Shorkie Puppie: Need some "expert" advice

[hairhome]

Wow...you're amazing! Thank you for the details...I THRIVE on details, since I'm such a novice. My husband has been trying to get her to do her business outside. But true to what I've heard....it's hit or miss. He is SO happy when she makes a poop outside (she clearly gives signals for when she has to poop in particular) but she is FAMOUS for going outside and forgetting, or becoming distracted, and then coming back inside, and running to the pad to poop. It's almost as though she's saying, "whew, thanks for coming back inside....i've been wanting to poop and I needed to see my pad to poop!"

So.....for this breed....though it will get easier over time, and she'll be 100% trained one day....we need to understand that she'll always need to have the ability to go in the house...? Since we aren't home mid day, (unless we hire someone)...we have to realize that this kind of dog, must always have pads to go on? My husband had a large dog growing up, so he's been thinking that it'll be like his childhood dog....he walked his dog in the morning, the dog apparently held it all day until like 4:00pm and then he walked it when he got home. So I'm right in understanding that this is not realistic for a yorkie/shorkie? He was hoping to have our shorkie do all eliminating outside.....?

We do have someone come every day (a neighborhood teen who is GREAT with our shorkie) but she cannot come until 4:00 pm. I'm home by 6:00 pm. We leave in the morning at 7:30 pm

[Cerise]

Originally Posted by sushidoodidoo

Welcome to YT. you will love it here.

I definitely do not have as mush experience as most of the other members here do (and they are wonderful), but I'll just tell you what personally worked for ME:



......

You just have to be very consistent, and never even ALLOW her to make a mistake. And watch her like a hawk all the time. Dogs like routine. That gives them confidence. If they know for sure that at a certain time they are going to be let out and taken to the pad, they will hold it in for as long as they can because they KNOW for sure you're going to be there to get them out.

I have to admit it was not easy, I put my life on hold for about a couple of months until she got it down, and now she is 100% potty trained. I completely trust her and she NEVER makes a potty mistake. I'm so proud of her

Wow... I read your post and took notes. I like the way you were persistent with your baby and it gives me hope for my in the near future!

Thanks for sharing your method

[sushidoodidoo]

Originally Posted by hairhome

Wow...you're amazing! Thank you for the details...I THRIVE on details, since I'm such a novice. My husband has been trying to get her to do her business outside. But true to what I've heard....it's hit or miss. He is SO happy when she makes a poop outside (she clearly gives signals for when she has to poop in particular) but she is FAMOUS for going outside and forgetting, or becoming distracted, and then coming back inside, and running to the pad to poop. It's almost as though she's saying, "whew, thanks for coming back inside....i've been wanting to poop and I needed to see my pad to poop!"

So.....for this breed....though it will get easier over time, and she'll be 100% trained one day....we need to understand that she'll always need to have the ability to go in the house...? Since we aren't home mid day, (unless we hire someone)...we have to realize that this kind of dog, must always have pads to go on? My husband had a large dog growing up, so he's been thinking that it'll be like his childhood dog....he walked his dog in the morning, the dog apparently held it all day until like 4:00pm and then he walked it when he got home. So I'm right in understanding that this is not realistic for a yorkie/shorkie? He was hoping to have our shorkie do all eliminating outside.....?

We do have someone come every day (a neighborhood teen who is GREAT with our shorkie) but she cannot come until 4:00 pm. I'm home by 6:00 pm. We leave in the morning at 7:30 pm

I believe it's more the lifestyle than the breed that dictates the method of potty training. for me, I decided to peepad train (as opposed to outside) for three reasons:

1- I live in a condo building. Just wasn't realistic to run to the elevators, wait, get in, get out, find a spot away from the entrance, and let her go....EVERY couple of hours!

2- I work full time, and I was going to be away a few hours at a time. I wanted her to have a backup in case there was an emergency, and didn't want to confuse her as to where it's ok to go and where is not. Although now she gets walked every day and she does do her thing outside, but she knows that she has access to her pad whenever she wants.

3- Canadian winters!!!! It might be ok for bigger dogs, they might even enjoy being out in the cold and running in the snow, but NOT yorkies. At least not MY yorkie. She hates cold weather. And i'd be nervous to expose her to that kinda weather for long and too often in winter. We have indoor doggy parks here that I take her to during the winter months, at least couple times a week. Or I take her to the mall and underground pathways connecting the malls. That way she gets to walk and see the outside world without having to go out in the cold. But that's not something I could rely on for regular potty training.

[Britster]

Originally Posted by hairhome

Wow...you're amazing! Thank you for the details...I THRIVE on details, since I'm such a novice. My husband has been trying to get her to do her business outside. But true to what I've heard....it's hit or miss. He is SO happy when she makes a poop outside (she clearly gives signals for when she has to poop in particular) but she is FAMOUS for going outside and forgetting, or becoming distracted, and then coming back inside, and running to the pad to poop. It's almost as though she's saying, "whew, thanks for coming back inside....i've been wanting to poop and I needed to see my pad to poop!"

So.....for this breed....though it will get easier over time, and she'll be 100% trained one day....we need to understand that she'll always need to have the ability to go in the house...? Since we aren't home mid day, (unless we hire someone)...we have to realize that this kind of dog, must always have pads to go on? My husband had a large dog growing up, so he's been thinking that it'll be like his childhood dog....he walked his dog in the morning, the dog apparently held it all day until like 4:00pm and then he walked it when he got home. So I'm right in understanding that this is not realistic for a yorkie/shorkie? He was hoping to have our shorkie do all eliminating outside.....?

