out first thing in the morning. Feed her. Take her out 15-30 minutes after eating. Take her outside again in 1-2 hours. Repeat this. Don't give her free access to food/water. Feed 4 or so meals on a tight schedule a day and take her out 15-30 minutes afterward.

Keep her tethered to you via a leash when she's inside. Gently correct if she goes inside (she has no clue this is bad... be careful, you don't want her to avoid going in front of you) and take her outside when she does have an accident. Reward her like crazy when she goes in the desired area. Like she jumped through hoops.

:eek:Wow. The rest of your post was very informative, and not much different from what was already said. I respect the fact that you don't agree or don't like x-pens and piddle pads, but to call the members that are trying to help "noobs" because you don't agree with what was posted is harsh and uncalled for. People post their experiences in hopes that others can learn and the OP is welcome to pick and choose from the advice given to fit the needs of her lifestyle and her pup.

You don't agree with piddle pads and expens? I don't agree with crates. I'm sorry, I'll never crate my dog for any reason. When his ex-pen was up, that was his space, now that he doesn't need it, he has a tent in the living room for privacy. So yes, he has his "den." Just because I don't like crates, I'm not going to attack anyone that uses them. To each their own.

Also, you are new here. Welcome! I hope you enjoy the forum. I would like to direct you to a thread. http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/gen...d-respect.html It's a great thread for newbies to read among countless others.

Noob...:rolleyes:

I have an xpen for my puppies and would not do it any other way. I can't keep up with all the puppies running all over the house..yes they will pee and poop everywhere. They are puppies! The only way for a breeder to help in potty training is an xpen and pee pads. I will not let my puppies go outside until they have had all their shots. Most of the time 12 weeks +. I don't know why people expect a 10-16 week old puppy to get it in a few days. They are still babies. They can not hold it for long. When it hits them they have to go now even though they where just out. Potty training is not easy and takes alot of work from the owners. My Pups are 8 weeks old and when in the xpen they will use the pad. I let them out to play several times a day but they are supervised the whole time by me and my kids. If the poop.. I don't get upset..I clean it up.

Something else people need to understand. No matter how much time and work breeders put in it all changes when they go to their forever home. It is a set back for them. They are nervous, the enviorment is different, they miss mom, littermate and the people that raised them fror 12 weeks. Stress will cause them to pee and poop more.

I think every buyer should know that sometimes Yorkies can be hard to train. I have heard that some have accidents forever. I really wish they would think real hard about this before they jump in and buy that cute puppy. Can they handle if the puppy is not trained by 6 months old? What if the puppy still has accidents at a year? Can they handle it? If no I don't think a puppy is for them.

Good post!

:thumbup::thumbup:


I don't like crates either. I think xpens are a much better way for puppies. Those who use them that is their choice.

Whether you choose to use a crate or xpen, the basic idea is the same- the dog is in a confined area when you aren't watching them with an eagle eye during the housebreaking process.

I'm not a pee pad fan just because I found that my dogs took the idea of something on the floor= ok to pee on. And usually that "something" was the dining room rug or a clean pile of clothes that hadn't gotten put away yet (I accept TOTAL blame for that one!)

That being said, it does storm a lot here (and occasionally snows). I know I need to find a way for Rhett to "go" when when the weather is too bad. I have a friend who trained her doxie to use the litter box. Has anybody done something similar with their yorkie?

:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

OK- while I was typing this, I looked out of the corner of my eye and saw Rhett assuming the position. Guess I better take my own advice and get off the computer and watch him better!

I thought this person was already banned before? I guess they were suspended last time?

mystery?
 

I was wondering if anyone has heard of the potty traing issue i am having?
my puppy is 1yrs old. she will go in her crate but will not go in her bed she sleeps in at night. what makes it even stranger is she will pee outside but will come into the house to take a dump. i am not sure where i've gone wrong here. i am not angry accidents are expected. just wondering what else i can do. i am expecting a new yorkie addition 6/2. so the sooner i can figure it out the better.

Housebreaking issues are the number one cause for people to surrender or euthanize, yes, kill, their puppy or dog.
Beware before you buy and shame on the breeder that does not warn any potential owner before the purchase is made.
A reputable breeder will also take the dog back if it doesn't work out.

