I'm ABOUT TO FREAK!
 

Hello everyone,

My husband and I just bought a new Yorkie for our son...her name is Elbow. She is about 5 months old...we've had her for about 2 weeks...and training her is absolute hell! We started putting her in a crate because that is what everyone told us to do. The thing is...she ALWAYS poos there....and by the time I get home...I have to bathe her! It's been 3 days in a row now! She pees on her training pad SOMETIMES...wont' go outside when we go for walks..and pees anywhere in the house....we've tried to schedule her eating so that she won't poo whenever she pleases...but even though we feed her once in the morning and once at night...she poos all throughout the day...and its never predictable!

HELP! How do I train her? She hates her training pad...if she does go on it..it looks like it was just an accident!

smaller cage
 

Well first off you probably need a smaller cage if she has that much room to manuver. There are also certain times you can definitly count on that she's going to have to go to the bathroom like right after she wakes up from a nap, or a little bit after she eat's. For the pee pad if you havent gotten the spray that goes with the pad try getting that I find that it helps sometimes.

There are sooo many posts on YT about potty training. Please don't expect her to get it after only two weeks. Consistency and patience are the only way. I keep Lexy in the laundry room/kitchen area. The only time she has access to the other parts of the house are right after she does her "business" and only if we are there to supervise.

Yorkies are hard to potty train but so worth it in the end! How large is her crate? Perhaps you need a very small one to crate train her. If the one she is in is large enough, it won't bother her to poop in there because she can get away from it.

Take treats outside with you and when she goes outside (and she will if you stay out long enough) get akk excited with her and give her a treat. Make sure you say the work you use to tell her to go potty. For instance, when Lexy goes outside, I say "Good Girl, Lexy!!! You went potty outside!" That way I'm hopefully teaching her the words potty and outside in a positive way that will make her want to please us.

Hang in there! She'll get it in time! At least 95% of the time! I don't know any yorkie who is 100% potty trained!

may i ask where you got her????? did she come from a petstore? did she come from a breeder that kept her in a kennel/crate like environment????
because much like petstore puppies they dont get a choice in where they get to go, and if you gotta go you gotta go...so as a result these kinds of puppies have a more difficult time potty training becuase they are used to going in their crate and they think it is ok

LOL! I'm sorry but that was funny :p

I'm no expert but 5 months old is still very much a young puppy. If she poos in her crate, maybe it's too big or maybe she's staying in too long. It takes time and lots of patience and LOTS of praise when she does go where she is supposed to! Best of luck to you!

i know of some people who have yorkies a year old and are not trained yet :eek: ... toby is now 7 months and he has it down good thus far, he did go through a rebellious stage at around 5 or 6 months though

Hello Again Orinskye!

:animal-sm Elbow:

Posters here know I subscribe to the Whole Dog Journal. It so happens that this month’s issue has an article on crate training (you can visit their website to get a copy of this article). The writer discusses her surprise that on the email list she belongs to, she learned that animal shelters are turning away potential adopters who want to crate train their dogs. However, the writer, like myself, feels that crate training is an excellent way to get dogs housebroken. Well, she relays in her article that the problem is that people are “over-crating” their dogs. From your post, I am guessing that you, like 99% of other Americans, are a two person, two income household and no-one is around during the day (you are feeding your puppy in the morning and night and I suppose letting him out at those times). Sad to say, too much time in the crate leads to a puppy that can no longer hold it in, has in accident in the crate, and thereby can no longer be housebroken with a crate (the crate is now marked with the puppy’s scent). Your puppy is very young and just like a human infant, not in complete control of his bowel movements (the muscles and nervous system still need to develop). I don’t have the article in front of me but I think she used the rule of thumb that a puppy should not be in a crate for more hours than his age (four month old dog should not be in the crate for more than four hours for example). With tiny toy dogs, I’d half that for all the reasons I’ve posted so many times before. Let’s face it, most Yorkies are not easy to housebreak, again for all the reasons I’ve listed in other posts. Sadly, many people purchase small dogs thinking they are going to be easier to keep and train and suddenly find themselves putting up posts such as yours! Crate training IS an excellent tool for housebreaking puppies but it can be easily overused. A puppy should not be spending 70+% of his time in a crate. Even from a physical and psychological development standpoint, he needs more exercise than that.

