Our current situation with our new pup - Please help
 

Sorry I have not posted for awhile. My yorkie, Calvin, is 6-7 months old at this point. He is super small, under 3 lbs, and so cute. He is pretty much not potty trained at all. I live in Michigan, and with the weather, its quite difficult to take him outside. We have pee pads throughout the house, and he seems to be pretty good when it comes to pee, but he poops wherever (Seems to only do it on carpet) It has been hard to get him on a schedule, due to myself and my wifes work schedule. Currently he is caged Mon, Tues, Thurs and Fri from about 8am-3pm. I feed him first thing in the morning and then let him out. He usually doesnt go, and my wife feeds him again right when we get home, wait 20 min and let him out. He usually doesnt go again, lol. He sleeps in our bed at night. Now heres where the big problem starts. My wifes work wants her to go back to complete full time, which leaves us both not home M-F from 8-5. Between the 2 of us and our neighbor, we can be sure he is let out at least once a day, so thats not an issue but I have multiple questions.

1) How do we handle feeding him? Do we leave food and water right in his crate?

2) Do I put him in a crate or would it be better to get an exercise pen and put it in our storage room with pee pads, his bed. etc.?

3) How do we continue house training with it being 2 degrees outside? He gets very cold when you take him out, and shivers and just wants right back inside. Training him to want to go out when he has to go seems impossible. I am fine with the pee pads, but can he be trained to poop on them? If so, i clearly dont want to buy a new pee pad every time he poops but I could leave one in the storage room if he could learn to use that.

thank you for your help. I am sure I have more questions but ill start there!

Hi I just got my puppy a few months ago too...I work from 8-4:30 as well and I have a playpen I purchased on amazon which has helped me a lot... my mom helps me take care of her because I do work all day...she looks after her for a few hours because she works too...so I would say she is home alone for about 6 hours...we leave her in the playpen which is pretty large (with toys)...it gives her room to move around.... peep pad inside the playpen by the door...now I dont know how silly your baby is but mine sometimes when at my moms she chews on her pee pad ( a lot less than before)...which can be a little annoying and hoping it will be better, shes only 7 months...she poops and pees on pad...I live in SOCAL weather is not bad here (still cold though)...but I just prefer it that way...I do recommend placing the pad by the doors..We feed her both wet and dry food....we do leave dry food when she is alone...sometimes she eats sometimes she doesnt ...she waits until we get home...this is what I do everyday....maybe others here have other ways...this is just mine ! has worked...when I am at home she gets to be out and goes on her pee pad 98% of the time... Good Luck!:animal-pa:aimeeyork

PS provide treats...my little girl understand what that means...every time she does on her pee pad she gets one...

Is he taken out for walks? I have heard, and seen firsthand, that walking helps them go. Does your pup understand that he must go only at the times he is being let out? By understand I mean, is it consistent, is the pup given ample time, and is there a command associated with pooping?

I'm in a bit of retraining myself. Kaji and I just moved into a new house. In our old house, I gave him just one potty place in the whole house while I was away at work. (similar to the place we lived before then, and same setup at the new house too) I think it makes it easier for them to understand what you want when it's consistent. I am expecting accidents as Kaji HATES change. So retraining/reconditioning is a must to help him adapt and in time accept his new home. When I'm at home it's easy. I simply ask "do you need to pee pee/poopie?" which is what I have been calling it for 6 years. He'll run outside and start his process. He's a picky pooper, which means it takes a while to find the right spot, spin spin spin, stop, sniff, spin spin spin, stop sniff, spin spin spin, and then go. :facepalm: It really does take forever, but I've learned, that's just him. :) If I give him enough time, he'll eventually go. That means getting up 20-30 mins earlier than I would like, but... it keeps messes out of my house.

Good luck! Training takes a lot of patience, practice, and tons more patience. You'll get there!!

In my opinion don't work full time. Yorkies need their people. They are very social & want to be with their pack. They don't do very well being left alone for an extended time. They need lots of guidance on everything their humans want from them. I wish you well with your situation. Maybe hire a very special dog walker or sitter. As bathroom, out for 30 min. In for 10 min. Ha! That's about what I did with my pup & now he's very well potty trained. Also, always leave enough food & water. Good luck.