Unique Potty Issue ... REALLY Confused! (Help!)

[DillonLee]

Originally Posted by bjh

I hope the little guy was not mistreated. Some yorkies are just very intimated by humans and they act like they have been mistreated but in fact they were very much loved. Some just act that way. I know you will be patient with him and give him lots of love.

This actually very well could be. Maybe he is fooling me because the family seemed so nice. I suppose I will never know. I don't think he's scared of humans though, he's sooooooo friendly and goes to anyone and loves to cuddle. But I plan to be the pack leader he needs and give him all the love he deserves.

Alright guys, I actually set something up in my condo. I live in a strange older reno-ed building in which the toliet and Shower are in their own room seperate from the vanity with three doors blocking off the bedroom and main living area. I set it up and will attach a photo? Is this too big? He hasn't peed this morning since last night so he MUST have to go. Please let me know what you all think. He cries a bit but is now totally quite in there all alone. hmmm

[yorkietalkjilly]

That looks about right but if you have to make it smaller, you can using big cardboard boxes, baby gating, etc. Poor little guy - I know he's just miserable and is afraid to go. Isn't that just heartbreaking? He sure is beautiful. He's very lucky to have you.

But if Tibbe finally went in the house when I was in the ER overnight and the next day, I know your baby will too. Just praise him and love him and give him treats, even after the fact and actually point out his pee or stool and tell him how very gooooooooood it is that he did that, give him treats, praise and carry on - you know how - just really make a big big deal over his going in the house even if it's on the bare floor right now. You've got to get him past that big hump his brain is telling him "wrong wrong wrong". I pray he can get past this sooner rather than later for his comfort and peace of mind. He must be a total nervous wreck waiting to get taken out as he thinks he should. This is so sad for both of you I know. But he'll begin to "go" when he absolutely has to and you'll have a praise party for him and keep going over to his potty pad and telling him how gooooood it is and in time, slowly, he'll begin to see things are changing and this is the new normal.

[DillonLee]

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

That looks about right but if you have to make it smaller, you can using big cardboard boxes, baby gating, etc. Poor little guy - I know he's just miserable and is afraid to go. Isn't that just heartbreaking? He sure is beautiful. He's very lucky to have you.

But if Tibbe finally went in the house when I was in the ER overnight and the next day, I know your baby will too. Just praise him and love him and give him treats, even after the fact and actually point out his pee or stool and tell him how very gooooooooood it is that he did that, give him treats, praise and carry on - you know how - just really make a big big deal over his going in the house even if it's on the bare floor right now. You've got to get him past that big hump his brain is telling him "wrong wrong wrong". I pray he can get past this sooner rather than later for his comfort and peace of mind. He must be a total nervous wreck waiting to get taken out as he thinks he should. This is so sad for both of you I know. But he'll begin to "go" when he absolutely has to and you'll have a praise party for him and keep going over to his potty pad and telling him how gooooood it is and in time, slowly, he'll begin to see things are changing and this is the new normal.

Thank you SOOO much. It really is hard, but he's STILL quiet and I haven't heard him walking around in there. Oh yes ... he truly is precious in every way, he just loves everyone and he's so handsome! He gets attention anywhere we go. He really just needs some structure, training, and leadership and he will be PERFECT. I just wonder how long I should leave him in there, and how long is too long? I think if I were quiet and left to do some shopping he might not even notice I'm gone. I just don't want him to get a UTI or bladder infection.

-- Dillon

[bjh]

Originally Posted by DillonLee

This actually very well could be. Maybe he is fooling me because the family seemed so nice. I suppose I will never know. I don't think he's scared of humans though, he's sooooooo friendly and goes to anyone and loves to cuddle. But I plan to be the pack leader he needs and give him all the love he deserves.

Alright guys, I actually set something up in my condo. I live in a strange older reno-ed building in which the toliet and Shower are in their own room seperate from the vanity with three doors blocking off the bedroom and main living area. I set it up and will attach a photo? Is this too big? He hasn't peed this morning since last night so he MUST have to go. Please let me know what you all think. He cries a bit but is now totally quite in there all alone. hmmm

He looks like a sweet boy. It looks like he has plenty of room. He should be fine in there if you have to go somewhere for a little while. He would probably be happier if there was a radio on when you are gone. Also, are you closing the door or do you have a gate? Most dogs do not like being behind a closed door. They like to be able to see out of the room. If you had room in your living room for a x-pen he would probably do well in that too.

[DillonLee]

Originally Posted by bjh

He looks like a sweet boy. It looks like he has plenty of room. He should be fine in there if you have to go somewhere for a little while. He would probably be happier if there was a radio on when you are gone. Also, are you closing the door or do you have a gate? Most dogs do not like being behind a closed door. They like to be able to see out of the room. If you had room in your living room for a x-pen he would probably do well in that too.

Oh good point. I do have all three doors closed right now. He doesn't cry or make any noise. I even started walking around out here and cleaning up and he hasn't made a peep. I do have a make shift gate out of a few large boxes that I use to keep him out of the living room when I'm not in there.

-- Dillon

[bjh]

Originally Posted by DillonLee

Oh good point. I do have all three doors closed right now. He doesn't cry or make any noise. I even started walking around out here and cleaning up and he hasn't made a peep. I do have a make shift gate out of a few large boxes that I use to keep him out of the living room when I'm not in there.