OK. So the question is, what to do? First thing to ask, is it possible for anyone in your family to relieve your puppy at least one more, preferably twice more times a day? How old is your child? If you kid gets home from school, say around 3 PM, he could give the puppy a pee-pee break then. If no one is home, there are other options:

1) A pet sitter?
2) Day care? (for the dog that is!)
3) Not my favorite option, but it may be your only one, using an exercise pen and a wee-wee pad. This option DOES NOT teach your dog what it means to be housebroken but it does keep him confined to one space so that he isn’t marking up your entire house but it also helps prevent him from going in a confined space and being tortured by having to sit in his soil all day. I’m a big proponent of teaching dogs to go outside because I think it, in the big picture, helps them learn housebreaking with whole lot less confusion (paper training is a difficult concept for many dogs because “where it is OK and where it is not OK” is variable – sometimes the paper is in the bathroom, sometimes in the kitchen. Sometimes the dog pees on the paper and misses and now its on the floor, is that OK? What if the dog misses and hits the wall (a male dog problem)? It’s very easy to make up a household with scent and confuse a dog with this method). That said, with training, I’m also a realist and recognize that you need to work to feed your family. If all else fails, I’d go with the ex-pen! You might want to use regular newspaper in stead of a wee-wee pad for one reason - if your puppy is a chewer and no one is around to observe him, he could chew the wee wee pad. Some wee wee pads have an absorbent inner layer. If swallowed this could make your puppy very sick. Newspaper, will allow leaks which will cause you problems with "marking" so if you go that route, make sure you put the ex-pen in the same place every day and understand that this spot will be "marked." Again, this is not a great solution, but it may be, depending on your financail means and lifestyle the best option available to you.

lol......... hello yorkiepower, we just keep bumping into each other :p
I have to admit, that the wee wee pad INSIDE the house didnt do to well for toby....... so...... we stuck the wee wee pad outside on the patio and now he does great, we tried several things so i guess it is what works best for you and youre little one and it takes a little bit of trial and error

Yeah, I really DONT like paper training (indoors). I’m with you on that. Whenever possible, I try to convince people to make the great outdoors their dogs pottie and keep the house the clean and pristine doggie den. Unfortunately, with the hours many people work, that’s just not realistic. It’s also unfortunate that people don’t realize that often times, they must take off from work for awhile or have someone home before they get a puppy. When I worked for the North Shore Animal League as a kid, it used to perplex me that so many people wanted puppies because they claimed them to be easier to train! I’d try and try and try to convince these people that they’d be far better off with an adult dog whose personality was already shaped and whose bladder was working on full thrusters, but the myth of the “puppy for my kid so they can grow up together” most of the time prevailed. I’d like a puppy too, esp. with Bun being so sick, but I work too many hours and am not home to give a puppy the proper foundation training. Until I can devote the time necessary, I’m sticking to adult dogs.

i will never ever get another pound puppy or rescue dog...... my parents and i went and got one and she is still around and we love her, but it was not a good choice for them.... the problem was that they really didnt get to know her before adoption and she is a really high maintenance dog.... what you get out of an adoption scenario is not always "perdictable" ...... i know of SEVERAL dogs that have "potty trained" on their adoption card (which is BS).... for some people it works,....... for some people it doesnt..... i gues im one of the ones that it doesnt,
I agree with you on the "take time off" though...... i think toby wasnt even left by himself untill he was 5 months old and even then it was only for about 3 hours or so......you are right, with puppies it really does take a lot of one on one time and you cant leave them alone for a whole work day

You know my pup never got the whole idea of the crate training thing. When we first got her the breeder told us that she was doing very well on the paper training, which she was. But I wanted her to go outside and now looking back I should've kept her on the paper training just a little while longer she willl not use it at all now. I wish she would at least when I am not doing my part and forget to let her out, lose track of time, or we leave for a while. Anyway when I started taking her outside I tried the whole crate training, and mine was just big enough for her to turn around in. I really believe she thought she was supposed to go in the crate, as soon as we would put her in it she would go to the bathroom then start yelping like "Ok I went now GET ME OUT OF HERE!". So I quit using the crate like that, now if she goes where she isn't supposed to I put her in her crate long enough for me to clean up the mess and just a little while long as a "time out". Does anyone not recommend the "time out"? I have been told not to let the dog see you clean up the mess (I don't know why though) so I put her in her crate for that and just a little while longer (maybe 5 minutes or so).

