Age Old Question Are Yorkies Harder To Potty Train - YorkieTalk.com Forums

luvmyorkie · 01-23-2006, 10:42 AM

Okay all of my fellow Yorkie lovers, I have two burning questions: In your humble opinions, are Yorkies harder to potty train than the other small breeds and secondly, how many of you have Yorkies that are let's say 90-99% potty trained? Over the years, I've had 3, one was 99% potty trained to go outside, second one had an untimely death at 5mths so I can't really say and the last one was 80% potty trained. It's like she would do so well running to her paper when she had to use it and it's like she would get amnesia and drop and squat on the carpet. She knew she was wrong when she did it, because she would run and get in her bed afterwards or go hide under my bed. I just don't get it.

I want another Yorkie so bad I can hardly stand it but I have carpet in EVERY room with the exception of my bathroom and the kitchen. Lastly, I've had dogs all my life, 2 poodles and 1 Pekingese and a Chihuahua and they got the hang of it fairly fast. They would all "hold it" all day.

I anxiously await your replies.

I love Yorkies I really do

Yorkieluv · 01-23-2006, 10:50 AM

Good question

Miko for example, was 100% potty trained at an early age in a fairly short amount of time. It all depends on the doggie I think, but I think they're really intelligent and quick to learn things

FirstYorkie · 01-23-2006, 11:28 AM

Joey was about 95% trained at 4 months. It's *my* belief that Yorkies probably aren't any harder than other breeds who are as small as they are, but are definitely harder than larger "small" breeds.

lisakurth · 01-23-2006, 11:45 AM

what method did you use? My little guy has done great today but only because I have taken him out every hour!!!!

luvmyorkie · 01-23-2006, 11:56 AM

yea First Yorkie, inquiring minds want to know - what did you do to get yours on board with the program!!

Chloebear · 01-23-2006, 12:06 PM

Chloe is not 'all yorkie' so I am not sure if that has something to do with it but she is 99% potty trained and has been at least since I got her at 10 weeks.

The 1% is only for new things. If I buy her a new blanket she pees on it one time and then doesn't again. (marking territory I guess)

She always lets us know when she needs to go outside. If it's dark and everyone is asleep she will just quietly go on her puppy pad and go back to bed.

luvmyorkie · 01-23-2006, 12:09 PM

Wow, she's such a big girl and a cutey too. You are luckeee

prncssleah · 01-23-2006, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lisakurth

what method did you use? My little guy has done great today but only because I have taken him out every hour!!!!

Good question! Did most of you crate train? I want to be consistent from the beginning.

shelbysmom · 01-23-2006, 12:55 PM

Shelby was 99.9 % wee pad trained by about 5 months. if your home is mostly carpet get a water proof shower curtain or piece of linoleum and put the expen on that with the wee pad for a safe place when you aren't home.

put another one in the kitchen and gate it off. this way the pup has 2 places to go potty in the house. every time you see her do a good potty, give her a treat. as you see her making progress, give her a little more freedom and see if she goes back to the right spot.

if she does have an accident be sure to clean it up immediately and get rid of the odor.

it works.

shecass · 01-23-2006, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvmyorkie

Okay all of my fellow Yorkie lovers, I have two burning questions: In your humble opinions, are Yorkies harder to potty train than the other small breeds and secondly, how many of you have Yorkies that are let's say 90-99% potty trained? Over the years, I've had 3, one was 99% potty trained to go outside, second one had an untimely death at 5mths so I can't really say and the last one was 80% potty trained. It's like she would do so well running to her paper when she had to use it and it's like she would get amnesia and drop and squat on the carpet. She knew she was wrong when she did it, because she would run and get in her bed afterwards or go hide under my bed. I just don't get it.

I want another Yorkie so bad I can hardly stand it but I have carpet in EVERY room with the exception of my bathroom and the kitchen. Lastly, I've had dogs all my life, 2 poodles and 1 Pekingese and a Chihuahua and they got the hang of it fairly fast. They would all "hold it" all day.

I anxiously await your replies.