I finally gave up on the crate, I always felt bad when I put him in there, even for just the few hours between when I leave for work and my lunch break. He did have a couple accidents in there, which I assume is because he has such a tiny bladder. So now, when I'm not at home he is confined to the kitchen, and yes, I use potty pads and he uses them, (i dont want to jinx it or anything but he uses them 100% of the time). For some lucky reason, he caught on that poo goes outside, but he's also really regular. Once in the morning, once in the afternoons (lunch) and once when I get home from work. Occasionally he'll go once more before bed, but I guess I just lucked out with him. I think once he is a few months older and can hold it longer I'll be able to take away the potty pads and I'll have a housebroken dog. I dont leave the pads on the ground when I'm at home though so he goes strait to stand at the back door when he needs to go out, but he only gives me 30 seconds to open it before he will start circling. Considering he is only 5 months old I think we're doing well.
Maybe you can try to give up on the crate like I did. He is much happier now, and even seems more energized, I love it, but the cat doesnt, lol. Good luck!

I didn't know people put down a dog just because it couldnt be house trained by them. I guess I'm still too naive to understand some people's rationale when it comes to dog owning. I would gladly take an "un-trainable" dog and train it myself, even if I had to take a couple of weeks of leave to be with it constantly to be consistent with the training routine. I don't know much about training dogs, but I would never give a dog up just because I couldn't potty train it.

My Bridget was a rescue and at 7 months I am so pleased with her pottying I could burst. I expected so much worse. When I first got her at 12 weeks she had no idea that there were special places to to her business (which is to be expected). I tried to put her in a crate - part with pads and part with her bedding/food/water, etc. (mostly for safety reasons). I work during the day and therefore expected her to potty in her crate (that's why there were pads). She HATED the crate....she would spill her water - tear up her pads, and poop and pee everywhere. But I was told that is where she should be by a lot of well meaning friends. When I'd get home I worked on getting her to use pads outside the crate. She did well with a lot of praise and persistance (and treats). But would NOT poop on the pad (she would go anywhere and everywhere else....even by my foot as I was standing at the sink). Someone mentioned that some dogs do not like to poop where they pee - so I put down pads in a different location....still no luck - but would always poop in her crate. Once she was a little more comfortable with her new surroundings, I gave her free run of her own bedroom, blocked off from the rest of the house by baby gates with pads placed in several different locations in the room. The crate was left up with the door opened. THAT is where she decided to poop....IN HER CRATE!!! Well - it wasn't on the carpet, so that was fine with me...I just kept putting clean pads down every day in her crate and she pretty much trained herself. I first removed the "crate" part leaving the plastic base with papers....to see if that would change anything and she still went there - I am gradually moving the pad to where I want it to be.....and she's doing great....all in baby steps!!

I guess my point (if I can remember what I was going to say)...is that it might not have been the text book way to train her, but once she decided on a spot - (and I know not ALL spots they chose are acceptable) - that is where I put down the pad, and gradually move it so that she didn't realize that it changed. As soon as I get home I take her outside and she will do her business outside. I can tell from the pads about how long before I got home she used them, and it seems like maybe mid-day. So by the time I get home - she is doing the "potty dance" to go outside. Pads really are an amazing thing - I don't know what I'd do without them. You just never know when something may come up that will cause you to be away from home for longer than anticipated and it gives them a chance to relieve themselves if needed.

They ARE like babies - we baby-proof our homes so they are safe - we need to puppy-proof them also (Bridget also has a fasination with electrical outlets....baby plugs were inserted). Plastic tablecloths on the furniture or over the bed "just in case" . Not that it's acceptable, but at least nothing is ruined during the training process.
Sorry - this potty thing has so many new yorkie parents so upset, but all the reading I did before getting Bridget told me to expect it to take a long...long...time. No one should be upset, especially with a puppy this young.
(too bad long posts don't count extra toward the number of counts needed to join the YT Gift Exchange....I'd be there already!!)

I figured the same thing when I decided on getting Rizzo, figured it would take forever to get him trained, but he is doing really well considering how young he is. Plus, I lucked out and picked the perfect time to get him, my house has all marble flooring, and a couple area rugs which I can pick up if he is going to be in the room for a while and I'm not watching him, (like the one in my bedroom when I'm sleeping) So even though he has had a few accidents, its super easy clean up. But I know not everyone is this lucky.

I don't think it's possible to be upset with these little ones for more than 2 seconds, one look at that cute little face and I still melt, lol. I'm weak, he owns me :D something about that yorkie smile keeps him out of trouble.:animal36

looks like everyone has suggestions for you. I have a 5 week old and she has her days. We make sure we keep her outside until she goes. And if she doesn't go, then she goes back in her kennel. If your dog is going in their kennel then i would line the kennel with a puppy pad. If you catch them in the process, say "no" and then take them outside immmediatly and wait for them to go. Lots of praise is good. Keep a close eye on them and if they do any sniffing around make sure you take them outside. They will pick up on it. Don't give up.