8 weeks and no clue - YorkieTalk.com Forums

MaddiesMoo · 12-01-2015, 10:34 AM

We got our Maddie at 11 weeks old. We've had her for two months. She'll be 5 months old Thursday. She came from a loving breeder who let her older dogs train the younger ones. She was partially pee pad trained. I elected to outdoor train her.

I work from home so I am able to take her outside all day/evening. She will occasionally go pee/poop when I take her outside. She will not mess in her crate and does sleep all night in it no problem.

The problem is that she has NO ELIMINATION SCHEDULE. I keep her on a rigid schedule. We are up at 7am and go outside immediately. She will pee and poop once or twice. I feed her at 9am and again at 5pm. I take her outside at least every two hours and usually more often. If she even ACTS like she MIGHT pee or poop, I take her out. I always take out after a nap or eating. Bedtime is usually 10pm and she willingly goes in her crate for a treat and stays quiet until morning.

SOMETIMES she will poop once outside at 7am and not go again until evening.
SOMETIMES she will poop outside at 7am and poop again inside within 30 minutes.
SOMETIMES she will poop in the middle of the day either outside if I happen to be outside when it happens and sometimes inside.
SOMETIMES she will poop within 30 minutes after dinner - sometimes 5 minutes, sometimes not at all.
SOMETIMES she will poop once a day.
OCCASIONALLY she will not poop at all in 24 hours.

I've read that putting her in her crate for 10 minutes after I take her outside with no result and then back out will teach her. Well, if that's the case, she'll be in her crate all day AND night.

I talked to a trainer for a puppy class we're going to take and he says I'm doing everything right by rewarding her anytime she goes pee/poop outside and to just keep at it.

She knows how to get me up from my chair. She will paw me to go from the living room into the kitchen for a drink OR to attack her furry brothers (long-hair Siamese) who prefer to stay outside the babygate in the evenings. She will paw me when she's hungry usually around the time I feed her. She brings me toys to play tug-of-war. She LOVES her treats and will do anything to get one. An hour ago, I caught her starting to poop. Got her stopped and took her outside, and she just sniffed around in the cold for 5 minutes refusing to go. She is now laying on her day bed sound asleep - tied to my foot.

Ok, yorkie mommies and daddies: when is she going to get this? I'm at a loss. Do I just need to be more patient? Is 5 months too young to assume she is able to be potty trained?

Yorkiemom1 · 12-01-2015, 11:09 AM

I think you are doing VERY well with your scheduled potty times!!!! You will just need to continue to be patient....it will suddenly click in her brain, like someone turned on the light! I have had my new owners describe it like that...also had them tell me, "...it was like it FINALLY dawned on the little dog that MOMMA OWNER calls the shots, and momma is obviously NOT going to do this MY way, so I just give up and will do potty like SHE wants!!!!"

Hang in there...it is often a battle of the wills with these headstrong little imps! You have to (as my momma used to say) lay right with them until they understand who is BOSS, who is LEADER of the pack!!! Once they relinquish that to you, it will be a wonderful new day!!!

MaddiesMoo · 12-01-2015, 01:23 PM

I tell Maddie every day: "I will win this war".

My first yorkie was a quiet timid girl. I don't remember having issues training her. Maddie is a wild girl. She attacks cats 4+ times her size who have claws. If they swat at her, she will bark and chase them. She gets to wound up playing, I have to calm her down or she'll bite - HARD. She goes into crazy mode at least once a day, running at full tilt around the house. I mean, 20mph at least. No way we could catch her. Sometimes when I take her outside, she'll sit down. SIT DOWN? I'm like "what the heck are you doing?" And I have to drag her back in the house. And THEN she'll make a mess if she feels like it.

So thank you for the affirmation that I'm doing all I can. I love this little girl to death. But she's a challenge for my laid back personality. I have to really be firm with her. I had to start using a newspaper to make her stop nipping our heals. She hates the sound of it hitting my leg. And just a stern "STOP" will make her stop pooping. But then she refuses to go outside right after.

I wonder what my messages will be like a year from now...

Mayzoo · 12-10-2015, 10:37 AM

One slightly side comment, watch those cats with claws. My little guy, despite corrections, used to chase our cat with claws. She has swatted him twice, once right on his left eye ball and the other right below his left eye. I acted quickly both times and he has not lost sight in that eye, but it is not uncommon for a cat to blind a pup in one eye.

She is outdoor 90% of the time, so when he went out to go potty, I would be watching him, and he would go under a trailer or something and there she was unbeknownst to me. She usually resides in our barn.

The way I finally got Mario to stop chasing the cat was to confine the two of them in one room with me, while I watched them both like a hawk. I started with Mario on a leash, then progressed to him being free. I would hold the cat and let Mario sniff it, and praise him for not chasing it, and I would tell him No when he even began to go after her. It took time, but all is well now.

