Will Crate Training Malnutrition My Yorkie??? - YorkieTalk.com Forums

krys323296 · 06-30-2007, 11:45 AM

My yorkie is 1 year and 6 mos old. I am trying to potty train him among other things. I have started crating him which consists of scheduled eating and leaving him in there for long periods of time. I have noticed he has become weak and not as active when I take him out of the crate. Because he is so spoiled he refuses to eat at the scheduled times that I have provided for him. Which are 6 a.m. and around 6 or 7 p.m. My question is, will this cause malnutrition or a drop in his sugar levels? I have heard that yorkies can tend to have a drop in their sugar levels when they don't eat for long periods of time. Before this, I was free feeding which was the problem in getting him potty trained. Basically I want to crate train him with scheduled feeding times but I don't want to harm in any way. Does anyone have any input or suggestions???

Gingergirlsmom · 06-30-2007, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krys323296

My yorkie is 1 year and 6 mos old. I am trying to potty train him among other things. I have started crating him which consists of scheduled eating and leaving him in there for long periods of time. I have noticed he has become weak and not as active when I take him out of the crate. Because he is so spoiled he refuses to eat at the scheduled times that I have provided for him. Which are 6 a.m. and around 6 or 7 p.m. My question is, will this cause malnutrition or a drop in his sugar levels? I have heard that yorkies can tend to have a drop in their sugar levels when they don't eat for long periods of time. Before this, I was free feeding which was the problem in getting him potty trained. Basically I want to crate train him with scheduled feeding times but I don't want to harm in any way. Does anyone have any input or suggestions???

How big is your yorkie? (I'm planning on answering your question, but need this info first)

Erin · 06-30-2007, 03:55 PM

How big is he? Has he ever had problems in the past? Are you saying he will be IN the crate from 6-6? Because that's not actually crate training. If it's more like he eats at 6, you crate him until 7 then he goes outside until he potties, then back in the crate... that's OK. Although I wouldn't leave him for more than 4-6 hours at a time. Summer is a great time to hire a responsible high school kid to let him out once a day.

Mine eat between 6-7am and 4-6pm. 2 meals. We've never had any problems with scheduled feedings. They are 6lbs and 12lbs. They start to get cranky if i don't feed them by 5, but we've never had problems with blood sugar. It's all how YOUR dog responds.

pamelakay · 07-01-2007, 01:43 PM

When you say you leave him in the crate for long periods of time, how long do you mean? If you are taking the crate training route, it needs to be pretty scheduled, allowing the dog to come out and eat, go potty, play, etc. If you are just leaving him in the crate for a long time after/before he eats, it defeats the purpose of potty training cause he might end up not being able to hold it for so long and he'll just go in his crate. He's still a puppy afterall. Is that what has been happening?

Have you tried hand feeding him his food? My puppy at times doesn't want to eat at the scheduled time I make for him, so I start handing him some food and he eats it and then goes for his bowl and eats that all up. Sometimes I put a little Nutrical in my hand and roll the kibble in it, and that usually gets him to eat.

Also, in regards to the potty training, maybe you can take him out to eat, but also take him to his potty area afterwards to see if he'll go. Then you can play with him or whatnot and put him back in his crate. 1 hour or so later (maybe longer, since your puppy's a little older and may be able to hold it in for 2 hrs or so), take him out and take him to his potty area and see if he'll go again. He'll learn to hold it in his crate and wait until he's out. Gradually start increasing the time he's in the crate from 1 hour to 2, so he learns to hold it for longer. I wouldn't suggest leaving your dog in the crate for sooo many hours though..that won't be good for him.

Also, if he's not eating well..then yes, it could cause low blood sugar. I give Nutrical to give the extra calories when my puppy is being finicky with his eating.

Hope this helps a bit. Good luck!

krys323296 · 07-02-2007, 05:44 AM

He is about 6 1/2 pounds and he is 1 year and almost 7 months old. On the weekend it is easier for me to take him out frequently because I am at home all day. During the week I work all day. I usually leave the house about 7:45 am and don't return until sometimes 7 pm. By the way, I did not mean to say "crate". I actually have a small area of my kitchen blocked off for him. What I have been doing is taking him out at about 6 am. Sometimes he poops and sometimes he doesn't. He always pees. I bring him in and feed him and put him back in his area. I try to take him out again before I leave for work. When I do take him out, my goal is for him to poop but a lot of the times he won't. I put him back in his area and I leave for work. When I return home, the only thing he may have done is pee on his pad. I immediately take him out and sometimes he poops and sometimes he won't. If he does, he gets time out of the gate. If he doesn't I put him back in his gate after I feed him and I try again in about an hour or so.

