I just can't do it...crate training.

[cinechic]

Originally Posted by miabellaamoure

The ONLY good advise I've read so far...thank you Maximo for steering this new owner into the right direction!

A 7 week old puppy should NEVER be crated to be left in ANOTHER room...ugh!

This was a huge part of my dilemma!!! I was reading so many different things about training that seemed to conflict with what to do regarding a pup her age. It's been driving me crazy! I was expecting the potty training to be the hardest thing, but Noli picked up on it FAST. It's the sleeping bits! Gah.

[yorkietalkjilly]

I never left my crated baby outside of my sight either but I never had a puppy that young except when my dogs had puppies. Mothers dog train their babies at all ages so I take my lead from them. Even if she has only one as my Pekingese did, she leaves him alone in his bed while she's away eating, playing, etc. They cry and cry but eventually learn to quieten themselves.

My Doberman mom died when her 5 pups were three days old. With an okay from my vet, I was teaching those babies to stay in their crate alone, one at time, at 5 weeks as well as taking them outside by 8 weeks. They had the idea of housebreaking very early but physically couldn't hold it long so you had to watch them and take them out frequently but they were almost fully housebroken at 4 months.

[miabellaamoure]

Originally Posted by cinechic

This was a huge part of my dilemma!!! I was reading so many different things about training that seemed to conflict with what to do regarding a pup her age. It's been driving me crazy! I was expecting the potty training to be the hardest thing, but Noli picked up on it FAST. It's the sleeping bits! Gah.

I understand completely...I do...been in your shoes about 5 years ago and learned a very valuable lesson why Yorkie's should be with their Momma's till 10-12 weeks!

Before I knew of "x-pens"...I actually used a travel size playpen and placed it next to my bed. One end had a piddle pad and the other side had a soft bed.

I always attempted using the playpen every night and anytime I could not be right there with her but, the minute I heard her calling me...I took her out. A 7 week old puppy doesn't know it's being rewarded when it's still in need of comfort...but, that's my opinion on that.

It's going to be a tough go in the beginning but, it will get better!

ps...maybe you could send out your BF to Walmart to grab a cheap travel size playpen...they're open in CA 24 hours!

[miabellaamoure]

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

I never left my crated baby outside of my sight either but I never had a puppy that young except when my dogs had puppies. Mothers dog train their babies at all ages so I take my lead from them. Even if she has only one as my Pekingese did, she leaves him alone in his bed while she's away eating, playing, etc. They cry and cry but eventually learn to quieten themselves.

My Doberman mom died when her 5 pups were three days old. With an okay from my vet, I was teaching those babies to stay in their crate alone, one at time, at 5 weeks as well as taking them outside by 8 weeks. They had the idea of housebreaking very early but physically couldn't hold it long so you had to watch them and take them out frequently but they were almost fully housebroken at 4 months.

I'm sorry that you lost your Doberman Momma...raising five pups must have been a nightmare!

There is much to be learned from why Yorkie puppies should not be taken from their Momma's before the 10-12 week age. I've seen too much evidence to support this and any "reputable" breeder will attest to this!

[yorkietalkjilly]

Oh, it was sad and though it has been years ago, I still miss her. She was so lovely and good but she became septic somehow due to her milk, the vet said. I still have nightmares of hand raising 5 Dobie puppies from age 3 days. I was so closely bonded to those little sweethearts that by the time it came to place them with forever homes at 5 1/2 months, I was devastated. Kept one - just couldn't lose my connection to those sweeties. "C" was his name and he was a big, black beauty and loved his momma! And I loved him more than I can say. He was essentially stillborn, still in his sac, cold, not breathing or moving and his mother had cast him aside when we arrived home from work. We didn't even see him at first as we were so busy with the first two puppies and he was hidden by a blanket. That morning CobraBlue was fine when we left, she was sleeping in her bed next to her whelping box - no indication of whelping near. Anyway, my husband called the vet and told him we were on the way as I got C out of the sack and started stimulating him. I had no idea what to do but you remember movie or TV scenes of people trying to revive newborn animals so you try those things. I turned him upside down, rubbed him hard with a towel, whacked him on his little body, and in the 1960's though I didn't know CPR yet, but I breathed tiny breaths in his closed muzzle and held him by his hips upside down and drained something out of him and he began to move some. I worked on him for 15 minutes while Jimmy got the car ready and off we all went to the vet, C craddled in a blanket in my arms. Cobrablue was straining in the back but we made it to the vet before 4 and 5 arrived. We named them A, B, C, D, E and F at first as we had no time to think of names. C stayed at the vet a day and came home a warm, wriggling little baby Doberman. Two days later Cobrablue died and our hearts were broken but we were so busy we didn't have real time to grieve her until the puppies were older. Jimmy worked but I was only working part-time so I took time off to raise the boys. At four months, one of the boys looked so like his mother and then her death really hit us. But we had all those boys and they helped so much. I wouldn't have sold one of those boys at 6 or 7 weeks for ANYTHING! EVER! How can so-called breeders stand to part with little bitty helpless things like that? When C's four brother left one at a time, I cried like a baby each time. Somehow we never got around to naming him anything other than C as that somehow just fit him.

