Really getting frustrated...

[MyLilyRose]

I am trying to train Marley to go on potty pads now and I know I can't expect her to get it right away. I know it can take months if not longer to get her trained. Right now I have her on newspaper and she's been on there for 2 freaking hours and still has not gone. It's like she HOLDS it until she gets off. It's really frustrating me. She does this everytime.

Sorry, I just had to vent. I don't know what else to do.

[kjc]

Follow her with a paper towel, and when she pees, soak some up with the paper towel and quickly rub it on the pee pad. This scents the pad so she'll recognize the smell and hopefully go there on the pad the next time. If she sniffs alot before finding a spot, you can even scent her pad with another dog's urine (explain this one to your neighbors!)

Or, walk her outside on a leash till she pees, and as she is going, give it a name... I use 'go potty' or 'make a potty'.. but use the same command each time to eliminate any confusion. Do this a few times till she associates the command with the act, and give her a treat right after she does her business, and praise the heck out of her each time.

Then move inside to the pee pad. It's best to use key times when you know they really have to go, like when they first wake up in the morning, after playtime, 15-30 minutes after a meal (watch her for timing), or after a big drink. If she understands the command, say it as you take her to the pad, and watch for her to go. Treat and praise afterwards.

It's important never to yell at her or punish her for any mistakes. Don't have an attitude (they pick up on them), just clean up the mess with enzymatic cleaner, and pretend nothing has happened. Many Yorkies will develop fear and then will not go potty in front of you. They take the reprimand to mean 'don't go potty at all', they won't understand that you mean 'not in this spot'.

Or you can do this first.... try keeping her in a small room or x-pen that you can cover the entire floor with pee pads. You still have to catch her 'in the act', say the command, treat and praise when she's done. In other words, you need to catch her doing it right, in order to be able to teach her that that is what you want her to do. She will understand. As she may go back to the same area, gradually begin to remove the extra pee pads till you're down to one pad, and she's using it consistantly.

The key is catching her doing it the right way, and treats and praise. That's the training part, the rest will be follow through and reinforcement. You should be able to 'train' her and get her off to a good start in one weekend. You will need to free up 2 days in a row to give her the proper time to learn and repeat the behavior, and reinforce it with treats and praise.

And you will need to watch her constantly for signs or a signal... they each have a thing they do right before they 'go'. Some start sniffing, or turning in circles, etc. When you learn her signal, you'll be more successful at helping her to be successful.

Exercise (walking or playing) helps move things along, and being on a strict schedule with meal times helps. Do not freefeed (leave food down all day long) when trying to housetrain a pup. If they eat all day long, they will eliminate all day long. Do allow access to water throughout the day.

Good Luck... I wish you both the best... and let us know how it's going....

[kjc]

I apologize... in the above post, where I said 'pee pad' replace that with 'newspaper'... methods should still be effective...