Don't get frustrated. As you can tell from reading many of the post that small dogs aren't the easiest creatures to potty train. Beside, you only have Elbow for 2 weeks and she is still a pup at 5 month old. It will take a bit more time before she get its.

Hi, I am sorry you are having some problems with the potty training. You are not alone as many do.

How long is Elbow kept in the kennel. WIth her being 5 months they say an hr per month so that would put her max at 5 hours, however I think personally that is still too long for a Yorkie or any small breed pet.

maybe try giving her breaks out of the kennel to her potty pad more times so she doesn't get the idea that she doesn't have a choice but to potty where she lies.

Good luck.

Lucky for me.
 

I just got my new little girl she is 19weeks and she was already potty trained when I got her!!! She has only had 2 accidents since we got her, and they were my fault. I am sooooo thankful my breeder did such a good job with her. She minds very well, and us just so loving. This is the difference with a really good breeder and some that are not as devoted. My male was 13 weeks when we got him, and you could tell no one ever worked with him. He is doing better, but boy does it make a difference if they are started out on the right path.

Everyone has given you great advise. Remember Elbow still young and you only haver her for 2 weeks. The key to pottytrain is consistency and patience. Keep working with her and soon she will start doing the rite thing. Good luck.
:aimeeyork

Thank You
 

Thank you everyone for such great advice. I think there are so many reasons why she's not getting this potty training thing...it could be the age, it could be because she was from a pet store and they pooped where they slept....it could be because we are not home every couple of hours to let her out...it could be because we are in a condo and by the time we get her leashed up and ready to go downstairs to poop, it's done and over with...and it could be because she's just a puppy! =( As frustrating as this is, I understand the undertaking, however, I didn't realize how difficult it would really be. The crate she has is very very small. It just about fits her...that's it. She still goes inside and gets poop ALL over her.....it's like gel in her hair! It's crazy! I don't think she has a fear at all of poo. At least not her poo!

We have praised her when she goes outside or when she goes on the training pad...but it's few and far between!

My husband and I have to go to Vancouver in two weeks, and Elbow will be left with my mother in law who has 2 dogs. Do you think this will help her get potty trained if she sees other dogs doing it? What are my chances of coming back to a complete potty trained angel? =) Am I'm hoping for too much?

I appreciate all your messages and words of hope and wisdom....I will just keep at it and try not to go completely nutty (although my husband already thinks I'm there! =)

How long does it usually take to house train a Yorkie? When should I start worrying? After a year old, should I expect a dog that pretty much poos and pees outside or on the training pad?

Good luck
 

No chances are you will not come home to a potty trained angel, you will probably come home to an upset MIL. LOL. Yorkies take patience and lots of time to train. Benni (my slightly older one year old) came completely trained, he would bark and let me know when he needed to go out, Garret is trained to the paper and only the paper, he will not go outside. When Ben was in the hospital for a few days he came home and I had to spend another six weeks retraining him, he lost it all in the hospital. Puppies do not even have control until they are five or six months old, plus yorkies are tiny dogs with tinier bladders. I never used the crate or pens with my two, Garret may never make the transition to outside, and that is ok. They still have occasional accidents, and that too is alright. My kids took a lot longer. Plus your yorkie is a little baby in a new environment, give it time. Yorkies are definitely worth the time and the trouble.

Your son is so cute!!!!!

Anyway, being a petstore bought dog, I can see why she doesn't mind stepping in her poop and she probably very under socialized too.

Carry her when you are getting the leash and carry her down the stairs instead of letting her walk down will prevent her from pooping until you reach the bottom.

Have her on a strick potty schedule. As soon as she learns it she shouldn't need to go out every hour to potty and it will prevent the frustration of having to take her out every couple of hours and not knowing if she need to poop or not.

Leaving her with you mother in law in a good idea. It will give you a break. Having a puppy in the house is like having another child. It's hard enough to take care of 1 child not to say 2. Take the time to relax a little bit and hopefully when the puppy comes back you will be less frustrated and ready to start potty training again.

Remember take it easy, be patient and be very consistent in her potty training.

Good luck and I hope she will get it soon.

Do you have an uncarpeted bathroom or another small area that you could put her in during the day? My sister did that and it worked well for her. The pup had room to play and a place to potty if needed. I don't mean any offense but I hate it when a little pup has to be in a crate for an entire work day. That is just to much to expect from the dog.

I Put Her In The Kitchen.....boy Oh Boy!
 

