teacup potty training

[Kathy]

HI,
I also would like to thank you all of you for your information. I have been reading all about potty training and the discussions between inside and outside, crate training or pen training. I am confused as to what to do with my teacup. I have no problem doing the crate but my question is can a 1 1/2 pound teacup hold it in a crate all night? Can she hold it in crate during the day? She has been using both pads and outside. I have moved her from the kitchen, to a pen, to a crate and back to a pen (with pads). I am making myhself crazy! In the kitchen she went on the pad but I also found it traveled in front of the gate. In the crate she pooped. When she accidently was left sleeping with my daughter she found her way to the pad and went on it and then sat there wondering what to do next. When I travel her and put down a pad anywhere she goes on it or doesn't go at all. Before I totally mess her up and make myselfnuts does anyone have suggestions for this teacup girl (born Nov. 15, 2004). Please help before I put her down for the night. Also, where best for her to sleep. Has been downstairs with other trained puppy (who is in a crate). Only problem is that I can not hear her down there if she stirs in the middle of the night. Thanks everyone.

[chachi]

Hi I noticed you are new here. Welcome!! I thought I might pass on some info I know you are not aware of since you are new. The word teacup is kinda taboo around here and can rub some people the wrong way. The reason is because teacup does not exist under the AKC standard for Yorkies. If it were me if the puppy does well with crate training I would do that because your on your way to housetraining. Its just gonna take time and patience your puppy is so small I cant imagine taking it outside yet. My puppy cannot hold it all night yet and he is 2lbs if that helps. It sounds like you are trying many different methods its just gonna be your preference which way you decide to go. You will have to post some pictures of your puppy. We love pictures here!

[aimee]

Our babies share a birthday!! Although Tia isn't as small as yours (was 2 lb, 10 oz at 13 weeks) and has been able to hold it since we started training. I crate train at night and during the day use a treat and praise method for potty training. You really just have to figure out what you are comfortable doing. I use a playpen when we need to go anywhere and place her food, water, a wee wee pad, a couple of toys, a blanket and one of my t-shirts in there with her.

I'm sure someone else will be more helpful than me - but YAY for our babies having the same birthday What's her name? We'd love to see pictures!!

[Kathy]

Hi. I am new to this site and wish that I had found it prior to getting her. Although, better late than never. First, thank you for your advice as I am once again trying to figure out what is best. I noticed that she does hold pretty well during the day but it seems that at night is her bowel movement time. After you crate her at night where do you take her out and into in the morning? Do you take her outside or to a pee wee pad? I was thinking of using a pen downstairs for the daytime work hours (near the backdoor) and crating her during the night (while listening for sounds of needing to go to the bathroom). I was thinking of re-locating the crate to my room and possibly putting the pads in the bedroom bathroom shower stall (which is not used). I am assuming that I should use those pads during the night and put her back into crate? Morning also? Or, just take her downstairs and out with the other pup (who is in a crate down there. Right now she is sleeping in the room next to me with my 4 year old daughter. In time I want her to be able to sleep with her. My son is sleeping with the other one and two cats. I am told that my home is what is called "lucky." It is a home not a house. But, boy this feels a lot like giving birth to another kid. Thank you to the person who told me not to use the term teacup . You were right, I did not know any different. Also, how do I post pictures?

[Kathy]

Hi I noticed you are new here. Welcome!! I thought I might pass on some info I know you are not aware of since you are new. The word teacup is kinda taboo around here and can rub some people the wrong way. The reason is because teacup does not exist under the AKC standard for Yorkies. If it were me if the puppy does well with crate training I would do that because your on your way to housetraining. Its just gonna take time and patience your puppy is so small I cant imagine taking it outside yet. My puppy cannot hold it all night yet and he is 2lbs if that helps. It sounds like you are trying many different methods its just gonna be your preference which way you decide to go. You will have to post some pictures of your puppy. We love pictures here![/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=chachi]
Thank you for the information. What do you do with your puppy at night since he is equally small and can not hold it all night. I have noticed a pattern with mine. SHe seems to have to move her bowels sometime between 11 and 1 and then again real early. I really do not want to have towake up all night. Equally, I am afraid that she will just start whining to come and and be with me and I will confuse it for needing togo potty, or, the other way around. I know that I really do not have to be stressing myself out over all of this but I do want to do it right. I know that she has the potential. I also know that she is stubborn. She has been going potty out all day today or simply going out and then not goin potty. She then came inside and didn't go either. I even put her in the pen to go. SHe still didn't go for about half an hour. I finally took her out because I was afraid that she would associate the pen with punishment. FUnny, she didn't go for a good bit after until we finally went out again and then she went. She then finally went one other time on the pad in the pen later.

