Ahhhh....! Potty Training confusion - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Lucyana1129 · 08-02-2010, 09:13 AM

I have owned many dogs in my lifetime. Bentley is by far proving to be the hardest to potty train. I have read so many things hat I am now confused. I am crate training him but what confuses me is when he should be in the crate. Should I put him in his crate all day long for a few weeks and only let him out to go potty outside and play with him out there? Or is that crazy? I have been leaving him in there and letting him out every 30 minutes to go potty and then he sleeps in it at night time. Throughout the day though I end up giving in and letting him out in the house because I feel so bad with him being in there all day. He's a puppy! He wants to play. I made the crate big enough for him to stand and turn around. No bigger or smaller. He has a nice blanket in there but still he will pee in it. I have had to bathe him every morning. When I do give in and let him out in the house he runs somewhere and pees. I have no idea where to go from here. What am I doing wrong?

Roccosmommy · 08-02-2010, 09:25 AM

Now this is only me speaking MY opinion, but I would not crate him all day and at night too. Again, my experience only, but with Rocco he was in the crate at night to sleep, and also during the day when I wasn't home or couldn't watch him (showering, downstairs doing laundry, etc.). I took him out every 30-45 minutes - even set to stove timer to remind myself. When he did go potty outside, PRAISE AND TREAT, immediately and without fail (take some small treats out with you). Say "time to go potty" every time you go outside and while he's sniffing. When in the house, allow only partial roam of the house, maybe kitchen only or kitchen and dining room, etc. WATCH for accidents and do not scold. If you catch him in the act, just a firm "NO", then pick him up and move him quickly and gently to the desired location (either outside or on a potty pad) without another word. If you don't catch him in the act, say nothing and clean it up. You will see that with positive reinforcement, he will respond. One more thing - be prepared to take him out once or twice during the night while he's very young. If he wets overnight, just clean it up and try again - too late to correct when you find it in the morning.

Roccosmommy · 08-02-2010, 09:31 AM

By the way, make sure you have potty pads close by the door(s) that he will be going out. If nothing else, he will at least have a proper place to relieve himself indoors during his training to go outside.

odies_mama · 08-02-2010, 09:37 AM

The only opinion I can give you on potty training is the potty pads. They worked wonders for Odie. He only used them for about 4-5 weeks (when he was 7 weeks old) and he was completely house broken.

Best of luck.

Karrie · 08-02-2010, 09:49 AM

My approach to potty training was a little different.

We kept Bailey a crate only when we couldn't supervise her -otherwise, she was in the family room with us - playing and being with the fam. Our goal was to watch, supervise and catch her in the act. Everytime she went potty it was an opportunity to train (yay!). When we noticed that the started to potty, we scooped her up, said 'outside', tapped her paw to a service bell and then went outside. Praised and treated - and repeated several, several times. We repeated for two solid months. All our spare time was dedicated to potty training during these two months. It wasn't easy - but we were very successful!!!

We had blankets on the floor - so as soon as she soiled one, we swapped it out and washed it. We saved the carpet and removed the odor so that she wouldn't want to go back to it.

I'm not a big fan of taking out the dog at certain intervals - my goal was to teach Bailey to let us know when she wanted to go out (bell ringing) - we accomplished this simultaneous with potty training.

We both work - so during the day, Bailey was in an expen. No rules in the expen - it was always a mess when I got home. I just gave her a bath, cleaned up the area and started the daily potty training session. Hubby was great - we were able to tag-team the training sessions. I couldn't have done it without his help.

Good luck!

jltwigg10 · 08-03-2010, 08:07 AM

We are working on the Potty training thing right now. Mine (I have 2 puppies) are in an expen during the day while I am at work but it is working out pretty good. It is the bigger one (rectangle 2' by 4'). I have towels down for 2/3 of the floor space and that is where their food, bed and toys are. The other 1/3 has an extra large pee pad taped to the floor. The edges are just outside of the pen walls. Most of the time when I come home I pull that pee pad up, put a fresh one down and clean their feet if needed. When they are "loose" in the family room playing and spending time with us then I put a pee pad down. They are getting really good and so far go to it on their own about half to time. We have only been doing this for 2 weeks so I think we are making good progress so far.

Best of luck.