So, yesterday during the afternoon,when my husband had to leave for work, he put her in the kitchen with a gate up so she couldn't leave...instead of the crate. (We are tired of bathing her...poor thing).

I come home after work and LO AND BEHOLD.....the kitchen resembles a pool of yellow-like liquid substance.....(hmmmm...I wonder what that might be??? =) and a HUGE mound of dried up...smushed....yucky smelling POOP. I had to bathe her again because she stomped ALL OVER the poo AGAIN! I am beginning to think she enjoys her poop...because she had the whole kitchen to roam about in..and where does she stomp? In the corner with the POOP!

I mopped the kitchen AGAIn....for the third time in 5 days. That is 2 more times more than I would like...!


TO YORKIEAGILITY: Thank you! I love my son very much...that is why we bought him this dog. We have been trying for a second child for about half a year now...and its not as easy as I thought it would be! I am 23 and I figured it would be easy to have a second one...but it is provingto be a bit more difficult than I had expected. He has been getting bored and loves dogs so much...so we bought Elbow for him. Apart from her constant accidents, we don't regret the purchase at all. It makes me feel absolutely wonderful to see my son hug and kiss Elbow goodmorning every day, feed her, walk her and just jump with joy every time he sees " HIS BUPPY"

i just had to laugh at this........lmao :lol tears

and actually it is surprisingly difficult to get pregnant even if you are trying because it has to be perfect conditions, timing ect....i dont remember teh percentage off the top of my head but i think it is in the 20's

I know it, bless her heart! I think she too will look back on this one day and smile. Even though I know she is having a difficult time right now she is really cute and funny with how she words things and I don't think she realizes it! I hope she doesn't get mad at me or take this the wrong way because I mean it as a compliment!!! I think most of us can sympathize with what she is going through ;) It's not easy!

Tuesday and still alive!
 

Thanks Girls...I'm so glad you guys are here to chat with and to exchange horrifying stories of our cute little ones....What would I do without youg guys? =)

I know that oneday I will look back and laugh...hopefully REALLY REALLY HARD...but right now...I go home...and sock after sock goes into the laundry.

We have hardwood floor and its difficult to see pee...its camouflaged!!

The best pee puddles are the ones where you've just woken up...walk to the bathroom to brush your teeth....not a thought in your mind...and *splish*...you have instant wet feet.....and the uric acid just hits you in the face!

Since I've gotten Elbow, I haven't needed coffee in the morning anymore!

About the pregnancy though....just NUTS! I think Mother Nature is out to get me for sure!....no worries though...I'll just keep trying....=)

Potty training
 

I have a female Yorkie and it has taken so long to potty train her. I tried the pee pads and the crate. She used the pads but still went on the floor. I confined her to our tiled computer room that has a sliding door to the outside. I put a doggy door in the screen and she is in and out all day and about 90% potty trained. She loves the backyard. :)

Training my Yorkie for the wee wee pad..
 

Hello all..
This is my first post on here. So bare with me! :)

I just picked up my Yorkie, Frankie, today. He is 9 weeks old and 2.2 lbs. I know it takes a while for ANY dog to learn "bathroom behavior". But I just want to make sure I begin the right way. As little Frankie lays next to me sleeping, I look at him so adoringly. He really is precious.

So today as soon as we came home I brought little Frankie upstairs. I had to go back down stairs to my car to get the wee wee pads, food, toys, bed and everything else I purchased for him! I was gone for maybe 30 seconds. And sure enough, as soon as I walked up the stairs, there it was.. POOP!! lol lol..

So what I did was put some of the poop on the wee wee pad and brought him over to it. I DID NOT rub his nose in it. I WOULD NEVER do that. But I did put him on the wee wee pad , point him towards the direction of the poop and point in nose down towards it (BUT NOT IN IT). Then about 3 minutes later, he "tinkled" in the living room on the carpet. So I did the same thing with the pee as I did with the poop. He ended up "tinkleing" about 3 more times everywhere else, but the wee wee pad. :D

My parents stopped over to see him. My dad suggested that when I feed Frankie dinner, take him outside right away. So that's what I did. I fed him and then right away I took him outside. And he pooped after 2 minutes of being out there. I was a very proud mama! I don't want to confuse him. But I do want him to learn both outside and inside bathroom etiquette.

If anyone has any advice I would love to hear it!!!

Thanks...
Nicole