New Yorkie Questions

[YorkieMom16]

Oh my, I am so excited to pick up my Yorkie baby next week. So many questions.

Any advice is welcome from supplies to training to traveling etc...

Any specific advice on training for indoor pottying?

Any advice for crates/kennels?

Where should he sleep?

He is six months old and will be a bit under 4 pounds full grown.

Thanks! I'm a newbie so I'll need lots of help.

[Monroe-Rylee]

Congratulations!!! Is this your first Yorkie/ small dog?


I have only been a Yorkie mom for a little over year & am still learning too. I’ve had dogs my whole life but Yorkies are special… so smart & so eager to please. The small size has also been an adjustment from my Pugs who were much sturdier size-wise.



Do you want him to go potty inside or outside? My girls use clothe potty pads inside when they’re in their pen during the day. I just buy adult bed pads that are washable. The breeder used these and sure enough when I put a normal potty pad down Monroe ripped it to shreds as a pup. Haha. These are the ones I like https://www.amazon.com/Washable-ReUs...dult+bed+liner


But if he’s using something else stick with that! In general I’d say continue with what’s working for him now (food, indoor potty pads, type of carriers, harness etc). Since he’s older they’ve probably found some things that work best for him. Hopefully they’ve started him on potty training so you won’t be too challenged. I think the trick is just to try to avoid accidents. So, bring him where you want him to potty frequently (whether this is a potty pad inside or outside) and reward when he goes. If you catch him having an accident try to correct him (I’d just clap and say no) and then bring them to the area they’re supposed to go and give lots of love if/when they go. This worked great for my girls. They were both pretty much potty pad trained when I brought them home & I worked towards getting them to the point where they use they’re potty pad only when they’re in their pen & go outdoors otherwise.



My girls are 1 ½ and I still cannot leave them out when I’m not home as they love to chew anything that’s not a toy (my vertical blinds, wood table/chair legs etc). The breeder kept them in a pen and I stuck with that. This is what I use & I love it (we have 6 panels but Monroe stayed in the 4 panel when it was just her): https://www.chewy.com/iris-4-panels-...g&gclsrc=aw.ds
I’ve also used a large metal crate for my other dogs & they loved that. So again, if he’s used to something I’d stick with that! Just don’t leave him lose when he’s alone until you know he’s potty trained and won’t be getting into stuff.



I do like my purse type carrier for my girls (a dog carrier with mesh for ventilation but it looks like a purse) so I can bring the girls with me everywhere. When I first got Rylee she was 11 months old and would not go in a cloth carrier, only a hard carrier, so we worked up to the bag. Now they both love it! I got Yorkies because my friend has two and they’re great travelers. My girls are too & I started them traveling in the crate/bag right away since we’re traveling across the country a few times a year to visit family. They go to the movies, shopping, restaurants… pretty much everywhere I go.



This little pen is one of my favorite things when I take them to a friend’s houses (so they can be there & engaged but I don’t have to worry about watching them the entire time because they will literally eat anything they can find… puppies!) It’s light & folds up so it’s easy to bring around. http://www.hayneedle.com/product/sof...FUWXfgodkrkKvg


Sleeping… this is a tough one. Technically I guess they should sleep in a crate while potty training and then never in the bed (according to the trainers I’ve worked with). But mine have always been in bed with me and they’re great little girls. One accidents we’ve had are when there are upset tummies.



One thing I have to do now since Rylee injured her foot is to keep pillows & blankets around the couch & bed anytime she’s on it. Monroe hopes on & off the couch with no issues. Luckily Rylee can’t jump up so I can keep the ground covered when I put her up. These littles ones have such small bones so dog stairs and other precautions are a good idea.



Will you keep him trimmed or in a full coat? My girls are both full coat & it’s twice a day brushing, weekly baths & lots of work… but so worth it for me. I like a pin brush like this Grooming Tools - Yorkie Splash and Shine to go over the entire coat then a large metal comb for the body & small metal comb around the face. The Yorkie Splash products are great & I recently switched to Aromapaws which I absolutely love!!!


Can’t wait to hear about your new baby!!!

[YorkieMom16]

Thank you for the helpful info!!!

A couple more questions if you don't mind.

Do you use the washable pads just on the floor? No tray or anything? How often do you wash them? Assuming that when you go places for a long period you take the potty pads with you?

Right now he is potty pad trained but also has a doggie door for outside. But I plan to keep him inside most of the time since I'm on the third floor and it's cold/snowy in Iowa.

I like the round pen for traveling. It will come in handy when I visit my kids. For home I wasn't planning on a crate but on enclosing him in the bathroom with a baby gate (which is where is food and potty pads will be). Does that sound okay?

I've already purchased a carrier that is airline approved and also buckles into the seat belts in my car. I plan to travel with my little guy.

And definitely need to find a purse type carrier for every day outings.

You've been most helpful! Thanks so much :-)

[Monroe-Rylee]

Absolutely! It’s so exciting getting a new pup!

Yes, just the washable pads on the floor like a regular potty pad; no tray needed. Nothing can get through. But if your little guy is already used to the puppy pads you may as well stick with that. Mine were used to the cloth pads and Monroe tore the normal ones to shreds when I tried them… so I’ve just stuck with what they were comfortable with.

Since he’s had a doggie door he may not be totally used to “holding it” so just plan on keeping a close eye on him & not letting him lose in the house until you know he’s potty trained. I’d keep mine tethered to me when home & always confined when gone.

The bathroom is a great option. I think my girls might be bigger trouble makers than most… when I tried them in the bathroom they chewed up some baseboard (for some reason they love to chew anything that is wood). So, he if behaves, that’s a great place so he’s got more space than a crate or pen!