I love Yorkies I really do

With my experience. I have potty trained 3 and tried to a Shih Tzu and Yorkies are by far the easiest. Wyatt has started to jump over in the tub if it's really bad weather outside raining really hard he will go upstairs and jump in the tub. I've got to say I would much rather pour a little bleach in the tub as to be cleaning the floor.

txshopper73 · 01-23-2006, 01:19 PM

I've found that they are harder to potty train than any other dog we've ever had. I'd say that Gracie is 99% potty trained and Rebel is 95% potty trained. Will once again have to do this with London which I am NOT looking forward to.

Yorkieluv · 01-23-2006, 03:35 PM

We potty trained him to go on puppy pads...Of course at first he didn't know where to go, but when he peed off the pad, we dabbed a little of the pee up with the pad, so that his scent would be on it. Then, we put that pad down in its place.
If that makes any sense to you guys...I can clarify if need be. hehe
Also, the first day, we let him show us where he wanted to pee, meaning that if he picked a spot where he liked to pee, we would put a pad down there. That way, he always peed on his pad, and we would tell him "good boy" and throw a "PARTY"! He loved how excited we got over that and responded very well. Positive reinforcement is definitely the way to go, hehe

Then slowly, we started taking away pads, and putting them where we wanted him to go, moving them over just a little each time until we got them in the right spots.
He was completely trained within 2 months

Sorry about the long post, I just wanted to be as detailed as possible

luvmyorkie · 01-23-2006, 03:45 PM

Thanks for the advise!!

Erin · 01-23-2006, 04:05 PM

Loki is fully housetrained. He is trained to go outside only, no pads. We crate trained, and he still stays in his crate when no one is home (not all day). He's a year old. He has been reliable since about 8 months, but still had the occasional accident. HOWEVER, since installing the bells he's had no accidents. I love the bells. My little monster is pretty awesome too!

ETA: We had lots of potty parties too! And he still gets a treat for going outside.

hunniebunnie · 01-23-2006, 04:14 PM

bunjee's 18 weeks now and we're going on 2 weeks without an "off pad incident". he'll actually look for the potty pad to pee now instead of going on the potty pad if he see it, or anywhere he wants if he doesn't. he'll even poo on the pad, but he'll also take the poo off the pad and play with it or eat it. (bleh)

but i want to note, he's pottytrained at home. he's not as reliable elsewhere. i still have to watch him like a hawk in other people's homes.

01-23-2006, 10:42 AM	#1
luvmyorkie Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Houston Posts: 50	Age Old Question Are Yorkies Harder To Potty Train Okay all of my fellow Yorkie lovers, I have two burning questions: In your humble opinions, are Yorkies harder to potty train than the other small breeds and secondly, how many of you have Yorkies that are let's say 90-99% potty trained? Over the years, I've had 3, one was 99% potty trained to go outside, second one had an untimely death at 5mths so I can't really say and the last one was 80% potty trained. It's like she would do so well running to her paper when she had to use it and it's like she would get amnesia and drop and squat on the carpet. She knew she was wrong when she did it, because she would run and get in her bed afterwards or go hide under my bed. I just don't get it. I want another Yorkie so bad I can hardly stand it but I have carpet in EVERY room with the exception of my bathroom and the kitchen. Lastly, I've had dogs all my life, 2 poodles and 1 Pekingese and a Chihuahua and they got the hang of it fairly fast. They would all "hold it" all day. I anxiously await your replies. I love Yorkies I really do __________________ "Someday I hope to be as good a person as my dog thinks I am"

01-23-2006, 10:50 AM	#2
Yorkieluv Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: USA Posts: 7,178	Good question Miko for example, was 100% potty trained at an early age in a fairly short amount of time. It all depends on the doggie I think, but I think they're really intelligent and quick to learn things __________________ Miko 's his Mommy

01-23-2006, 11:28 AM	#3
FirstYorkie YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: American in London Posts: 1,739	Joey was about 95% trained at 4 months. It's my belief that Yorkies probably aren't any harder than other breeds who are as small as they are, but are definitely harder than larger "small" breeds. __________________ FirstYorkie We Love Clicker-Training!

01-23-2006, 11:45 AM	#4
lisakurth Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: indiana Posts: 72	for those that had dogs that trained early... what method did you use? My little guy has done great today but only because I have taken him out every hour!!!!