Yorkiemom1 · 12-10-2015, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mayzoo

One slightly side comment, watch those cats with claws. My little guy, despite corrections, used to chase our cat with claws. She has swatted him twice, once right on his left eye ball and the other right below his left eye. I acted quickly both times and he has not lost sight in that eye, but it is not uncommon for a cat to blind a pup in one eye.

She is outdoor 90% of the time, so when he went out to go potty, I would be watching him, and he would go under a trailer or something and there she was unbeknownst to me. She usually resides in our barn.

The way I finally got Mario to stop chasing the cat was to confine the two of them in one room with me, while I watched them both like a hawk. I started with Mario on a leash, then progressed to him being free. I would hold the cat and let Mario sniff it, and praise him for not chasing it, and I would tell him No when he even began to go after her. It took time, but all is well now.

So happy you mentioned this...my sons cat, years ago, swatted my little Yorkie and caught her in the eye...severe scratch across her cornea that required drops twice a day for the next 12 years....cat was immediately declawed! I do not even like cats, but my son is enamored with them so I allow him to have one cat and I tolerate it....but they all must be declawed (front feet). I do not allow them to run around outside at all, srictly indoor cats, so defense is not an issue.....

Janalynn · 12-27-2015, 05:37 PM

It doesn't sound like Maddie is anything less than a sweetie, with a few things to work on (like all of us!)

I can only tell you what has worked for us. First off though is Patience! They are not on our time schedule for learning, so as frustrating as things can be, being patient and calm is essential.

Regarding pooping - I would say as long as she doesn't go for a few days without going and there are no other signs of distress, not to worry. Sometimes they run like clockwork, sometimes not.

We taught Mia (now 16 mo) the word "Wait". So if she won't stand still to get her harness on, or jumps up on us to reach something, etc., we can simply say "Wait" and she will stop whatever she's doing. That has helped us with being excited when someone is at the door as well.

Maybe a friend could help you with training her, practice knocking or ringing bell.
Without anyone at door, have Maddie back away from door 5 ft or so. Stand in front of her assertively and tell her to back up. If she remains away from the door and is CALM, then give her a little treat/praise etc. You can actually practice in any part of your house using same command so that she becomes familiar with it. Then try it with a friend knocking, don't open the door until you've got her away from door sitting very calmly.

These little sweethearts love to learn, to please but can also be stubborn. Mia isn't food driven, she loves praise and affection. It makes training a bit more difficult, but I adore our little girl more than words can say!

Janalynn · 12-27-2015, 05:41 PM

Oh my goodness, I apparently put two posts together in my mind and replied!
I'm so sorry, you're probably thinking "what the heck is she talking about?!"

12-01-2015, 10:34 AM	#1
MaddiesMoo Yorkie Talker Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Bloomington, IN Posts: 10	8 weeks and no clue We got our Maddie at 11 weeks old. We've had her for two months. She'll be 5 months old Thursday. She came from a loving breeder who let her older dogs train the younger ones. She was partially pee pad trained. I elected to outdoor train her. I work from home so I am able to take her outside all day/evening. She will occasionally go pee/poop when I take her outside. She will not mess in her crate and does sleep all night in it no problem. The problem is that she has NO ELIMINATION SCHEDULE. I keep her on a rigid schedule. We are up at 7am and go outside immediately. She will pee and poop once or twice. I feed her at 9am and again at 5pm. I take her outside at least every two hours and usually more often. If she even ACTS like she MIGHT pee or poop, I take her out. I always take out after a nap or eating. Bedtime is usually 10pm and she willingly goes in her crate for a treat and stays quiet until morning. SOMETIMES she will poop once outside at 7am and not go again until evening. SOMETIMES she will poop outside at 7am and poop again inside within 30 minutes. SOMETIMES she will poop in the middle of the day either outside if I happen to be outside when it happens and sometimes inside. SOMETIMES she will poop within 30 minutes after dinner - sometimes 5 minutes, sometimes not at all. SOMETIMES she will poop once a day. OCCASIONALLY she will not poop at all in 24 hours. I've read that putting her in her crate for 10 minutes after I take her outside with no result and then back out will teach her. Well, if that's the case, she'll be in her crate all day AND night. I talked to a trainer for a puppy class we're going to take and he says I'm doing everything right by rewarding her anytime she goes pee/poop outside and to just keep at it. She knows how to get me up from my chair. She will paw me to go from the living room into the kitchen for a drink OR to attack her furry brothers (long-hair Siamese) who prefer to stay outside the babygate in the evenings. She will paw me when she's hungry usually around the time I feed her. She brings me toys to play tug-of-war. She LOVES her treats and will do anything to get one. An hour ago, I caught her starting to poop. Got her stopped and took her outside, and she just sniffed around in the cold for 5 minutes refusing to go. She is now laying on her day bed sound asleep - tied to my foot. Ok, yorkie mommies and daddies: when is she going to get this? I'm at a loss. Do I just need to be more patient? Is 5 months too young to assume she is able to be potty trained?