Here’s one of the purses I have: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
It’s great because it’s got better padding than my others. It has storage so I can use it as a purse. The sides can be up for extra ventilation or snapped down so no one would guess a dog was inside (still plenty of ventilation when down). It’s a bit too small with both girls for any length of time but perfect for one dog (probably up to 10 pounds).

Can't wait to hear about your little guy!

[YorkieMom16]

Okay so I got him home yesterday. Decided to put him in the laundry room with a gate. Using potty pads and have his bed/food in there. I am hoping I can get him trained this way then expand where he is allowed to go. I have a small crate but don't know if I really need to use it.

I also have a potty pad and bed in my bathroom so he can be with me in the morning. Is that okay or will it confuse him.

He is 7 months old and super quiet. He doesn't really "play". So how do I engage him so he plays with me and gets some exercise? Is it normal for him to mostly sleep? Maybe he's just still apprehensive about his surroundings? Not sure but could use any advice you have.

Feeling totally overwhelmed with my little guy.

[AbbysMom08]

Congrats on your new furbaby.
What's his name?
Would love to see pictures.

[YorkieMom16]

Trying to figure out how to reduce the size of my pics so I can post them.

On the question of training--I put him in his crate last night and when I let him out this morning he still did not potty. I am not sure what to do. I am such a puppy rookie I feel lost!

[Monroe-Rylee]

Originally Posted by YorkieMom16

Okay so I got him home yesterday. Decided to put him in the laundry room with a gate. Using potty pads and have his bed/food in there. I am hoping I can get him trained this way then expand where he is allowed to go. I have a small crate but don't know if I really need to use it.

I also have a potty pad and bed in my bathroom so he can be with me in the morning. Is that okay or will it confuse him.

He is 7 months old and super quiet. He doesn't really "play". So how do I engage him so he plays with me and gets some exercise? Is it normal for him to mostly sleep? Maybe he's just still apprehensive about his surroundings? Not sure but could use any advice you have.

Feeling totally overwhelmed with my little guy.

So excited you have him home! What did you name him?!



I think having a potty pad in the bathroom is an excellent idea. I kept a potty pad everywhere I would have the girls with me until they could hold it & knew where to go. Will you be taking him outside to potty as well? It sounds like he’s good with holding it based on your other post & you’re very lucky there! So, hopefully the potty training will be a breeze. In terms of him not going once you took him out of the crate… when you take him outside or to his pad maybe try saying “go potty” then BIG rewards when he does “good boy go potty” etc. He’ll get it! Rylee will sometimes do this to me in the morning. So, I’ll spend some time outside then bring them in to feed them & bring her outside right after & she’ll go. Sometimes they can & will hold it much longer than we expect!

It sounds like he's a completely normal puppy; dogs definitely sleep all the time. I was surprised by Monroe when I brought her home at 14 weeks. She was quiet, calm and comfortable immediately. I honestly thought she was playing a trick on me! I think a lot of Yorkies are just calm & adaptable by nature & it makes them such amazing companions. I can take my girls everywhere with me; they don't panic, get overly excited, bark & people at the store, movies etc. never even know they're there. It sounds like you have a great little puppy. You can take him for walks & I’d try different toys to see what he likes… stuffed toys, rubber (my girls preference), balls etc.


I completely understand being overwhelmed! I’ve had dogs my entire life & it’s always an overwhelming change when you get a new family member. When I brought Rylee home this year I was in a constant state of panic for about a week realizing how things were going to change, feeling guilty leaving them alone, trying to imagine traveling with two dogs etc… I think it’s normal & it goes away. Before you know it you won’t even be able to remember how you lived without him. It will all fall into place!

Can't wait to see pics of the little guy!

[Melbee81]

He's going to be quiet for a few days until he adjusts to his new surroundings. He's 7 months old, so it is an adjustment. Just give him time and lots of love and he will come around! He will love you and his new home! My Izzy was 10 weeks when we got her and she was quiet for a couple of days. Now she's a playful pup who loves us more than anything

[YorkieMom16]

Thank you so much for the support. I will keep using the crate as much as possible for potty training. I've also gated off the kitchen and laundry room so when he's out and I'm trying to watch him he doesn't go too far--like when I get distracted.

One thing I did after he hadn't eaten or drank much and hadn't pottied for 12 hours was close off his crate. Otherwise he just goes in there to sleep. Making his stay out of it for a while helped a lot. He ate and drank and then FINALLY peed--on the pad. Yay! He pooped on the kitchen floor when I wasn't looking but at least that's progress. I may have to close his crate a couple times a day to make sure he eats and potties.

He's SO skittish. Seems scared of literally everything Is that just because it's a new environment?

[matese]

Keep in mind for 7 months he had one home, now he has a new home, new mom, new schedule, new smells, many changes he has to adjust to. You have him just a few days, he has to learn to trust you, you are still a stranger to him. Try taking him on walks, that's a good bonding tool. Tease him with his toys to encourage him to play and praise like crazy when he does. He just needs a few more days and you will see a great change in him.

[YorkieMom16]

I have his crate in the kitchen and his potty pads in the laundry room. When I get him out I have to close the crate or all he wants to do is go in there. So I sit on the kitchen floor, let him come to me. Try to get him interested in some toys. Hopefully a few more days he'll feel more at home. I have been putting a little chicken in his food because he wasn't eating enough and I worried about that.

Question about crate training for pottying. I let him out in the morning, and put him on the potty pads. He has not learned to go on command yet when I put him on there. So then I go and give him fresh water and food and stay in the kitchen to keep an eye on him. He's been hit and miss with the pads. Should I put him back in his kennel if he doesn't go (if it's been a while since he went last)? Or is it okay to leave him out and just watch him. Then put him back in when I have to leave or get too busy to watch him closely?

Thanks for all of the help and support.