Andy is Impossible! I have a 4.5 mo old male named Andy. He was the shy one of the litter but the cutest when I purchased him for my wifes birthday on Feb.7. Andy is so frickin smart it's not even funny but he refuses to be housebroken. It's almost as if everything I do has a reverse effect on him. Since the beginning I've taken him outside every morning and once per hour while he's awake to potty but he doesn't do anything except run around and sniff in the grass. This will go on for 30 min if I let it. As soon as we go back in he pees within 30 secs. I've caught him mid-stream, scolded and taken him out but he holds it until he comes back in. On the rare occasion that he does pee outside I damn near throw him a party complete with confetti but it matters none to him. He isn't interested in any kind of praise or treats and I've tried almost all of them. I've spent well over $100 in treats that just sit because he doesn't care for them. I've resorted to putting a band on him because he was literally no fun to even own. I couldn't let him run in the house for fear of him peeing somewhere. He was either outside or in the kennel. I've tried the crate training but he doesn't seem to care if he pees in his bed and I don't want a stinking dog so I make him wear his diaper to bed. I've owned 3 other dogs all of whom were potty trained literally within a couple weeks. Andy is going on 2.5 months and is no better today than the day I brought him home. At this point I think the only thing left is to reverse my psychology and scold him for peeing outside and praise for peeing inside. He has a great personality, is the funniest little guy that I've ever had the pleasure of owning and we love him to death but this diaper situation is NOT agreeing with my wife. Does anyone have any ideas on what's going on with this guy? |
Welcome to Yorkie Talk. Yorkies can be smart little boogers. :) Don't give up on Andy! Suggestions: 1) Choose one potty training method and stick to it. I prefer not to use crate training. Instead, limit Andy's freedom to one small area or room, ideally somewhere with flooring that is easy to clean. You can take him out of that area only when he is under your strict supervision. Don't give him more freedom to roam until he develops good potty habits. 2) Keep doing the frequent trips outdoors, starting with the moment he wakes up in the morning, after each meal, after play sessions or moments of excitement, before bed, and many times in between. 3) When you take him outside, put him on a short leash and take him to a designated area in the yard. Use keywords like "go potty" or whatever you like. Stay outdoors until he does his business. Hopefully if he isn't running around, this won't take 30 minutes. Maybe unleashing him could be a reward after he does his thing. 4) Keep up the praise and parties for good potties! Don't scold for bad potties. Just say, "uh oh" and then clean it up with an enzyme cleaner like Nature's Miracle. You have to get rid of the scent or he will want to return there and potty again. 5) Be consistent. Don't banish outdoors or to the kennel or get upset. Breaking trust will create big problems. Keep us updated on your progress. Wishing you happier days ahead. |
4 1/2 months is young and for a yorkie, early on to expect a huge success. They are incredibly smart dogs, but can be stubborn. Be patient, he'll get it. It might be a good idea to start over and restrict his access to the rest of the house. Confine him to one room until he's more reliable. I'm not a huge fan of crates. In rescue, I only used crates for a heartworm + or injured dog. I'm more of a baby gate/ex pen kinda mommy. Do you have an ex pen? Walmart online has the 6 panel superyard XT for $50. WELL worth the investment and a very versatile contraption! I've used mine as a baby gate for non standard openings as well as a pen. Take some 3 mil plastic and put down as a floor and you're all set! My girls go straight to the ex pen with a pee pad down if they don't do their business outside or (you'll love this) I keep them on a leash tied to me and take them out 10 minutes later. Rinse and repeat until the deed is done. They don't get loose until they're completely empty. It took my new rescue girl 1 week to figure that rule out. |
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