We do have someone come every day (a neighborhood teen who is GREAT with our shorkie) but she cannot come until 4:00 pm. I'm home by 6:00 pm. We leave in the morning at 7:30 pm

I don't think pads are necessary at all but I may be alone in my thinking! I don't use pads and never have. I do think it's helpful when they're real young & you're not home often, etc, but I don't believe in peeing/pooping allowed in the house EVER. Jackson is strictly outdoor trained and I wouldn't have it any other way.

I just think at 12 weeks old, you can't expect them to hold it 8 hours. Once she's grown, I absolutely think she can hold it that long.

[FMRVMH]

Hi. My wife (hairhome) and I are going back and forth on the best way to train Lulu. As she stated we are at work for most of the day and are unable to come home at lunch time, and so on, to let the dog out. We are reading the threads and wrestling with the best way to proceed with training. We have puppy pads, a crate and a kennel and have enclosed Lulu in the kitchen with gates and laminate flooring. But right now it's a crap shoot (excuse the pun) as the best way. From what I've read these dogs are hard to train and for her size, she will never be able to hold her urine all. She will pee on the pad and occasionally poop outside but for the most part she reverts to the pad for peeing and pooping. She never pees outside. We're considering a play pen as a long term solution which would be big enough to contain a pee pad. That way we won't have to block off the kitchen with gates. We discussed crate training but are not in agreement as to the appropriate size (please see attached photo). I hate the thought of leaving Lulu in a small confined space for 8 hrs and my wife says that approach would require a hired dog walker. I would like to get some more feedback on our situation and will continue reading the forums for training etc.

[YorkieShadow]

Hi and Welcome I now own a Shorkie too, we took her in at about 13 weeks. she is so lovible and very very smart. The only thing I dont like is that her hair gets matted so easy. My Yorkies never did. But when out side she runs like the wind and is into every thing, so that might be why.
sorry im no help on crate training I never used a crate only for after my male had surgery. you will have to share pictures.

[hairhome]

Hi Britster,

My husband posted on this thread (FMRVMH) is his login...he has a nice big picture of Lulu. Anyway....would love your thoughts regarding his post!

[hairhome]

Wowwwww. Indoor doggie parks. That is SOOO cool. The more I hear of Canada, the more I like Canada! I agree, makes perfect sense that you've pee-pad trained. I can't imagine having a poor doggie having to wait for the elevator to get outside! Thanks for your response.

[sushidoodidoo]

Originally Posted by FMRVMH

She will pee on the pad and occasionally poop outside but for the most part she reverts to the pad for peeing and pooping. She never pees outside.

Sushi used to be like that too. I would walk her for an hour, and she would hold it in only to come home and run straight to the pad and pee. I guess because she thought that was the only place she was supposed to go (although she didn't seem to have a problem pooping outside. Maybe it's easier to hold #1 rather than #2).

But somehow she learned that peeing outside is ALSO acceptable. So now I walk her every day after work for about an hour and she does all her business outside, but during the day, or early morning when she's too sleepy to go for a walk (and I am in too much of a rush to head out) she goes to the pad.

Crate training is not appropriate for people that are not home all day. you're not supposed to crate them more than 3-4 hours at a time, especially when they're that yonge and need to go every couple of hours. It's not fair to the dog. And by keeping them in a crate without letting them out, you're forcing the dog to get used to peeing where he sleeps, and that will make housetraining very difficult. I would consider a playpen rather than a small crate.

[Britster]

Originally Posted by FMRVMH

Hi. My wife (hairhome) and I are going back and forth on the best way to train Lulu. As she stated we are at work for most of the day and are unable to come home at lunch time, and so on, to let the dog out. We are reading the threads and wrestling with the best way to proceed with training. We have puppy pads, a crate and a kennel and have enclosed Lulu in the kitchen with gates and laminate flooring. But right now it's a crap shoot (excuse the pun) as the best way. From what I've read these dogs are hard to train and for her size, she will never be able to hold her urine all. She will pee on the pad and occasionally poop outside but for the most part she reverts to the pad for peeing and pooping. She never pees outside. We're considering a play pen as a long term solution which would be big enough to contain a pee pad. That way we won't have to block off the kitchen with gates. We discussed crate training but are not in agreement as to the appropriate size (please see attached photo). I hate the thought of leaving Lulu in a small confined space for 8 hrs and my wife says that approach would require a hired dog walker. I would like to get some more feedback on our situation and will continue reading the forums for training etc.

If you feel it is best for her to be able to go as she pleases, and pad train her, then by all means -- go for it! I think in the end, you know what's best for your situation and only you, so you can determine what will work out the best for you. With the crate training, I do believe that if you are potty training them to go outside and using the crate training method, that the crate should be small so they don't use it as their potty. But if you're planning on allowing her to use her pads during the day and train her that way... a big crate would be acceptable, with a pee pad in one corner, food bowl, water bowl, etc. I've known people that do that.

Can I suggest to you an ex-pen? I had one of those for Jackson as a puppy and it worked out great. I, however, strictly outdoor trained him so I never left down a pee pad. I also am gone for generally no longer than 4-6 hours at a time so this worked for us. I'm a believer in not allowing a dog to go inside at ALL (pad or not) but that's just my personal preference. I find dogs that are pad trained are more prone to have accidents the rest of their life, confuse pads w/ rugs, etc. On the other hand, I should mention that Jackson is 12.5lbs and has always been a larger Yorkie so his bladder is a bit bigger, so is his poop, LOL! I prefer not to be cleaning it up all day. Plus, as a pup, he was a poop eater so I wouldn't trust him not to eat his poop.