[princecharlie10]

WELCOME KATHY
I KNOW THE FEELING PATIENCE, PATIENCE , MY SELF AM HAVING PROBLEMS GETTING NEMO TO POTTY TRAIN HE IS A BIT LESS THAN 2 POUNDS, HE IS 13 WEEKS .I KNOW HIS BLADDER CAN'T HOLD IT TOO LONG,BUT I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO HE SOMETIMES GOES OUT, HE ONLY USED PEE PEE PADS ONCE, HE WOULD GO RIGHT NEXT TO THE PAD WHICH, KILLS ME SINC EIT'S RIGHT THERE BUT NO!! HE WANTS THE FLOOR. THANK GOD I HAVE TILE FLOORS.IF YOU FIND A METHOD ,THAT WORKS PLEASE LET ME KNOW

[aimee]

Originally Posted by Kathy

Hi. I am new to this site and wish that I had found it prior to getting her. Although, better late than never.

Absolutely - if you ever have anything you are looking for and no one is around, a helpful feature is the "search" option (http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/search.php)

As far as the crate, I use a small one for night time, I have it placed on the floor on my side of the bed, it has a see-through top so she can look up and see me during the night. When she wakes me up in the morning, I take her directly to he wee-wee pad, which I keep in the laundry room. (my laundry room has tiles, most of the rest of my house is carpeted) - if she doesn't go, I hold her or put her back in her crate then take her to the wee wee pad again.

Tia is still having a lot of accidents, so I may not be the best person to give you advice, but I was told by my vet and a breeder friend that consistancy is the best thing. Get them on a schedule. Tia and I are getting there, we are learning together. The thing about these guys is you can't "mess up" too badly -- if you realize you are using a method that just isn't working, you can change and train them another way. I have an older dog, Sandy and went to training classes with her and was able to teach her a lot.

I know what you mean about it being like having another kid - that's exactly how I look at it. My children didn't come out able to use the potty and it will really take some time to get these guys to do it too. My son is 5, daughter 4 on Friday, so it really feels like I have four children now, which I love. The good news is if you train them well now, you will be teaching them habits that should last a lifetime

I'm sorry I can't be of more help! But there are so many people here with SO much great advice, I'm sure you'll have a "plan of action" in no time at all!

[Kathy]

I ordered the wiz potty thing earlier in the week. I am waiting for that to get here. It seems to me, even with all of my confusion (which probably comes from hearing about how "different" yorkies are to train than "other" dogs, that small space with quick assess to pad is best. I am thinking that the pad just needs to be where ultimately you want her to use it. That is why I am thinking of the pen (for daytime) on my first floor (near backdoor). I am planning that the pen would be lifed and that would be her first room (when ready) to have unsupervised assess (supervised for at least 6 months or better). I figure that I would have a way of leaving pen gate open when we are in the room. That was she can go onpad if needed or I take her outside like my other pup. Night time is more my concern. I do not feel like waking up all night or staying up real late every night until I am sure that she has went late enough for crating. I can tell you that crating and basic, normal training for my other pup took no time at all. She is completely trained (I still crate her when we are not with her though). I crated my new yorkie this weekend also (not the pen) since it was short times. We were in the house (baths, initial bedtime stuff). Then I took her out (them) and now my yorkie (FiFi) is still sleppeing with my little one. Although, I do need to go get her before She crushes her . I would leave her but who knows what the midnight dog waking will lead to. Although, she was accidently left still sleeping eith my son the other night and she managed to find a pad that was placed in his room for a just incase. So.who knows? How do you post pictures? ANy other advice from anyone. I am all ears before head them to sleep and change her sleeping spot to my room from the downstairs area.