12-01-2015, 01:23 PM	#3
MaddiesMoo Yorkie Talker Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Bloomington, IN Posts: 10	Thank you! I tell Maddie every day: "I will win this war". My first yorkie was a quiet timid girl. I don't remember having issues training her. Maddie is a wild girl. She attacks cats 4+ times her size who have claws. If they swat at her, she will bark and chase them. She gets to wound up playing, I have to calm her down or she'll bite - HARD. She goes into crazy mode at least once a day, running at full tilt around the house. I mean, 20mph at least. No way we could catch her. Sometimes when I take her outside, she'll sit down. SIT DOWN? I'm like "what the heck are you doing?" And I have to drag her back in the house. And THEN she'll make a mess if she feels like it. So thank you for the affirmation that I'm doing all I can. I love this little girl to death. But she's a challenge for my laid back personality. I have to really be firm with her. I had to start using a newspaper to make her stop nipping our heals. She hates the sound of it hitting my leg. And just a stern "STOP" will make her stop pooping. But then she refuses to go outside right after. I wonder what my messages will be like a year from now...

12-10-2015, 10:37 AM	#4
Mayzoo YT 500 Club Member Join Date: May 2015 Location: Texas Posts: 534	One slightly side comment, watch those cats with claws. My little guy, despite corrections, used to chase our cat with claws. She has swatted him twice, once right on his left eye ball and the other right below his left eye. I acted quickly both times and he has not lost sight in that eye, but it is not uncommon for a cat to blind a pup in one eye. She is outdoor 90% of the time, so when he went out to go potty, I would be watching him, and he would go under a trailer or something and there she was unbeknownst to me. She usually resides in our barn. The way I finally got Mario to stop chasing the cat was to confine the two of them in one room with me, while I watched them both like a hawk. I started with Mario on a leash, then progressed to him being free. I would hold the cat and let Mario sniff it, and praise him for not chasing it, and I would tell him No when he even began to go after her. It took time, but all is well now. __________________ Mario was adopted May 2015. Now he is a service dog and brother to Bailey the Airdale mix Last edited by Mayzoo; 12-10-2015 at 10:40 AM.

12-01-2015, 11:09 AM	#2
Yorkiemom1 Rosehill Yorkies Donating YT Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Houston Texas Posts: 9,462	I think you are doing VERY well with your scheduled potty times!!!! You will just need to continue to be patient....it will suddenly click in her brain, like someone turned on the light! I have had my new owners describe it like that...also had them tell me, "...it was like it FINALLY dawned on the little dog that MOMMA OWNER calls the shots, and momma is obviously NOT going to do this MY way, so I just give up and will do potty like SHE wants!!!!" Hang in there...it is often a battle of the wills with these headstrong little imps! You have to (as my momma used to say) lay right with them until they understand who is BOSS, who is LEADER of the pack!!! Once they relinquish that to you, it will be a wonderful new day!!!

12-27-2015, 05:37 PM	#6
Janalynn Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Loveland, CO USA Posts: 28	It doesn't sound like Maddie is anything less than a sweetie, with a few things to work on (like all of us!) I can only tell you what has worked for us. First off though is Patience! They are not on our time schedule for learning, so as frustrating as things can be, being patient and calm is essential. Regarding pooping - I would say as long as she doesn't go for a few days without going and there are no other signs of distress, not to worry. Sometimes they run like clockwork, sometimes not. We taught Mia (now 16 mo) the word "Wait". So if she won't stand still to get her harness on, or jumps up on us to reach something, etc., we can simply say "Wait" and she will stop whatever she's doing. That has helped us with being excited when someone is at the door as well. Maybe a friend could help you with training her, practice knocking or ringing bell. Without anyone at door, have Maddie back away from door 5 ft or so. Stand in front of her assertively and tell her to back up. If she remains away from the door and is CALM, then give her a little treat/praise etc. You can actually practice in any part of your house using same command so that she becomes familiar with it. Then try it with a friend knocking, don't open the door until you've got her away from door sitting very calmly. These little sweethearts love to learn, to please but can also be stubborn. Mia isn't food driven, she loves praise and affection. It makes training a bit more difficult, but I adore our little girl more than words can say!

12-27-2015, 05:41 PM	#7
Janalynn Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Loveland, CO USA Posts: 28	Oh my goodness, I apparently put two posts together in my mind and replied! I'm so sorry, you're probably thinking "what the heck is she talking about?!"