Rachael x · 08-03-2010, 08:27 AM

Im working on potty training Poppy too.
When I am at work and at night she is in her play pen with her bed and toys at one end and her pee pad at the other, she is pretty good on the pad when she is in the pen and always goes potty on it.. but she has started to shred the pads too grr.
When we are home she is alowed out of the pen to play in the living room and we set a pad down there for her too.
A few weeks ago she was really good on her pads in the living room but latley she has started to have accidents away from the pad.
When I catch her in the act I say NO! and carry her straight to the pad, if she goes potty on the pad she gets lots of praise.
I am going to get her some training treats too so hopefully things will get better.
We are starting to move the pad closer and closer to the back door then once she starts using it at the back door I will be moving potty time to outside.
Of course If she goes potty outside before then she will get lots of praise

dktyrrell · 08-03-2010, 02:01 PM

I am in the process of potty training too. My first yorkie and I love her to death. Its so frusterating, but I know we can do it...LOL! We are going to start the treating when she goes outside also, now if I can just keep her out of the other dogs food.....

JenaLiat · 08-03-2010, 02:19 PM

We struggled with Claire for a LONG time. She is almost 7 months and finally getting better. We used a schedule from Potty train your dog in 7 days. I will be honest that with yorkies, 7 days is not possible haha
However, it works!! She is crated during the day, for the periods of time we will be working (I teach and I am getting ready to go back to work). When we come home we take her out, feed her. She gets play time while we are home, out again and then in her crate for the DH to go back to work.
When I come home she will go out, play time. We don't crate her in the evening anymore since she is doing so well and she needs that time with us, but you would crate her more when learning.
Here is our schedule:
Anywhere between 6-7 she wakes us up - go out
Breakfast
30 minutes later - go out
Play time for 30 -45 minutes when starting training
Crate from about 8 - 11 am
11 am - go out
Lunch
11:30 ish go out
play time
11:50 crate
between 3 - 4 I come home - go out
play time for 30 - 45 minutes
crate
5 pm Dinner
5:30 go out

Depending on how your dog does during free time will be the factor for determining how much free time, like I said, Claire is out when we are home during the evening...
She has a little water a 8 pm
8:30 go out
crate from 9 -11 pm
11 pm go out
crate for the night

UGH!! That is a lot!! Sorry!! It really works though...we had water out for Claire all the time and she peed every two seconds..it was hard to restrict it but it help SO much.
Of course in the heat she gets water...outside playing it is not restricted at all!! We just have to make sure she goes before we come in and watch her carefully for a while to prevent accidents..
I hope all this helps!!
Any questions please don't hesitate to ask!!

SamanthaKim · 08-03-2010, 05:38 PM

I crated Biggie when I wasn't home. Right when I got home, I would take Biggie out and put him where the pee pads were and blocked it off so he was only able to walk around on the pee pads. If he peed I let him romp around the whole house and made a really big deal of it. When he didn't I put him back in his crate and took him out about 10 minutes later. He got the hang out it really fast! He's doing well now when there's a pee pad in the room, but when it's not there he might go wherever..sometimes he'll remember and go into the room with the pee pad.

deonk1 · 08-04-2010, 02:25 PM

Harley was my first dog ever, and ofcourse I picked the most stubborn and difficult to train. other than poo mistakes I've been successful in training him where to pee. I use a grid system because I'm on the 21st floor of a high rise... can't really make it outside. I love the grid, and find it far better than pee pads. This what I did.

So long as there wasn't mistakes, I left him in our hallway blocked with his crate (he had an 11x3ft run, and could see all the rooms (which were gated) and had his crate. I put the toilet on opposite ends of the hall to the crate, and it's worked ever since. Harley has now graduated to a room. we only have poo problems.

Goodluck

jeanm1963 · 08-04-2010, 02:56 PM

I never used a crate, I personally don't care for them but thats just my opinion. I think an expen is great. Room to play , sleep , eat and you can use a pee pad if your going out . Laci has been potty trained since she was about 6 months she never has an accident. Id use a ex pen for a while then maybe you can confine her to a area in your house like the kitchen again putting all her toys, bed , food and water in there. Many people have great luck with crates, Its just not for me.

I think puppies need time to play , run around and use some of their energy confining them to a cage for hours and hours just seems kinda cruel to me.

spalione · 08-07-2010, 11:13 PM

Any advice on potty training an older yorkie? Bailey has gotten worse as she gets older. She used to use her potty pads and sometimes go out. But now she'll go in my husbands closet. I tried putting potty pads in the closet, but she avoids them. Is there a spray or something that I can put on the pad to attract her? I think she regressed because a year ago we got another puppy (pompoo) and she does not like him. She wants to be the only dog.

lenaf7 · 08-08-2010, 04:35 PM

I had Sky potty trained until she was spaded. After that all bets were off and I'm still struggling with her two months later. Sky will be 8 mos this week.

