Really confused about potty training!!!
 

I have two yorkie pups (one male and one female) they are almost 11 months old. They are driving me nuts!!! Currently they have a doggy door...and when we are not home I put the gate up in the laundry room and they have access to the doggy door (it leads to a dog run). They alway use the doggy door when the gate is up...however if we have them out with us...it is like they forget where the doggy door is!! I know they are smarter than that ; )
Also, my male loves to tag anything that will stand still. I ordered some belly bands because I hate to have them in the laundry room when I can't keep my eye on them. My little girl is much better...but I don't want to have one out and one in = (
I tried to read some other treads but I didn't find any that fit my situation exactly. How can I get them to go out the doggy door even when they are roaming around the house? I know they can hold it...because they hold it for eight hours at night. I just want them to be part of the family and not gated in the laundry room. Any suggestions?!@#?

I'm just brainstorming here because I've never being in your situation. However, it sounds like they are not having accidents when they're closed in their laundry room because they've learned that is their space, sort of like crate training. But they've learned that everyplace else in the house is fair game.

I'd suggest keeping a close eye on them for a while when they are wandering the house. Occasionally, say "Wanna go outside and pee?" And then take them outside. If they do their business, praise, praise, praise and treat. Don't scold accidents, but take them to the doggie door and let them know that's where you want them to go.

Don't fret. It sounds like they're halfway there, and all it takes is a couple times where they "get it," for them to learn.

Hopefully others will have some more specific tips!

When I put in the doggie door my guys were good about it when they were confined to the kitchen, but when I let them in the living room, it was a different story.

Just because they know not to pee in one room does not mean they know not to pee in every room. they don't make that connection.

Mine were also trained to a pee pad, so when I let them in the living room, I would put the pee pad down. I only let them in there when they were supervised. They still do not have free run and they are 8 1/2 months and 10 months.

Now I notice that they do go out the doggie door even when they are in the living room.

My suggestidon would be to expand their territory gradually, add the kitchen first and when they do OK there, add the lving room.

Take it slow and be very patient. They will learn if you keep at it.

All I can say is really backing up whats already been said. Just because they are trained in one room, doesn't mean they are trained in the whole house. That is SO true, and I was also doing it wrong thinking Venus was house trained, when she was actually kitchen trained!

What I got out of your post, was they do fine in the laundry room, but not when they roam the rest of the house?

I've been adding one room at a time, very, very slowly. And when I add that room, I watch very closely. If you see them sniffing or circiling, take them to the doggie door, IMMEDIATELY! You might need to give them a little help getting out of the doggie door!

With Venus, when she's in the living room, its when I can totally watch her the whole time. She's kitchen trained very well, but we added the living room about a 2 weeks ago. It has carpet, which makes it harder to train also. I could write a book on rugs and carpet while training dogs already! I still have my carpet cleaner parked in my living room.

Mainly its watching them for sniffing, or circiling....those are signs that a pee or poop is soon to follow! Take them to the appropriate place for that, and say something like "pee outside" or whatever words you choose.

I've also learned that saying the exact same thing each time, helps a lot. I say to mine "wanna go out?" I don't change it up like "would you like to go outside" the next time. Using the same exact words has helped me a lot.

Also since I've let Venus go into the living room also, I make sure she goes outside about every hour, or to her pee pad every hour. This has helped me a lot too.

I'm trying to add just 1 extra room at a time. Then wait till she's pottying where she's supposed to for a good week or 2 before adding another room.

Good luck, and it does get better!