06-30-2007, 11:45 AM	#1
krys323296 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: May 2006 Location: Fayetteville, NC Posts: 57	Will Crate Training Malnutrition My Yorkie??? My yorkie is 1 year and 6 mos old. I am trying to potty train him among other things. I have started crating him which consists of scheduled eating and leaving him in there for long periods of time. I have noticed he has become weak and not as active when I take him out of the crate. Because he is so spoiled he refuses to eat at the scheduled times that I have provided for him. Which are 6 a.m. and around 6 or 7 p.m. My question is, will this cause malnutrition or a drop in his sugar levels? I have heard that yorkies can tend to have a drop in their sugar levels when they don't eat for long periods of time. Before this, I was free feeding which was the problem in getting him potty trained. Basically I want to crate train him with scheduled feeding times but I don't want to harm in any way. Does anyone have any input or suggestions??? __________________ Seb's Mommy

06-30-2007, 03:55 PM	#3
Erin Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Chicago Suburbs Posts: 3,306	How big is he? Has he ever had problems in the past? Are you saying he will be IN the crate from 6-6? Because that's not actually crate training. If it's more like he eats at 6, you crate him until 7 then he goes outside until he potties, then back in the crate... that's OK. Although I wouldn't leave him for more than 4-6 hours at a time. Summer is a great time to hire a responsible high school kid to let him out once a day. Mine eat between 6-7am and 4-6pm. 2 meals. We've never had any problems with scheduled feedings. They are 6lbs and 12lbs. They start to get cranky if i don't feed them by 5, but we've never had problems with blood sugar. It's all how YOUR dog responds. __________________ Erin, Sammy & Loki Sewing patterns and tutorials @ www.dogundermydesk.com

07-01-2007, 01:43 PM	#4
pamelakay Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: california Posts: 192	When you say you leave him in the crate for long periods of time, how long do you mean? If you are taking the crate training route, it needs to be pretty scheduled, allowing the dog to come out and eat, go potty, play, etc. If you are just leaving him in the crate for a long time after/before he eats, it defeats the purpose of potty training cause he might end up not being able to hold it for so long and he'll just go in his crate. He's still a puppy afterall. Is that what has been happening? Have you tried hand feeding him his food? My puppy at times doesn't want to eat at the scheduled time I make for him, so I start handing him some food and he eats it and then goes for his bowl and eats that all up. Sometimes I put a little Nutrical in my hand and roll the kibble in it, and that usually gets him to eat. Also, in regards to the potty training, maybe you can take him out to eat, but also take him to his potty area afterwards to see if he'll go. Then you can play with him or whatnot and put him back in his crate. 1 hour or so later (maybe longer, since your puppy's a little older and may be able to hold it in for 2 hrs or so), take him out and take him to his potty area and see if he'll go again. He'll learn to hold it in his crate and wait until he's out. Gradually start increasing the time he's in the crate from 1 hour to 2, so he learns to hold it for longer. I wouldn't suggest leaving your dog in the crate for sooo many hours though..that won't be good for him. Also, if he's not eating well..then yes, it could cause low blood sugar. I give Nutrical to give the extra calories when my puppy is being finicky with his eating. Hope this helps a bit. Good luck! __________________ ..::``Pamela``::.. mama to Luigi

07-02-2007, 05:44 AM	#5
krys323296 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: May 2006 Location: Fayetteville, NC Posts: 57	He is about 6 1/2 pounds and he is 1 year and almost 7 months old. On the weekend it is easier for me to take him out frequently because I am at home all day. During the week I work all day. I usually leave the house about 7:45 am and don't return until sometimes 7 pm. By the way, I did not mean to say "crate". I actually have a small area of my kitchen blocked off for him. What I have been doing is taking him out at about 6 am. Sometimes he poops and sometimes he doesn't. He always pees. I bring him in and feed him and put him back in his area. I try to take him out again before I leave for work. When I do take him out, my goal is for him to poop but a lot of the times he won't. I put him back in his area and I leave for work. When I return home, the only thing he may have done is pee on his pad. I immediately take him out and sometimes he poops and sometimes he won't. If he does, he gets time out of the gate. If he doesn't I put him back in his gate after I feed him and I try again in about an hour or so. __________________ Seb's Mommy