[Kathy]

Hi Aimee, Thanks for your feedback. I would love to see her sleep through the night. I think if she slept through the night than I would just take her downstairs and outside with my already trained bigon pup. Wow, as I was typing this I heard a little cry. It was her standing at the bottom of my daughter's bed. I scooped her up and quickly debated to take her outside or to wee wee pad (which I am debating where to put it). Since I have not quite decided where to put the pad upstairs I quicly ran her outside where she went. ALthough, I know that still to come is a bowel movement since she has not down one yet today and has consistently been doing this at night since she arrived here. Any suggestions? Does an unused shower stall sound good for wee wee pads? WOuld she find that? Or, should it be really visible on the floor. The bathroom is right near where the crate will be. Question: What kind of small crate are you referring to? How can you tell if the midnight cry is pick me up or I need to go potty?

Originally Posted by aimee

Absolutely - if you ever have anything you are looking for and no one is around, a helpful feature is the "search" option (http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/search.php?)

As far as the crate, I use a small one for night time, I have it placed on the floor on my side of the bed, it has a see-through top so she can look up and see me during the night. When she wakes me up in the morning, I take her directly to he wee-wee pad, which I keep in the laundry room. (my laundry room has tiles, most of the rest of my house is carpeted) - if she doesn't go, I hold her or put her back in her crate then take her to the wee wee pad again.

Tia is still having a lot of accidents, so I may not be the best person to give you advice, but I was told by my vet and a breeder friend that consistancy is the best thing. Get them on a schedule. Tia and I are getting there, we are learning together. The thing about these guys is you can't "mess up" too badly -- if you realize you are using a method that just isn't working, you can change and train them another way. I have an older dog, Sandy and went to training classes with her and was able to teach her a lot.

I know what you mean about it being like having another kid - that's exactly how I look at it. My children didn't come out able to use the potty and it will really take some time to get these guys to do it too. My son is 5, daughter 4 on Friday, so it really feels like I have four children now, which I love. The good news is if you train them well now, you will be teaching them habits that should last a lifetime

I'm sorry I can't be of more help! But there are so many people here with SO much great advice, I'm sure you'll have a "plan of action" in no time at all!

[Ringo]

My pup was that small when I brought him home at 12 weeks. He could not hold it all night. He also pooped in the middle of the night. The first thing I did was change his food. I'm not sure this is true, but they say the higher the quality of food the less poopage they have. I also took him out every night at 2am. I did this when I had him in the crate. I put him the crate at 10pm and took him out at 2am and again 6am. He now sleeps with me and has slept through the the night since. I drove myself crazy with wondering whether to take him outside or use the pads. I decided on outside because I think it was more natural to him. BUT I'm here all day at the house so that makes it easier. I put him in a gated area whenever we go out. He's still not completely housebroken. He had a pee accident yesterday and 2 the day before. My problem now is figuring out a way to get him to alert me to go outside.

Try feeding him on a set schedule then you may be able to time his poops.

I only kept in a crate at night for 2 wks (until he was 14 wks old). He started sleeping in my bed at 16wks and slept through the night. I think I made a mistake doing this because I can't get any sleep at night because he lays on my head.

[chachi]

Kathy- I set up a playyard lined it up with papers and put his bed in it. I would have used the crate but my dog cried all night and I just felt bad leaving him in it. I also have an old baking sheet that I lined with papers and leave out for during the day and in another area I have one of those dog liter boxes with paper in it. You could do this with wee pads too.
How old is your puppy? I am getting Chachis sister who is small in 3 weeks. She not as small as yours shes 3/4 of a pound and I expect she will be about a lb when I get her. I say bravo to you!!! I would make myself a nervous wreck probably caring for a pup that small but you seem to be doing great!!!! Whats your puppy's name? You are gonna have to post some pictures!!!!!