01-23-2006, 11:56 AM	#5
luvmyorkie Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Houston Posts: 50	excellent question Lisa yea First Yorkie, inquiring minds want to know - what did you do to get yours on board with the program!! __________________ "Someday I hope to be as good a person as my dog thinks I am"

01-23-2006, 12:06 PM	#6
Chloebear Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Plano Posts: 57	Chloe is not 'all yorkie' so I am not sure if that has something to do with it but she is 99% potty trained and has been at least since I got her at 10 weeks. The 1% is only for new things. If I buy her a new blanket she pees on it one time and then doesn't again. (marking territory I guess) She always lets us know when she needs to go outside. If it's dark and everyone is asleep she will just quietly go on her puppy pad and go back to bed.

01-23-2006, 12:09 PM	#7
luvmyorkie Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Houston Posts: 50	Wow Wow, she's such a big girl and a cutey too. You are luckeee __________________ "Someday I hope to be as good a person as my dog thinks I am"

01-23-2006, 12:55 PM	#9
shelbysmom YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,394	Shelby was 99.9 % wee pad trained by about 5 months. if your home is mostly carpet get a water proof shower curtain or piece of linoleum and put the expen on that with the wee pad for a safe place when you aren't home. put another one in the kitchen and gate it off. this way the pup has 2 places to go potty in the house. every time you see her do a good potty, give her a treat. as you see her making progress, give her a little more freedom and see if she goes back to the right spot. if she does have an accident be sure to clean it up immediately and get rid of the odor. it works.

01-23-2006, 01:19 PM	#11
txshopper73 Donating YT 14K Club Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 14,226 Blog Entries: 1	I've found that they are harder to potty train than any other dog we've ever had. I'd say that Gracie is 99% potty trained and Rebel is 95% potty trained. Will once again have to do this with London which I am NOT looking forward to. __________________ As always...JMO (Just My Opinion) Kimberley

01-23-2006, 03:35 PM	#12
Yorkieluv Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: USA Posts: 7,178	We potty trained him to go on puppy pads...Of course at first he didn't know where to go, but when he peed off the pad, we dabbed a little of the pee up with the pad, so that his scent would be on it. Then, we put that pad down in its place. If that makes any sense to you guys...I can clarify if need be. hehe Also, the first day, we let him show us where he wanted to pee, meaning that if he picked a spot where he liked to pee, we would put a pad down there. That way, he always peed on his pad, and we would tell him "good boy" and throw a "PARTY"! He loved how excited we got over that and responded very well. Positive reinforcement is definitely the way to go, hehe Then slowly, we started taking away pads, and putting them where we wanted him to go, moving them over just a little each time until we got them in the right spots. He was completely trained within 2 months Sorry about the long post, I just wanted to be as detailed as possible __________________ Miko 's his Mommy

01-23-2006, 03:45 PM	#13
luvmyorkie Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Houston Posts: 50	Thanks for the advise!! __________________ "Someday I hope to be as good a person as my dog thinks I am"

01-23-2006, 04:05 PM	#14
Erin Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Chicago Suburbs Posts: 3,306	It's gotta be the bells Loki is fully housetrained. He is trained to go outside only, no pads. We crate trained, and he still stays in his crate when no one is home (not all day). He's a year old. He has been reliable since about 8 months, but still had the occasional accident. HOWEVER, since installing the bells he's had no accidents. I love the bells. My little monster is pretty awesome too! ETA: We had lots of potty parties too! And he still gets a treat for going outside. __________________ Erin, Sammy & Loki Sewing patterns and tutorials @ www.dogundermydesk.com

01-23-2006, 04:14 PM	#15
hunniebunnie Follower of Yorkietology Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Cali-fo-nee-ya Posts: 1,325	bunjee's 18 weeks now and we're going on 2 weeks without an "off pad incident". he'll actually look for the potty pad to pee now instead of going on the potty pad if he see it, or anywhere he wants if he doesn't. he'll even poo on the pad, but he'll also take the poo off the pad and play with it or eat it. (bleh) but i want to note, he's pottytrained at home. he's not as reliable elsewhere. i still have to watch him like a hawk in other people's homes.