Potting Training An Older Rescue Yorke!

[linda8228]

I am new to Yorkietalk. I purchased a Yorkie from Craigslist (BIG MISTAKE!) I didn't do my homework, just wanted a yorkie sooo bad. The seller claimed she was 2 years old. I am quite sure now that I've gotten her home that she is definitely older (lots of tartar and really bad breath) and she is so skinny-weighs about 4 lbs. I got her Rabies and Parvo/Distemper shot yesterday from a vet travel van, just so I could get her a professional bath. I think she must originally from a puppy mill because I can not get her to potty outside. She will potty on my carpet however and in her crate. I got her on Monday night and it is Wednesday at 1 PM and I have not seen her poop anywhere. I am worried about that. I don't think she has pooped and ate it. I plan on feeding her Blue Wilderness Small Breed but it is out of stock right now at Petsmart or Petco. I took her out this morning at 7:00 am, 8:30 am and she did nothing. Then at 10:30, after I had bathed her, as soon as I put her in the crate, she peed. I don't scold her because I know she is probably dumbfounded about potting. Any suggestions??

[Patti]

I am sorry you are having a hard time with your new baby. You will need to treat her like a puppy and start from scratch with potty training. She must be use to going in her crate and that is a habit you will have to break over time. Hopefully others with more experience with this will post some ideas.

[sweet_tikka]

Do you have a yard? I had problems with my girl too, she is 8 months old, but still they can learn at any age
Try giving her a lot of time outside, and hang out with her when you can and if she goes potty give her praise and a treat immediately. Idk how much it is to have teeth cleaned, but if she isn't spayed yet you can get that done at the same time

I put Tikka on a yard cable and say "go potty" and then I wait until she goes. She's getting so good, she even will go sit and whine at the door now.

Otherwise diapers might be a good idea just to start while training, I spent two weeks shampooing my carpet when I got tikka! you can make your own with baby diapers size 1 or buy some washable cloth ones and put pads in them! Lots of YT members sell these!

[gidget529]

I agree, you're going to have to start from scratch for the poor little thing. I used the pen method. I would keep them in a play pen like pen with their food dish, water dish and pee pads in. I would put them in periodically, wait for them to do business, and then praise them. I also would feed them in there and then let them in until potty - the dogs I have had usually potty right after eat. Mine have been pee pad trained.

If you are trying to outside train them, there are other ppl on site who could probably help you w that way - I think the above posters did outside training.

Good luck w whatever way you decide on and works for you! She sounds like she did not have a great start in life. I'm sure she is so glad to be in a loving home w you. It may take her a little time to catch on.

[lexi43]

That poor baby had a lousy start in life. I would never go to craiigs list to buy a puppy bacause although they are good with certain things I would never trust them when It comes to live animals. I didn't do my homework either when I got Zach. I got him from a Pet Shop and I was lucky he was healthy. As a matter of fact none of my animals were obtained the Yorkie Talk way.
Anyway you have going to have to have a lot of patience. The poor dog is traumatized and needs your love and understanding.

[megansmomma]

Originally Posted by linda8228

I am new to Yorkietalk. I purchased a Yorkie from Craigslist (BIG MISTAKE!) I didn't do my homework, just wanted a yorkie sooo bad. The seller claimed she was 2 years old. I am quite sure now that I've gotten her home that she is definitely older (lots of tartar and really bad breath) and she is so skinny-weighs about 4 lbs. I got her Rabies and Parvo/Distemper shot yesterday from a vet travel van, just so I could get her a professional bath. I think she must originally from a puppy mill because I can not get her to potty outside. She will potty on my carpet however and in her crate. I got her on Monday night and it is Wednesday at 1 PM and I have not seen her poop anywhere. I am worried about that. I don't think she has pooped and ate it. I plan on feeding her Blue Wilderness Small Breed but it is out of stock right now at Petsmart or Petco. I took her out this morning at 7:00 am, 8:30 am and she did nothing. Then at 10:30, after I had bathed her, as soon as I put her in the crate, she peed. I don't scold her because I know she is probably dumbfounded about potting. Any suggestions??

Welcome to YT! Thank you for opening your heart and home to a rescue. She will show you love and devotion beyond anything that you could imagine. This link might help you address some of her issues including potty training. Just ask is you have any more questions.

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/gen...nt-advice.html

[Yorkiedaze]

Take her out every hour or so. Take a treat with you, sit in a chair and just tell her "go potty". Wait till she does, then say "good Potty" and reward her with a tiny treat then back inside with her. Keep this up every day all day until she finally gets it. I'd just keep her wire crate attached to a metal expen with a potty pad down and water, toy and chewy. This way she isn't getting run of the house, but at least she will have a little more room than being shut in a crate. Good luck with your new family member.

[bradjo]

Originally Posted by linda8228

......snip...... I think she must originally from a puppy mill because I can not get her to potty outside. She will potty on my carpet however and in her crate........snip.....

Most dogs are averse to soiling their den. Puppy mill mothers learn corprophagia and soiling their den from being in a mill. If that is in fact the case then your dog will have picked up a couple nasty habits that are breakable with consistency and a boatload of patience.

If this dog comes from a puppy mill I would not sleep her in a crate (they are hard to wash). I would have her sleep in an exercise (x) pen and just be prepared to clean the mess in the morning. I would put out papers and hope she used them and put the pen on a tile or lineloum or wood floor or a water proof mat.

Then it becomes merely taking her out hourly until she potties and keeping high value (very tasty), treats in your pocket until she potties and making a big positive deal over it. Becareful not to reward to soon in the pottying or you can interrupt her and have her save it so make sure she's almost finished when you start the potty party.

Whenever she is out of the x pen have her on leash with you and have your eyes on her or her sitting on your lap or have her in her pen if your eyes can not be on her. Then it becomes taking her to potty every hour. When she potties in the pen just clean it up. Don't say bad dog or anything don't feel negative if you must feel negative direct it to the horrible humans who abused her.

Also you must keep her scrupulously clean. Puppy mill mothers lose the aversion to being dirty so if she soils at all on herself bath her. Initially this may mean several baths a day, just do it (blow dry her well so she doesn't get sick). She will learn to be clean again.

Finally with pottying her outside hourly and praising/treating her handsomely for going she will get it but it will take time. Another thing she might not be a puppy mill mother, when dogs are scolded or have their noses rubbed in their excrement or other rotten people behaviors the only thing they learn is to fear pottying in front of humans. So they are afraid to potty in front of you. So just stay patient and make a big happy & tasty treat thing when she goes potty outside and in front of you. Let's hope it's just that as that is easier to fix. If that is it having her sleep in a small crate will keep her from soiling herself. But do NOT leave her in that crate except for the hours she sleeps at night. Otherwise she should be with you on leash or in her x pen as she learns.

hth,
Jo