[LilyBelle]

Hi Kathy!

Our teacups ALMOST share the same birthday. Miss Lily was born on Nov 1, 2004.

Regarding training, I hear you LOUD and CLEAR - Lily was a nightmare those first three weeks. My FIRST suggestion is to just be consistent. I did the same thing you are -- toting her back and forth and putting her in three different spots. Don't do it. Establish ONE routine and stick to it.

Lily is crate trained -- she's in there all day, so I have three "areas" for her: her eating area, her snuggle area, and her "business" area, with a small litterbox that has a wee wee pad in it.

When we get home from work, I bring her cage out to where we all sit, and she will go in there to eat, dirnk, and do business while we all hang out with her. Its the most consistent way for her to understand why she's going there. I know alot of people say your dog shouldn't do business where they sleep, but there is PLENTY of room for Lily to do both, and with the WW pads, it doesnt smell OR stay wet.

good luck!

[Kathy]

Hi,
Your story is so cute. Ironically, it sounds like I fell into doing what you did last night. FiFi slept with my daughter until 12ish last night. I heard a little cry. It startled me and I ran into her room. I found her standing at the end of the bed waiting for someone to pick her up. I immediately took her outside (I thought for a minute to use pad but quickly went for the outside). She went potty and then I brought her upstairs and put her into her crate (which I moved to my room). She whined a little but then went to sleep. At 3 am my son came in to my room and this immediately woke her up. I grabbed her out of the crate and took her outside (of course, this also woke up our other pup). Both puppies went potty and then back in we went. I put the bigon into her crate (downstairs next to son's room) and put her back into her crate. She wasn't happy. She cried. I wasn't sure if she had to move her bowels so I decided then to take her out and put her onto a pad. I had put the pads into an unused shower stall (in the bedroom). She didn't like that (because I closed the door) so that she would not come out. That wasn't going to work. Then I did the cardinal sin. I put her back into her crate, she cried and out she went. I let her sleep with us. She stirred around 5:30am. She was very figitityso...out we went again. She went potty outside but still no bowel movement. I decided that I needed another hour of sleep so I put her into a pen set up (near back door) with her food and water. I went back to sleep. When we came down an hour later she haad eatten a little and pooped on the pads. Outside we all went again. Again she went. All played and then it was time for work so.back into the pen. Do you still use your crate at all? Or, do you just put him into the pen when you can not keep an eye on her? Is your little one on one or two floors? And, what kind of food do you use? When and how much do you feed her? I have been told all kinds of thing. When did he stop needing to go out in the middle of the night? Was that before or after yo let him sleep with you all night? While he was still using the crate for bedtime? Thanks for your response. This site is really a great idea.

Originally Posted by Ringo

My pup was that small when I brought him home at 12 weeks. He could not hold it all night. He also pooped in the middle of the night. The first thing I did was change his food. I'm not sure this is true, but they say the higher the quality of food the less poopage they have. I also took him out every night at 2am. I did this when I had him in the crate. I put him the crate at 10pm and took him out at 2am and again 6am. He now sleeps with me and has slept through the the night since. I drove myself crazy with wondering whether to take him outside or use the pads. I decided on outside because I think it was more natural to him. BUT I'm here all day at the house so that makes it easier. I put him in a gated area whenever we go out. He's still not completely housebroken. He had a pee accident yesterday and 2 the day before. My problem now is figuring out a way to get him to alert me to go outside.

Try feeding him on a set schedule then you may be able to time his poops.

I only kept in a crate at night for 2 wks (until he was 14 wks old). He started sleeping in my bed at 16wks and slept through the night. I think I made a mistake doing this because I can't get any sleep at night because he lays on my head.