She knows exactly where to potty because she does things perfectly some days, then others she just refuses to potty on the pad. We even had gotten to the point at 5mos were we would leave her in the bedroom without crating her and even loose at night, and she would go straight the potty pad during the day and night before we spaded her.

I think this is the issue. She was spaded, then we started leaving her alone for no more than 3 hours and not every day. Maybe twice per week. She doesn't want to leave our side especially when she is playing; therefore, she will let it go right there.

Before she would cross the house to go potty. Now if she is with us, she doesn't want to stop play or leave our side to go to the potty pad.

I'm out of ideas and beyond frustrated at this point. Crating her only works for one day, then she will go back to her bad habits.

Oh, she hates to use the bathroom outside if it's hot or wet. She runs right back to the front the door or she will go and sit under a shade tree. lol

So, having to start back with square one by taking and placing her on the potty pad every hour or two.

I was afraid to do the expen thing because she might eat her poo. At three months old I had a hard time with her doing that and I had to give her pills. therefore, I didn't expen for potty training.

dkgraves · 08-08-2010, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lenaf7

I had Sky potty trained until she was spaded. After that all bets were off and I'm still struggling with her two months later. Sky will be 8 mos this week.

She knows exactly where to potty because she does things perfectly some days, then others she just refuses to potty on the pad. We even had gotten to the point at 5mos were we would leave her in the bedroom without crating her and even loose at night, and she would go straight the potty pad during the day and night before we spaded her.

I think this is the issue. She was spaded, then we started leaving her alone for no more than 3 hours and not every day. Maybe twice per week. She doesn't want to leave our side especially when she is playing; therefore, she will let it go right there.

Before she would cross the house to go potty. Now if she is with us, she doesn't want to stop play or leave our side to go to the potty pad.

I'm out of ideas and beyond frustrated at this point. Crating her only works for one day, then she will go back to her bad habits.

Oh, she hates to use the bathroom outside if it's hot or wet. She runs right back to the front the door or she will go and sit under a shade tree. lol

So, having to start back with square one by taking and placing her on the potty pad every hour or two.

I was afraid to do the expen thing because she might eat her poo. At three months old I had a hard time with her doing that and I had to give her pills. therefore, I didn't expen for potty training.

We broke Beau from poo eating by feeding him a little pineapple every day. Something about it makes the poo disgusting to them....one would think it would already be disgusting, but whatever :-) It really worked.

08-02-2010, 09:13 AM	#1
Lucyana1129 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Tennessee Posts: 231 Blog Entries: 2	Ahhhh....! Potty Training confusion I have owned many dogs in my lifetime. Bentley is by far proving to be the hardest to potty train. I have read so many things hat I am now confused. I am crate training him but what confuses me is when he should be in the crate. Should I put him in his crate all day long for a few weeks and only let him out to go potty outside and play with him out there? Or is that crazy? I have been leaving him in there and letting him out every 30 minutes to go potty and then he sleeps in it at night time. Throughout the day though I end up giving in and letting him out in the house because I feel so bad with him being in there all day. He's a puppy! He wants to play. I made the crate big enough for him to stand and turn around. No bigger or smaller. He has a nice blanket in there but still he will pee in it. I have had to bathe him every morning. When I do give in and let him out in the house he runs somewhere and pees. I have no idea where to go from here. What am I doing wrong?

08-02-2010, 09:25 AM	#2
Roccosmommy Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1,293	Now this is only me speaking MY opinion, but I would not crate him all day and at night too. Again, my experience only, but with Rocco he was in the crate at night to sleep, and also during the day when I wasn't home or couldn't watch him (showering, downstairs doing laundry, etc.). I took him out every 30-45 minutes - even set to stove timer to remind myself. When he did go potty outside, PRAISE AND TREAT, immediately and without fail (take some small treats out with you). Say "time to go potty" every time you go outside and while he's sniffing. When in the house, allow only partial roam of the house, maybe kitchen only or kitchen and dining room, etc. WATCH for accidents and do not scold. If you catch him in the act, just a firm "NO", then pick him up and move him quickly and gently to the desired location (either outside or on a potty pad) without another word. If you don't catch him in the act, say nothing and clean it up. You will see that with positive reinforcement, he will respond. One more thing - be prepared to take him out once or twice during the night while he's very young. If he wets overnight, just clean it up and try again - too late to correct when you find it in the morning. __________________ "The little furry buggers are just deep, deep wells you throw all your emotions into." ~ Bruce Schimmel Last edited by Roccosmommy; 08-02-2010 at 09:27 AM.