Oh, yes, it is heartbreaking to read these stories of these poor little things just taken from their mothers and placed in totally new surrounding by poor unknowing, blissfully happy new dog owners who don't know better and soon are crazy with worry and fatique. It's awful for all of them! People who knowingly sell these little things like this should be turned in by the buyer to Animal Control and fined for each dog they do this way. I know that in these hard times that's not going to happen as our counties and cities can barely manage crime let alone bad dog breeders but I can wish.

[cinechic]

Originally Posted by miabellaamoure

I understand completely...I do...been in your shoes about 5 years ago and learned a very valuable lesson why Yorkie's should be with their Momma's till 10-12 weeks!

Before I knew of "x-pens"...I actually used a travel size playpen and placed it next to my bed. One end had a piddle pad and the other side had a soft bed.

I always attempted using the playpen every night and anytime I could not be right there with her but, the minute I heard her calling me...I took her out. A 7 week old puppy doesn't know it's being rewarded when it's still in need of comfort...but, that's my opinion on that.

It's going to be a tough go in the beginning but, it will get better!

ps...maybe you could send out your BF to Walmart to grab a cheap travel size playpen...they're open in CA 24 hours!

About the BF...did I ever mention he is the most AMAZING PERSON IN THE ENTIRE WORLD????

I went back to work the first time tonight since we picked her up, and I was TERRIFIED. Noli wasn't happy in the makeshift pen and the BF couldn't stand it anymore. He spent the entire night while I was at work getting Noli used to the crate. He got her to go in (with prompting), sit quietly, and then wait until he said OK to leave. OMGGGGGG she was so good for him. Spent almost the entire time napping. Woke up once and moved around a bit, didn't fuss, then went back to sleep.

I came home and she woke up...Boyfriend showed me how good she was and how to properly let her out. PERFECT. We had her pee and poop (though it was a bit hard getting her to poop - actually just catching her as she started and brought her to the paper (she's about 80% good for pee, much much less for poop - considering where's she's gone most times ). Practiced with the crate a bit, then put her in again for the night. Hopefully. We'll see how the late hours go. I'll let you guys know tomorrow!!!

[cinechic]

Also!

Do you guys have tips for transferring the crate from the living room to bedroom? It's just around the corner but I want to make the transition as smooth as possible. Boyfriend's suggestion was to leave her in the living room until she wakes up the first time.

[Bitsy]

Originally Posted by cinechic

This makes me feel a lot better, seeing a lot of people writing about how easy it was for them and hearing it from my aunt and mother. I don't feel like such a lame-o for giving up and sleeping with her last night.

It actually went well after my post. She snuggled on my chest and didn't fuss when I put her next to me. She slept through the night, though we got up once or twice to potty - though she didn't.

My puppy Peyton sleeps curled up next to me every night. I love it and so does he! He sleeps through the whole night and has not had one accident. I am a night owl, so he gets to empty his bladder pretty late, then I'm up pretty early to get the kids to school, so he goes then too.

Your little baby is so young...he needs you near him right now.

[miabellaamoure]

Originally Posted by cinechic

Also!

Do you guys have tips for transferring the crate from the living room to bedroom? It's just around the corner but I want to make the transition as smooth as possible. Boyfriend's suggestion was to leave her in the living room until she wakes up the first time.

The reason I keep saying your puppy NEEDS to be in the same room with you is for the fact she is still young enough to have a low blood sugar and could crash before you ever knew what happened!

Please tell me you at least have a tube of Nutrical

[concretegurl]

I have and use the same Best Pet soft sided play pen you were suggested...I have a medium...but its not the best for potty training unless you remove the bottom and the you have the escape risk...if you leave the bottom on it will get potty smell on it-even if you can't smell it she can...so if you use it be in the same room at all times! I just read about a yorkie scaling an x-pen...I also use a children's wooden dowel slats play yard...might consider that...

moving a travel crate is with her sleeping should be fine if you move it gently...

Having Nutrical (at pet stores) around is a must! I always have a can of Nutrical, Karo syrup (from any grocery store on baking isle) ,a syringe for measuring and administering (needless) meds in mouth (any pet store), a bottle of ACV (any grocer has apple cider vinegar) and a triple antibiotic ointment (Neosporin) handy in my dog emergency kit (well some other stuff but that's the basics) she's too young for flea medicine, worm prevention etc read this link...you know not to even think about a collar right, and baby shampoo is best for pups?
www.organic-pet-digest.com

She's not sleeping at all or just sleeps a bit then wakes...most of this is probable due to her being so young, too young to be away from her mom...have you taken her to a vet for her pup check yet and testing?

