9 weeks old Yorkie

[shingojr]

Hi, My name is Steve and I'm new to YorkieTalk. I got my Yorkie puppy, Brownie, on the past Sat from a breeder. The first 2 days, he was fine and know how to potty on the training pad (Simple Solution Training Pad from Petsmart). After that, he starts potty on the carpet and the tile even the training pad is next to him. I put him on the training pad when he starts sniffing around, but from his reaction (scratching & biting the training pad), it seem like he hates it. I also take him out to potty whenever I'm home from work which that didn't really works. He was either walking back toward me or lay down chewing the grass. Should I take Brownie out more often so he get familiar with the grass area?

My work hours are pretty long, I'm pretty much gone from 6:30am and home at 6:30pm. I usually put him in his play area which is fenced with a blanket/toys/food/water on one side and training pad on the other. When Im back home, most of the time his poop is everywhere. And he is really aggressive/hyper when I'm playing with him. I can understand that is because he was home alone for long period of time. But sometime he is too aggressive that he bite my fingers/toes and I use the word "ouch" "out" like the training guide said, didn't really work. It seem like he is afraid of my hand, cause whenever I take him out from his play area, he try to walk back and not letting me take him out.

I'm getting a little frustrated here. Anyone here has experience similar problems with their puppies?

[gidget529]

Hi. Welcome! Your pup is a very young one (I know, you've figured that out!). Most reputable yorkie breeders do not place their pups until 12 weeks of age. They learn how to play and not to bite from their mother during this time. So you are going to have to teach your little one not to bite. I would always say "no bite, get a toy", and then help the little one get a toy to play w me.

Potty training is going to be a challenge for a while because he is so young. Mine are pad trained, but everyone is different. This breed is a challenge to potty train.

If I read it right, you are gone 12 hrs a day. This is long for a pup so young. He is at risk for hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). This can make him quite ill, cause seizures. He needs to have food available all day long. It would be nice if you had a friend or relative that could stop by and check in on the little one part way through the day.

Good luck w the training. You're going thru the hard part now. Yorkies are heart stealers!

[susan lynn]

All 4 of mine were very hard to potty train, and your puppy is very young. It takes a lot of work and patience. They biting on your toes and fingers is part of being a puppy. My 8 month old still does it and she is very hyper. He is by himself for a long time so he wants to play and he needs a lot of exercise. It will take time. You can get a lot of helpful information here at YT just don't give up because the love he will give you is worth it. Good Luck

[shingojr]

Originally Posted by gidget529

Hi. Welcome! Your pup is a very young one (I know, you've figured that out!). Most reputable yorkie breeders do not place their pups until 12 weeks of age. They learn how to play and not to bite from their mother during this time. So you are going to have to teach your little one not to bite. I would always say "no bite, get a toy", and then help the little one get a toy to play w me.

Potty training is going to be a challenge for a while because he is so young. Mine are pad trained, but everyone is different. This breed is a challenge to potty train.

If I read it right, you are gone 12 hrs a day. This is long for a pup so young. He is at risk for hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). This can make him quite ill, cause seizures. He needs to have food available all day long. It would be nice if you had a friend or relative that could stop by and check in on the little one part way through the day.

Good luck w the training. You're going thru the hard part now. Yorkies are heart stealers!

Yes, I'm kinda afraid of hypoglycemia too, that's why I tried to play with him as much as I can when i'm home. Consider I only have 4 hrs of my personal time and play with him time, then I have to place him to bed again.

I leave food for him during the day, I don't really think it's good for puppy. Kinda making a habit that he will alway have food around.

[Ringo1]

I would not count on your 9 week old puppy to be potty trained anytime soon - especially when you are away from home for such a long time. 9 weeks is very young and your potty training expectations should be low.

Is there anyway you could get someone to come in and let your puppy out mid-day? They could also make sure he has eaten a bite and will not get low blood sugar.

Normally I recommend outside training - but, in your case, pee pads are going to be a necessity.

[shingojr]

Originally Posted by Ringo1

I would not count on your 9 week old puppy to be potty trained anytime soon - especially when you are away from home for such a long time. 9 weeks is very young and your potty training expectations should be low.

Is there anyway you could get someone to come in and let your puppy out mid-day? They could also make sure he has eaten a bite and will not get low blood sugar.

Normally I recommend outside training - but, in your case, pee pads are going to be a necessity.

My girlfriend and I both work during the same hours. I don't really have anybody to watch over Brownie during day time. I wish I can find someone. =(

[gidget529]

I would definitely leave the food out for him all day until he gets older. When they are this young it is hard for them to regulate their blood sugars.

You'll have to post some pics when you get a chance. Love to see your new little addition!