08-02-2010, 09:31 AM	#3
Roccosmommy Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1,293	By the way, make sure you have potty pads close by the door(s) that he will be going out. If nothing else, he will at least have a proper place to relieve himself indoors during his training to go outside. __________________ "The little furry buggers are just deep, deep wells you throw all your emotions into." ~ Bruce Schimmel

08-02-2010, 09:49 AM	#5
Karrie Donating YT Addict Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Missouri Posts: 903	My approach to potty training was a little different. We kept Bailey a crate only when we couldn't supervise her -otherwise, she was in the family room with us - playing and being with the fam. Our goal was to watch, supervise and catch her in the act. Everytime she went potty it was an opportunity to train (yay!). When we noticed that the started to potty, we scooped her up, said 'outside', tapped her paw to a service bell and then went outside. Praised and treated - and repeated several, several times. We repeated for two solid months. All our spare time was dedicated to potty training during these two months. It wasn't easy - but we were very successful!!! We had blankets on the floor - so as soon as she soiled one, we swapped it out and washed it. We saved the carpet and removed the odor so that she wouldn't want to go back to it. I'm not a big fan of taking out the dog at certain intervals - my goal was to teach Bailey to let us know when she wanted to go out (bell ringing) - we accomplished this simultaneous with potty training. We both work - so during the day, Bailey was in an expen. No rules in the expen - it was always a mess when I got home. I just gave her a bath, cleaned up the area and started the daily potty training session. Hubby was great - we were able to tag-team the training sessions. I couldn't have done it without his help. Good luck! __________________ This is Bailey's world and we just live in it!

08-03-2010, 08:07 AM	#6
jltwigg10 Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Clover, SC Posts: 1,329	We are working on the Potty training thing right now. Mine (I have 2 puppies) are in an expen during the day while I am at work but it is working out pretty good. It is the bigger one (rectangle 2' by 4'). I have towels down for 2/3 of the floor space and that is where their food, bed and toys are. The other 1/3 has an extra large pee pad taped to the floor. The edges are just outside of the pen walls. Most of the time when I come home I pull that pee pad up, put a fresh one down and clean their feet if needed. When they are "loose" in the family room playing and spending time with us then I put a pee pad down. They are getting really good and so far go to it on their own about half to time. We have only been doing this for 2 weeks so I think we are making good progress so far. Best of luck. __________________ Life is a roller coaster. Don't forget to throw your hands in the air and yell. Last edited by jltwigg10; 08-03-2010 at 08:08 AM. Reason: typo

08-02-2010, 09:37 AM	#4
odies_mama YT Addict Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Milton, Florida Posts: 291 Blog Entries: 1	The only opinion I can give you on potty training is the potty pads. They worked wonders for Odie. He only used them for about 4-5 weeks (when he was 7 weeks old) and he was completely house broken. Best of luck.

08-03-2010, 08:27 AM	#7
Rachael x Poppy's Mamma ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: England Posts: 3,751 Blog Entries: 3	Im working on potty training Poppy too. When I am at work and at night she is in her play pen with her bed and toys at one end and her pee pad at the other, she is pretty good on the pad when she is in the pen and always goes potty on it.. but she has started to shred the pads too grr. When we are home she is alowed out of the pen to play in the living room and we set a pad down there for her too. A few weeks ago she was really good on her pads in the living room but latley she has started to have accidents away from the pad. When I catch her in the act I say NO! and carry her straight to the pad, if she goes potty on the pad she gets lots of praise. I am going to get her some training treats too so hopefully things will get better. We are starting to move the pad closer and closer to the back door then once she starts using it at the back door I will be moving potty time to outside. Of course If she goes potty outside before then she will get lots of praise __________________ Rachael & Poppy

08-03-2010, 02:01 PM	#8
dktyrrell Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Michigan Posts: 23	I am in the process of potty training too. My first yorkie and I love her to death. Its so frusterating, but I know we can do it...LOL! We are going to start the treating when she goes outside also, now if I can just keep her out of the other dogs food.....