[yorkietalkjilly]

I agree about the sleeping with your Yorkie - you are not lame for doing it. I got Tibbe so we could both have a better life together and once you feel that they won't soil your bed, by all means sleep with your dog. Cuddling with your doggie as you go to sleep is one of the things for Tibbe and I that makes for a better life - especially for a little dog that lived his whole life to that point alone in a crate 24/7, probably cold most nights except for the dead of summer! I loved I could soothe him and assure him he was no longer alone as he went to sleep. Tibbe shares my very pillow and has since he'd been here about 2 weeks! I disagree with Victoria Principal on TV that dogs should never be allowed in the bed - vehemently disagree unless one is trying to rehab a dominance/aggession issue!

[cinechic]

Originally Posted by miabellaamoure

The reason I keep saying your puppy NEEDS to be in the same room with you is for the fact she is still young enough to have a low blood sugar and could crash before you ever knew what happened!

Please tell me you at least have a tube of Nutrical

I do have Nutrical. Well, the GNC one from Petsmart. Been giving a dime-sized drop three times daily. Sound alright to you guys?

And we ended up moving her with no problem. She woke up but was fairly quick to fall back asleep with some coaxing.

And the night went well! We're night owls (which is biting me in the butt!!!), so we moved to the bedroom at 2. She was up at 3:30 to pee then again at 4:30, though she didn't pee that time. Woke up for the day at 6. Hurray! She remains crate-able so far today!

[cinechic]

Originally Posted by concretegurl

I have and use the same Best Pet soft sided play pen you were suggested...I have a medium...but its not the best for potty training unless you remove the bottom and the you have the escape risk...if you leave the bottom on it will get potty smell on it-even if you can't smell it she can...so if you use it be in the same room at all times! I just read about a yorkie scaling an x-pen...I also use a children's wooden dowel slats play yard...might consider that...

moving a travel crate is with her sleeping should be fine if you move it gently...

Having Nutrical (at pet stores) around is a must! I always have a can of Nutrical, Karo syrup (from any grocery store on baking isle) ,a syringe for measuring and administering (needless) meds in mouth (any pet store), a bottle of ACV (any grocer has apple cider vinegar) and a triple antibiotic ointment (Neosporin) handy in my dog emergency kit (well some other stuff but that's the basics) she's too young for flea medicine, worm prevention etc read this link...you know not to even think about a collar right, and baby shampoo is best for pups?
www.organic-pet-digest.com

She's not sleeping at all or just sleeps a bit then wakes...most of this is probable due to her being so young, too young to be away from her mom...have you taken her to a vet for her pup check yet and testing?

Took her to the vet 2 days after I got her - she looked good. She's a finnicky eater is all. I have Nutrical, Karo syrup, and a dog first-aid kit. Had to give her a bath yesterday and used baby shampoo.

Why no collar? She doesn't seem to mind the one we have, and it has a bell on it so we can keep an ear on her/make sure she's not underfoot.

[Roxi Ree]

Originally Posted by Maximo

7 weeks is way too early to be crate training a Yorkie pup. Buy an xpen and put a piddle pad in one corner, her bed and food and water in another corner.

You will have a much happier and healthier pup and you will be happier.

Remember these little ones have very small bladders, and a 7 week old has barely begun to be able to control potty habits. She needs access to potty at all times of the day.

First time to post, but I brought Roxi home at 9 weeks and did the same as above. The first night she woke up twice. After that, she sleeps every night without a whimper. We also filled a water bottle with warm water and wrapped it in a towel for the first few nights because we knew she would miss her sister. Her xpen is in my daughter's room, so when my daughter goes to bed, Roxi knows it's time for her to go to bed.

[Sweet Apple]

Originally Posted by Maximo

7 weeks is way too early to be crate training a Yorkie pup. Buy an xpen and put a piddle pad in one corner, her bed and food and water in another corner.

You will have a much happier and healthier pup and you will be happier.

Remember these little ones have very small bladders, and a 7 week old has barely begun to be able to control potty habits. She needs access to potty at all times of the day.

Totally right! Apple was 11 1/2 weeks old, when I brought her home, and she didn't do the crate scene...She was fine, gated in the kitchen, w/her bed @ one end, food and water in the middle, and puddle pads @ the other end...she stayed there, 'till she jumped the 36" fence lol...Then she was out and about, w/the electrical breakers thrown, in the area where she was out and about...Rule of thumb...puppy can only go about 1 hr. per month of age...An 8 week old pup might be able to go 2 hrs., but no longer....