PLEASE have HOPE with the potty!!!

[MaggieMaysMommy]

I just wanted to write a quick post of reflection about house training. I know it is quiet possibly THE MOST frustrating part of having a fur baby. Some are lucky enough to have a pup who catches on quick, but I think for most, this is a real point of struggle especially with the Yorkie breed.

We have had Maggie for 9 months and as many already know she was a 4yr old mill rescue with a laundry list of issues, a big one being her potty training (or lack there of!). We tried pads (she ignored them). We tried the crate (she would just go anyways and then be covered in her own mess). We tried a strict schedule (but she would pee outside and then again inside). We tried tying the leash to my belt loop but she was was not leash trained yet, so that failed in seconds. I bought diapers (they fell off). I really honestly and truly tried everything. And i think thats good. And I think everyone should because you never know what might click with your pup. But for us in the end the winning solution was patience.

When people told me to have patience I thought, "BUT I DO"! But looking back, I didn't. TRUE patience doesn't mean you have calmly dealt with the situation for a week, or a month, it means having patience forever. And I am so happy to report that after 9 months maggie is accident free...98% of the time lol. She no longer has an accident the minute I leave the room, or the house. She does pee once in a while when we are at someone else's house (oops!). But not here at home - I never thought we would get here. There were times id be cleaning the floor 5-6 times a day. I rolled up our area rugs and figured we would just be wood floor people But she came around. Not over night but slowly...now we know she prefers to do all her potties on a walk, so we walk 3-4 times (which only became possible once she was leash trained...another act of patience).

So I guess my point is, for all the frustrated potty trainers, give it time. A lot of time. Some dogs just need to take things a bit slower. And in the meantime invest in a lot of paper towels and floor cleaner!

[tphan74]

Grats I feel your pain. I have a 7 months old morkie and she is finally getting it. My 2 years old yorkie picked it up quick and was potty trained in 2 weeks. Sadly a lot of new pet owners don't have patience and give up.. selling or giving it to the pound.

[TSB731]

Thank you so much for posting this. Your story gives me hope. We adopted an 8 y/o Yorkie a week ago and he has yet to go to the bathroom outside. I adore him, but needed the encouragement to keep at it.