08-03-2010, 02:19 PM	#9
JenaLiat Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Southeast GA, USA Posts: 81	We struggled with Claire for a LONG time. She is almost 7 months and finally getting better. We used a schedule from Potty train your dog in 7 days. I will be honest that with yorkies, 7 days is not possible haha However, it works!! She is crated during the day, for the periods of time we will be working (I teach and I am getting ready to go back to work). When we come home we take her out, feed her. She gets play time while we are home, out again and then in her crate for the DH to go back to work. When I come home she will go out, play time. We don't crate her in the evening anymore since she is doing so well and she needs that time with us, but you would crate her more when learning. Here is our schedule: Anywhere between 6-7 she wakes us up - go out Breakfast 30 minutes later - go out Play time for 30 -45 minutes when starting training Crate from about 8 - 11 am 11 am - go out Lunch 11:30 ish go out play time 11:50 crate between 3 - 4 I come home - go out play time for 30 - 45 minutes crate 5 pm Dinner 5:30 go out Depending on how your dog does during free time will be the factor for determining how much free time, like I said, Claire is out when we are home during the evening... She has a little water a 8 pm 8:30 go out crate from 9 -11 pm 11 pm go out crate for the night UGH!! That is a lot!! Sorry!! It really works though...we had water out for Claire all the time and she peed every two seconds..it was hard to restrict it but it help SO much. Of course in the heat she gets water...outside playing it is not restricted at all!! We just have to make sure she goes before we come in and watch her carefully for a while to prevent accidents.. I hope all this helps!! Any questions please don't hesitate to ask!! __________________ Claire Bear's Mommy

08-03-2010, 05:38 PM	#10
SamanthaKim Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2010 Location: United States Posts: 125	I crated Biggie when I wasn't home. Right when I got home, I would take Biggie out and put him where the pee pads were and blocked it off so he was only able to walk around on the pee pads. If he peed I let him romp around the whole house and made a really big deal of it. When he didn't I put him back in his crate and took him out about 10 minutes later. He got the hang out it really fast! He's doing well now when there's a pee pad in the room, but when it's not there he might go wherever..sometimes he'll remember and go into the room with the pee pad.

08-04-2010, 02:25 PM	#11
deonk1 YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Winnipeg, MB, Canada Posts: 1,795	Harley was my first dog ever, and ofcourse I picked the most stubborn and difficult to train. other than poo mistakes I've been successful in training him where to pee. I use a grid system because I'm on the 21st floor of a high rise... can't really make it outside. I love the grid, and find it far better than pee pads. This what I did. So long as there wasn't mistakes, I left him in our hallway blocked with his crate (he had an 11x3ft run, and could see all the rooms (which were gated) and had his crate. I put the toilet on opposite ends of the hall to the crate, and it's worked ever since. Harley has now graduated to a room. we only have poo problems. Goodluck __________________ Kendra Harley, you were the light in my life, rest peacefully my love!

08-04-2010, 02:56 PM	#12
jeanm1963 Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Weymouth, Ma Posts: 2,584	I never used a crate, I personally don't care for them but thats just my opinion. I think an expen is great. Room to play , sleep , eat and you can use a pee pad if your going out . Laci has been potty trained since she was about 6 months she never has an accident. Id use a ex pen for a while then maybe you can confine her to a area in your house like the kitchen again putting all her toys, bed , food and water in there. Many people have great luck with crates, Its just not for me. I think puppies need time to play , run around and use some of their energy confining them to a cage for hours and hours just seems kinda cruel to me. __________________ I Support http://www.yorkiesinc.com/

08-07-2010, 11:13 PM	#13
spalione Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2008 Location: stevenson ranch, CA Posts: 20	Any advice on potty training an older yorkie? Bailey has gotten worse as she gets older. She used to use her potty pads and sometimes go out. But now she'll go in my husbands closet. I tried putting potty pads in the closet, but she avoids them. Is there a spray or something that I can put on the pad to attract her? I think she regressed because a year ago we got another puppy (pompoo) and she does not like him. She wants to be the only dog. __________________ www.poochipoo.com

08-08-2010, 04:35 PM	#14
lenaf7 YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: GA Posts: 8	I had Sky potty trained until she was spaded. After that all bets were off and I'm still struggling with her two months later. Sky will be 8 mos this week. She knows exactly where to potty because she does things perfectly some days, then others she just refuses to potty on the pad. We even had gotten to the point at 5mos were we would leave her in the bedroom without crating her and even loose at night, and she would go straight the potty pad during the day and night before we spaded her. I think this is the issue. She was spaded, then we started leaving her alone for no more than 3 hours and not every day. Maybe twice per week. She doesn't want to leave our side especially when she is playing; therefore, she will let it go right there. Before she would cross the house to go potty. Now if she is with us, she doesn't want to stop play or leave our side to go to the potty pad. I'm out of ideas and beyond frustrated at this point. Crating her only works for one day, then she will go back to her bad habits. Oh, she hates to use the bathroom outside if it's hot or wet. She runs right back to the front the door or she will go and sit under a shade tree. lol So, having to start back with square one by taking and placing her on the potty pad every hour or two. I was afraid to do the expen thing because she might eat her poo. At three months old I had a hard time with her doing that and I had to give her pills. therefore, I didn't expen for potty training.