New Babies - Crate Question

[HotRodMomma]

I have teo new Yorkie Babies, from different litters.

Elvis weighs 2.7 lbs, DOB 7/13/12
Priscilla weighs a whopping 1.2 lbs, DOB 7/5/12

I got them about 1 1/2 weeks ago...Actually Priscilla will be a week tomorrow.

They sleep together in a crate no issues. I work from my home, so I thought I would confine them to the kitchen, frequent potty breaks etc. Even though I take them out often and they do use the bathroom...there are still quite a few accidents in the kitchen. I cannot always be right there to watch, as work does interfere

I have decided the kindest thing would be to crate them, taking them out still for play and frequent potty breaks. My question is, do you think it is feasible to crate them together during the day while we are learning the art of potty outside, or am I asking for more issues that way?

Thanks for any insight you can give. First time Yorkie's for me....Quite a change from my big ole Boxers!

[GeorgiesMomma]

I am not an expert on training so I will leave that up to others, but I wanted to welcome you to YT! Lucky you 2 Yorkies at once I can totaly relate to the change from a Boxer to Yorkie! Our Boxer was 6 when we brought Georgie home. Good luck to you! Looking forward to pics

[HotRodMomma]

Thank you for the welcome! I still have my Boxers...Rex is 8 and weighs 95 lbs and Cheyenne is just a year at 50 lbs. I chuckle when I watch Rex around the babies...he lifts his big old paws every so gently and gazes at them with amusement!

[bobohyde]

I don't have experience with 2, but if they are getting along together in the crate and have plenty of room, then I would think there's nothing wrong with it. A doggie playpen may also be an option, especially as they grow. There's a bit more room in there, but you can still confine them. You could put a peepee pad in there, if needed, for them to use if you get tied up with work & don't get to them in time. You are correct that being home with them and anticipating every potty is the fastest way to housebreaking them. My boy was 5.5 lbs when I brought him home at 4.5 months old. It took me 2 months to house break him and I was home most of the time and watched him like a hawk, so we had very few accidents. Yours are so tiny, that their little bladders probably can't hold it very long, so you might even want to start with the peepee pads in combination with outside now and then phase out the peepee pads when they are a bit bigger.

[daisy mae06]

so little I wish they would have left with mama longer. At least you have two .
So many breederd think once they are weened that they are ready to go. They learn so much between 8-10 weeks from mama and the other pups..
Every dog is different with house training.. but if you are consistant and don't give the free roam unless you are right there to watch than it will go smoother. make sure to praise like crazy when the do go outside... I still catch myself telling my 12 yo dog good dog for potty out side...
Welcome to YT and PICTURES are always a must!

[HotRodMomma]

Priscilla was a tad over 10 weeks when we picked her up and Elvis was 9 weeks.

Pictures will come

They do well together, tussle and grumble every now and again

I am afraid of using the pee pads, as I do not want to get them in the habit of using them. I am afraid then I am sending 2 different messages. Alot to learn, as big dogs were not a question on housebreaking them

[daisy mae06]

you don't need to use pee pads just don't use newspaper or you will end up having one of them potty on the wrong paper some day. My mom paper trained her litters and I had the news paper in the kitchen table. The little buggers got on the table and used the paper. So I had to make sure paper was not where the pups were..... What I would do is take out side and if they go potty out there then let them have some freedom .. IE a area in the kitchen for a little bit.. If they do not potty out side put them back in kennel for 10 min and the take out side again.. Repeat utill they potty outside.

[My lil friend]

Years ago I brought 3 tiny male poodles home. We had a 70lb shepard mix. He is the one that house trained the poodles. He would guard them in their pen and tell me when they needed to go out. They learned that pottying was for outside because he always went with them.
Mina (yorkie) learned the same way,with the poodles leading this time. She was 13 weeks old and pad trained when she came to us. After 3days she decided that she was not going to potty in the house and wanted outside to potty with the pack.
Good luck.

[dawn27]

Originally Posted by HotRodMomma

Priscilla was a tad over 10 weeks when we picked her up and Elvis was 9 weeks.

Pictures will come

They do well together, tussle and grumble every now and again

I am afraid of using the pee pads, as I do not want to get them in the habit of using them. I am afraid then I am sending 2 different messages. Alot to learn, as big dogs were not a question on housebreaking them

I potty trained mine using new papers, til this day if we have an IT issues they will still use the papers for emergency during the night hours. That is a blessing, clean up can be a disgusting chore.

I dont thing crating them together is a bad thing unless then tend to fight too oven which they will try to be top dog even at that age. I do however thing that crating them for so long during the day when you are right there with them is going to turn out to be too much for them. I would suggest try paper training them and continue with a regular routine. Defiantly being sure to take them out after eat meal, and even just a drink of water. Limiting their water during those hour when you are busy with work can be a start to your potty issues.

Im not sure if my tips on training will help with this situation but you are welcome to take look to see if there is anything that would be helpful. Training Tips - Dawn's Yorkies