The "tiny bladder" theory - YorkieTalk.com Forums

QuickSilver · 11-29-2008, 11:32 PM

We write off a lot of bad yorkie behavior due to their size. One person has told me my dog's head is too small to have any brains in it.

Many of us chalk up a yorkie's potty accidents to its tiny bladder. But here's the thing: isn't the ENTIRE dog tiny? Meaning, isn't it drinking proportionately less water than say, a Great Dane?

My yorkie can hold it ten hours overnight if he needs to. Yet somehow, in the afternoon, he seems to think that two hours is entirely too long. I think he can do better than that.

DukesMommy · 11-30-2008, 12:04 AM

I know that small dogs tend to have more issues with potty training and holding it than big dogs do. But, I don't know how much I really believe that it is because of a smaller bladder.
I know that if I leave mine alone for several hours I will come home to a mess on the floor for sure, but I can also let them out before I leave and come back 20 minutes later and my boy will have peed on the carpet. So it seems like when he gets mad at me for leaving thats what he does.

Mayas Mommy · 11-30-2008, 12:15 AM

Maybe you can do better then that .....

You see ... we have to potty train them and I hear all the time from others ..... ohhh Yorkies are sooo hard to train .... there is no issue if you take the time to train them ...... my two year old goes outside at leat 4 times a day .... and yes she can hold it up to 10 hr. at night too ... now my new Yorkie Puppy makes a mess and I have to train her and she too can sleep through the night without haveing to go .....

When they have to go they have to go .....

QuickSilver · 11-30-2008, 12:18 AM

It's funny you bring that up, actually. I was just watching... I think it was "It's Me Or The Dog" and Victoria said that when dogs have separation anxiety, they freak out the minute you leave - that's why you can duck out for fifteen minutes, and find what looks like hours worth of damage. My guess is your dog is anxious, not mad, but who knows.

Itspuppyluv · 11-30-2008, 12:23 AM

I don't know if it's true or not but I've read that it is because small dogs have a faster metabolism (that is true) than big dogs. Fast metabolism, small bladder, more frequent urination.

While your yorkie might be able to do better than two hours, you can't compare day to night bladder control. At night everything slows down and the brain releases a hormone that makes the kidneys produce less urine. Same reasons why we make it through the night without going.

SamiNFurbabies · 11-30-2008, 08:30 AM

My guess is they pee because there is less of it...and they think that they won't get caught.
Also, I do think that brains has something to do with it.
When Izze used to have accidents---it was because she was nervous...and now that she is calm--we don't have as much (hasn't had one this month). Keep in mind that we've only "owned"her since July and she came to us with lots of emotional issues.
Molly--my poodle---is my smartest dog and she would not think of peeing in the house. She knows that it is not acceptable.
Chachi-- he is very well trained and is the same way.
Suzie---my youngest baby poodle and she is dumb as a box of rocks. Very stupid. I mean... she stares blankly at me when I'm trying to teach her something. So the best that I can do is take her out often...I don't think that she'll ever be potty trained.... she usually has pooing problems. She rarely pees in the house. She's beautiful, but really dumb...I've been trying to teach her tricks and she doesn't seem to get it... I love her though

CupofDog · 11-30-2008, 09:02 AM

My 2 pounder is a year old. I have trained her to go on pee pee pads in addition to outside. I have noticed that after she drinks, she goes RIGHT to her papers and pees! I don't think it takes very long to fill up their bladders...

Lovetodream88 · 11-30-2008, 09:06 AM

The brain thing kinda bugs me because Callie is extremly smart and some of the storys I have heard just wow me with how smart these little things are. With Callie you can actualy see her "thinking" what to do. When it is raining Callie will hold it all day I actualy have push her out the doggy door (not hard or anything) if I think shes been holding it way to long.

heatherm0890 · 11-30-2008, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CupofDog

My 2 pounder is a year old. I have trained her to go on pee pee pads in addition to outside. I have noticed that after she drinks, she goes RIGHT to her papers and pees! I don't think it takes very long to fill up their bladders...

I too was thinking of training mine inside and outside..I had never heard of neone else doing this.was it hard for her to learn??

Darlin Beauxs · 11-30-2008, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuickSilver

We write off a lot of bad yorkie behavior due to their size. One person has told me my dog's head is too small to have any brains in it.

Many of us chalk up a yorkie's potty accidents to its tiny bladder. But here's the thing: isn't the ENTIRE dog tiny? Meaning, isn't it drinking proportionately less water than say, a Great Dane?

My yorkie can hold it ten hours overnight if he needs to. Yet somehow, in the afternoon, he seems to think that two hours is entirely too long. I think he can do better than that.

He can hold it for longer at night because a dogs metabolism slows down at night when they are sleeping, just like a human's does. Eventually, as they become older, they won't even be able to hold it thru the night, as with Darcy, we have to get up every 3 hrs or so and let her outside to potty. We worry when she does not wake us up!