[Nancy1999]

Oh dear, you have lots of reading to do, he's doing exactly what he should be doing for this age. It's good that you can keep him in a play area and not a crate all day. When you take him out of the play area supervise him carefully and never have a pee pad too far from him. Praise the success and ignore the mistakes. We kept Joey in a small crate overnight, and would take him out once or twice during the night to do his business. We placed him directly on a pee pad, and this helped him learn that going on a pad would be rewarded. A Yorkies that young doesn’t have the control of his bowels that larger breeds may have. Concerning the biting, he’s teething and will want to bite everything he can for the next 6 months, so have plenty of chewing sticks and toys. One of the reasons Yorkies are kept with their mother a minimum of 12 weeks is that mama teaches them “inhibition” of the biting reflex. The still bite, but they don’t give it everything they have. You may need special help in training him not to bite so hard, but please don’t get mad at him; he’s doing what comes naturally.

[Ringo1]

Originally Posted by shingojr

My girlfriend and I both work during the same hours. I don't really have anybody to watch over Brownie during day time. I wish I can find someone. =(

Some dog walkers will come in 15 minute increments and, instead of walking your dog, will let him out ~ play with him ~ give him some treats. And it is not that expensive and does not have to be all day. But it would certainly break up his long day and give you some peace of mind.

Any local teen-agers that would be willing to check on him for less?

I don't want to be mean - but 12 hours alone is way too long of for 9 week old puppy or any dog on a regular basis - IMO. Sorry, but that is the way I feel. If it were just a day or two that he was alone for 12 hours but every day or 5 days a week?? That's no life for a puppy.

[chachi]

You need to take the puppy back to the breeder and get your money back. You are gone too long to potty train, socialize or give your pup a normal life and if your pup gets hypoglycemia while you are gone its going to be disasterous. Your breeder should have told you that

[Nancy1999]

Yeah, I just want to agree with Ringo and Chachi. I think you're gone too long to properly train too. I'm afraid that you'll never get your dog trained, and then want to rehome the dog when it's too old to be properly socialized. Shame on your breeder for selling a dog so young and not learning your lifestyle first.

[horsnaround]

when i potty train i take out every hour and it has always worked great for me 12 hours alone is a long time for any dog. The idea of a teenager in the neighborhood is a good one You need to be able to get him out more often. Are have someone in the home to watch and correct when he pottys in the wrong area. good luck

[shingojr]

I did tell the breeder my situation and ask her a lot of questions what I should do. She seems to try to answer my questions but not fully. I will try to see if I can ask my friends to come over to be a dog sitter. I really want to keep Brownie. My girlfriend will have more time after her internship in summer. I will try my best to deal with this.

[KazzyK810]

Originally Posted by chachi

You need to take the puppy back to the breeder and get your money back.

Who is gonna do that??? He's had the pup almost a week! After having ZoE a day, I wouldn't have given her back.

Most people work a 40 hour week plus travel time. I don't believe working precludes you from being a dog owner any more than it does being a parent.

It sounds like you have a good set up with a playpen area and are providing food & water all day. I agree with others that it would be great if you could have someone come by for a couple of months, while he is so young to check on him during the day.

Due to co-worker's vacations, I just finished a 3week period working 6 days a week. Fortunately, my ZoE is now 25 weeks old and eats just morning and evening & has a little snack at late at night. I feed her first thing and she goes poop on her pads & I clean it up. She pees on her pads throughout the day and then when I get home in the evening, she's fed again & poops again. It just take a few months for them to grow enough in size that you can regulate their feedings like that. Hang in there, it does get better!

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by KazzyK810

Who is gonna do that??? He's had the pup almost a week! After having ZoE a day, I wouldn't have given her back.

Most people work a 40 hour week plus travel time. I don't believe working precludes you from being a dog owner any more than it does being a parent.

It sounds like you have a good set up with a playpen area and are providing food & water all day. I agree with others that it would be great if you could have someone come by for a couple of months, while he is so young to check on him during the day.

Due to co-worker's vacations, I just finished a 3week period working 6 days a week. Fortunately, my ZoE is now 25 weeks old and eats just morning and evening & has a little snack at late at night. I feed her first thing and she goes poop on her pads & I clean it up. She pees on her pads throughout the day and then when I get home in the evening, she's fed again & poops again. It just take a few months for them to grow enough in size that you can regulate their feedings like that. Hang in there, it does get better!

The point is that many of us have read about rehomings a couple of years down the line; when it's really too late to properly rehabilitate the dog. If you don't socialize early, it's almost impossible to do it later. I'm not so worried about the housebreaking, but this dog isn’t going to get much early socialization, then they will complain, it's a yappy mess.