[Kathy]

Chachi's mom- My little one's name is FiFi. My daughter picked that name. It sounds like your new little one will be smaller. FiFi is currently 1 1/2 lbs. I like your ideas. I guess what I am doing is similiar. I put a small crate inside of the playpen so that she can have that to go into (especially when she may need to run and hide from the other puppy. I have the pads in the pen and a small bowl for water in there too. This is all set up in a downstairs family room. When we are all there, I leave the door open to the pen so that she has full assess. Earlier she was playing full force. Too our delight, she stopped and went to her pad to potty. The other puppy also stopped and went to the door to scratch. Yea. Now it is almost bedtime and I will put her in a crate in my room ( I bought another small one). I took her outside and she went so it will be off to sleep soon. I will put her into the crate and when she scirms or cries in the middle of the night I will proabaly take her outside. I thought about setting up a small confined area in the kitchen (since we are on a different floor from original pen and back door). I am tring to decide between placing her into a lined small pen (or tub) in the kitchen or taking her outside. I am not sure if it is a good idea to have more that one area with pads (we have two floors here). My logic for kitchen is that that would be a middle point for when she is allowed to roam upstairs (with supervision). ALthough if I take her out than she willneed to learn away to just stand at the top of the stairway and let us know that she needs to go down and out. Any suggestions? My instinct makes me run her outside but my logical side tells me that she will never really be able to run the steps good enough to take her body to the door. Although, I thin she is smart enough to find a pad whenever and where ever I would put it. I just don't know what is the best message to send her. I do know that I do not want her to think that it is play time in the middle of the night and begin to run the house and play. It is bad enough that whatever method is decided she wil be waking up the other puppy when she cries. Oh, I do hope that she will learn to hold it at night time. How do I go about posting pictures?

Originally Posted by chachi

Kathy- I set up a playyard lined it up with papers and put his bed in it. I would have used the crate but my dog cried all night and I just felt bad leaving him in it. I also have an old baking sheet that I lined with papers and leave out for during the day and in another area I have one of those dog liter boxes with paper in it. You could do this with wee pads too.
How old is your puppy? I am getting Chachis sister who is small in 3 weeks. She not as small as yours shes 3/4 of a pound and I expect she will be about a lb when I get her. I say bravo to you!!! I would make myself a nervous wreck probably caring for a pup that small but you seem to be doing great!!!! Whats your puppy's name? You are gonna have to post some pictures!!!!!

[Kathy]

Hi
I think...if I did it right........I posted two pictures. Let me know if it worked. It may have just gone tothe gallery page. How do you get it to atach to your name. - kath

Originally Posted by Kathy

Chachi's mom- My little one's name is FiFi. My daughter picked that name. It sounds like your new little one will be smaller. FiFi is currently 1 1/2 lbs. I like your ideas. I guess what I am doing is similiar. I put a small crate inside of the playpen so that she can have that to go into (especially when she may need to run and hide from the other puppy. I have the pads in the pen and a small bowl for water in there too. This is all set up in a downstairs family room. When we are all there, I leave the door open to the pen so that she has full assess. Earlier she was playing full force. Too our delight, she stopped and went to her pad to potty. The other puppy also stopped and went to the door to scratch. Yea. Now it is almost bedtime and I will put her in a crate in my room ( I bought another small one). I took her outside and she went so it will be off to sleep soon. I will put her into the crate and when she scirms or cries in the middle of the night I will proabaly take her outside. I thought about setting up a small confined area in the kitchen (since we are on a different floor from original pen and back door). I am tring to decide between placing her into a lined small pen (or tub) in the kitchen or taking her outside. I am not sure if it is a good idea to have more that one area with pads (we have two floors here). My logic for kitchen is that that would be a middle point for when she is allowed to roam upstairs (with supervision). ALthough if I take her out than she willneed to learn away to just stand at the top of the stairway and let us know that she needs to go down and out. Any suggestions? My instinct makes me run her outside but my logical side tells me that she will never really be able to run the steps good enough to take her body to the door. Although, I thin she is smart enough to find a pad whenever and where ever I would put it. I just don't know what is the best message to send her. I do know that I do not want her to think that it is play time in the middle of the night and begin to run the house and play. It is bad enough that whatever method is decided she wil be waking up the other puppy when she cries. Oh, I do hope that she will learn to hold it at night time. How do I go about posting pictures?