Baxter and Cooper know the appropriate places to potty (in the box, or outdoors), but if I am not home, and Baxter has already pooped in the box, he will pick a place close to it to pee--on the floor. I don't get upset over this...it would be like asking us to use an un-flushed toliet.

Cooper never liked the litter box, and re-trained himself to go outdoors only once Darcy came, and we were opening doors for her constantly. If we are not home, he will potty right in front of the door, just like Darcy will.

For this reason, we just gate them all in the kitchen when we have to be gone for more than an hour, and plan on mopping when we get home.

They are the most stubborn little animals I have ever dealt with

But so cute they somehow get away with it!

CupofDog · 11-30-2008, 09:26 AM

Took about 6 months. She is a year old now and completely reliable! I never feel bad when I got out, because if she needs to go, she will!

And as for the thing about Yorkie's and their brains - clearly whomever said that has no brain! LOL!!

heatherm0890 · 11-30-2008, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CupofDog

Took about 6 months. She is a year old now and completely reliable! I never feel bad when I got out, because if she needs to go, she will!

And as for the thing about Yorkie's and their brains - clearly whomever said that has no brain! LOL!!

thanks!!

krisknr · 11-30-2008, 09:55 AM

During the day all your healthy puppies can at least hold it 1 hour for every month they are. Some will be able to hold it longer. But this means that your little yorkies might not be able to hold it 8 hours until they are 8 months old.
By 6 months they should be able to hold it 8 hours at night.
I think yorkies are harder to train because A. the house is a much bigger place to them than to a Lab. B. it is harder to tell if they are going potty, and they do it quickly!
My big dogs sniffed every were, turned in circles and peed for 20 seconds so they were alot easier to catch!
My Yorkie would walk to the other side of the couch and come right back out and would have magically gone on the floor in that time. It was mind boggling!!
I think putting him on a leash is the only way to watch them closely enough. And creating them [when they are old enough] when you are not watching them.
That is what I did and both my Yorkie and Crested are completely potty trained!

hugz4all4 · 11-30-2008, 10:12 AM

my experiences with potty training dogs has been entirely different.
My 2 bigger dogs, were harder to train than my 2 little dogs. My sheltie and my beagle will still pee in the house if left out all night and not crated. My beagle was not fully house trained untill she was well over 8 months old. My 4 pound poodle was completely house trained at 4 months old and was going to the door when she had to go. My 10 week old yorkie mix is pee pad trained and will go to his pee pad no matter where it is in the house. In the 3 weeks Ive had him he has only had 5 accidents in the house. So honestly, I think it just depends of the personality and the stubborness of the dog not the size or breed.

BubblPopElectrc · 11-30-2008, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuickSilver

One person has told me my dog's head is too small to have any brains in it.

I'd probably be irate if someone told me that about one of my dogs but that's hilarious!

11-29-2008, 11:32 PM	#1
QuickSilver Thor's Human Donating Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 5,929 Blog Entries: 31	The "tiny bladder" theory We write off a lot of bad yorkie behavior due to their size. One person has told me my dog's head is too small to have any brains in it. Many of us chalk up a yorkie's potty accidents to its tiny bladder. But here's the thing: isn't the ENTIRE dog tiny? Meaning, isn't it drinking proportionately less water than say, a Great Dane? My yorkie can hold it ten hours overnight if he needs to. Yet somehow, in the afternoon, he seems to think that two hours is entirely too long. I think he can do better than that.

11-30-2008, 12:04 AM	#2
DukesMommy YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: CA Posts: 682	I know that small dogs tend to have more issues with potty training and holding it than big dogs do. But, I don't know how much I really believe that it is because of a smaller bladder. I know that if I leave mine alone for several hours I will come home to a mess on the floor for sure, but I can also let them out before I leave and come back 20 minutes later and my boy will have peed on the carpet. So it seems like when he gets mad at me for leaving thats what he does. __________________ Kati,Duke,and Lucie

11-30-2008, 12:15 AM	#3
Mayas Mommy ..... and BLAIR'S too ...... Donating Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: USA Posts: 3,190	Maybe you can do better then that ..... You see ... we have to potty train them and I hear all the time from others ..... ohhh Yorkies are sooo hard to train .... there is no issue if you take the time to train them ...... my two year old goes outside at leat 4 times a day .... and yes she can hold it up to 10 hr. at night too ... now my new Yorkie Puppy makes a mess and I have to train her and she too can sleep through the night without haveing to go ..... When they have to go they have to go ..... __________________ I LOVE MY LIFE AS A MOMMY AND A WIFE Last edited by Mayas Mommy; 11-30-2008 at 12:17 AM.