-- Dillon

You can buy gates at the pet stores too. Just don't get any that are the plastic mesh because they can chew through those. I like the ones that have wire in them. My favorite gates are the walk though kind. We have picked up several of them at garage sales and they work wonderful for us, no more gate climbing.

[yorkietalkjilly]

bjh is right that a gate would help him feel less cut-off and secure. Just a word about that, with the door open and a gate up across the door, it could - could make him tend to whine or grouse but depending on how long you've had him, he may be too insecure to do that if he's had a very strong pack leader who taught him to remain quiet if he's left in another room; or had an abusive owner who taught him it wasn't safe to make a noise. A very well-trained dog will stay in another room without a word but so will a very scared dog and you don't know which you are dealing with, it sounds like. Tibbe will lie quietly in a closed room if there are workmen in the house and he has to be kept out of the way but when I've put up a gate, after a while he got quite noisy whining. He would quieten when I requested he stop but in another 15 mins. or so, little whines again. If I just shut the door, he was totally quiet and would settle better for some reason. I would listen in the kitchen to see if he were whining and he wasn't. So that is how your guy might do.

Just check on him and see how his progress is going and I don't think I'd let him go much over 12 hours without checking with the vet first unless you already know how long dogs can safely go holding their urine. I know Tibbe has voluntarily held his urine and stool 14 hours when it started raining hard in the night and rained hard all morning. I was essentially begging him to potty on the pads in the den, on the porches and even put them on the couch. He just wouldn't budge. Finally, when I was about ready to take him to the vet for catheterization thinking he was blocked, he ran out into the pouring rain and did all of his business and came in totally soaked. Not one dry hair but he sauntered back in cool and collected, got all dried off and went right back to napping until the rain slowed. He almost always mostly sleeps through the rain when it's really raining hard and 'rouses himself when it starts to let up. I feel so sorry for both of you for having to go through this - hopefully the poor little guy will soon learn who his new mommy is, know he can trust you and that he's safe and has no worries.

[barbwire7]

Originally Posted by bjh

I commend you for all your efforts. I know it is frustrating but it will take time. Some yorkies are very difficult to potty train and their owners finally have to resort to making them wear belly bands when they are inside.

A couple of questions....is he neutered, does he hike his leg when he pees, where does he primarily like to pee?

For my boys I put a jug filled with water in the middle of a pee pad and the boys will hike their legs on that. A laundry detergent jug works well.

THANK you for saying Yorkie's are difficult to train. I had my first little boy, Chopper until he was 8. (he had kidney failure). But all his life, even though he knew exactly where to go and where NOT to go, he'd hike the leg and most days he would pee in the house once. I'd leave a door open..didn't matter.
I was SO heartbroken over the loss of Chopper, my love brought me home a surprise 3 years ago. a 1 lb. baby boy, Axl Rose. I love him SO much. Yorkies have a personality like no other. They are smart, and stubborn, and fiesty! Axl does the same thing. We have a doggie door out into an enclosed doggie area with fake grass (we have other dogs too). He knows how to go. He knows where to go. He just "doesn't feel like it", and will go in the house when there is never a reason he can't go where he should.
Axl will be 4 soon. He's recently become very "pack leader-ish". When we all walk, he bites the other's leashes and pulls them. And he'll even bite his own leash and pull himself by walking backwards. He will sit, spin, sit up, and the most loveable boy ever. He keeps the girls in check, waiting for them all to run out the door first, and then chases them. They are twice his size & they put up with all of it. He's protective & when my husband and I play, or kiss, he barks & gets right in the middle of us, licking both of us. I read here someone said, they have that face, and they get away with alot. I'm in love with a 7 lb. sweet, loving, punk!

[bjh]

Originally Posted by barbwire7

THANK you for saying Yorkie's are difficult to train. I had my first little boy, Chopper until he was 8. (he had kidney failure). But all his life, even though he knew exactly where to go and where NOT to go, he'd hike the leg and most days he would pee in the house once. I'd leave a door open..didn't matter.
I was SO heartbroken over the loss of Chopper, my love brought me home a surprise 3 years ago. a 1 lb. baby boy, Axl Rose. I love him SO much. Yorkies have a personality like no other. They are smart, and stubborn, and fiesty! Axl does the same thing. We have a doggie door out into an enclosed doggie area with fake grass (we have other dogs too). He knows how to go. He knows where to go. He just "doesn't feel like it", and will go in the house when there is never a reason he can't go where he should.
Axl will be 4 soon. He's recently become very "pack leader-ish". When we all walk, he bites the other's leashes and pulls them. And he'll even bite his own leash and pull himself by walking backwards. He will sit, spin, sit up, and the most loveable boy ever. He keeps the girls in check, waiting for them all to run out the door first, and then chases them. They are twice his size & they put up with all of it. He's protective & when my husband and I play, or kiss, he barks & gets right in the middle of us, licking both of us. I read here someone said, they have that face, and they get away with alot. I'm in love with a 7 lb. sweet, loving, punk!

Welcome to Yorkie Talk and thank you so much for sharing your story. I am sorry you lost Chipper but I am glad your have Axl and the others to give you so much love and joy. Lol, yorkies can be very stubborn when it comes to potty training and not just the boys. Girls can be just as bad at times. We love them all anyway.

[rubymoon2072]

try putting the potty pad in the tub if he cannot get out and stay there with him until he pees on it......maybe that will help him understand what you are asking if none of the other suggestions work. best of luck and thank you for adopting him.