11-30-2008, 12:23 AM	#5
Itspuppyluv Gus Is The Fuss Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 2,277	I don't know if it's true or not but I've read that it is because small dogs have a faster metabolism (that is true) than big dogs. Fast metabolism, small bladder, more frequent urination. While your yorkie might be able to do better than two hours, you can't compare day to night bladder control. At night everything slows down and the brain releases a hormone that makes the kidneys produce less urine. Same reasons why we make it through the night without going. __________________ Erin & Gus Gus You lost me at stay! "He is a good heart and a kind soul, and an angel on four feet." MW

11-30-2008, 08:30 AM	#6
SamiNFurbabies YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: My House Posts: 517	My guess is they pee because there is less of it...and they think that they won't get caught. Also, I do think that brains has something to do with it. When Izze used to have accidents---it was because she was nervous...and now that she is calm--we don't have as much (hasn't had one this month). Keep in mind that we've only "owned"her since July and she came to us with lots of emotional issues. Molly--my poodle---is my smartest dog and she would not think of peeing in the house. She knows that it is not acceptable. Chachi-- he is very well trained and is the same way. Suzie---my youngest baby poodle and she is dumb as a box of rocks. Very stupid. I mean... she stares blankly at me when I'm trying to teach her something. So the best that I can do is take her out often...I don't think that she'll ever be potty trained.... she usually has pooing problems. She rarely pees in the house. She's beautiful, but really dumb...I've been trying to teach her tricks and she doesn't seem to get it... I love her though __________________ Chrissy, Izze (Yorkshire Terrier),Molly & Suzie (Toy Poodles), Chachi (Chihuahua)

11-30-2008, 12:18 AM	#4
QuickSilver Thor's Human Donating Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 5,929 Blog Entries: 31	It's funny you bring that up, actually. I was just watching... I think it was "It's Me Or The Dog" and Victoria said that when dogs have separation anxiety, they freak out the minute you leave - that's why you can duck out for fifteen minutes, and find what looks like hours worth of damage. My guess is your dog is anxious, not mad, but who knows.

11-30-2008, 09:02 AM	#7
CupofDog YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Washington D.C. Posts: 707	My 2 pounder is a year old. I have trained her to go on pee pee pads in addition to outside. I have noticed that after she drinks, she goes RIGHT to her papers and pees! I don't think it takes very long to fill up their bladders... __________________ Roving dogs do not indicate the civilization or compassion of the society; they betray on the contrary the ignorance and lethargy of its members. -Ghandi

11-30-2008, 09:06 AM	#8
Lovetodream88 Yorkie mom of 4 Donating YT Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: LaPlata, Md Posts: 23,247	The brain thing kinda bugs me because Callie is extremly smart and some of the storys I have heard just wow me with how smart these little things are. With Callie you can actualy see her "thinking" what to do. When it is raining Callie will hold it all day I actualy have push her out the doggy door (not hard or anything) if I think shes been holding it way to long. __________________ Taylor My babies Joey, Penny ,Ollie & Dixie Callie Mae, you will forever be in my heart!

11-30-2008, 09:26 AM	#11
CupofDog YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Washington D.C. Posts: 707	Took about 6 months. She is a year old now and completely reliable! I never feel bad when I got out, because if she needs to go, she will! And as for the thing about Yorkie's and their brains - clearly whomever said that has no brain! LOL!! __________________ Roving dogs do not indicate the civilization or compassion of the society; they betray on the contrary the ignorance and lethargy of its members. -Ghandi

11-30-2008, 09:55 AM	#13
krisknr Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2008 Location: WI Posts: 186	During the day all your healthy puppies can at least hold it 1 hour for every month they are. Some will be able to hold it longer. But this means that your little yorkies might not be able to hold it 8 hours until they are 8 months old. By 6 months they should be able to hold it 8 hours at night. I think yorkies are harder to train because A. the house is a much bigger place to them than to a Lab. B. it is harder to tell if they are going potty, and they do it quickly! My big dogs sniffed every were, turned in circles and peed for 20 seconds so they were alot easier to catch! My Yorkie would walk to the other side of the couch and come right back out and would have magically gone on the floor in that time. It was mind boggling!! I think putting him on a leash is the only way to watch them closely enough. And creating them [when they are old enough] when you are not watching them. That is what I did and both my Yorkie and Crested are completely potty trained!

11-30-2008, 10:12 AM	#14
hugz4all4 YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: upstate NY Posts: 2,114 Blog Entries: 1	my experiences with potty training dogs has been entirely different. My 2 bigger dogs, were harder to train than my 2 little dogs. My sheltie and my beagle will still pee in the house if left out all night and not crated. My beagle was not fully house trained untill she was well over 8 months old. My 4 pound poodle was completely house trained at 4 months old and was going to the door when she had to go. My 10 week old yorkie mix is pee pad trained and will go to his pee pad no matter where it is in the house. In the 3 weeks Ive had him he has only had 5 accidents in the house. So honestly, I think it just depends of the personality and the stubborness of the dog not the size or breed. __________________ Love all 9 of my furrbutts!