Want to be the best mommy :) Please help!!!

[kayse18]

Ok. I got Tank a month ago. He is a teacup and very active. I work at a hospital, where I am gone about 11 hours a day. He is fed in the morning and is taken out before and after eating to do his business. He is also fed in the afternoon, where I take him out when I get home and many times, till I go to bed, after that. I am currently "trying" to crate train him. I feed him and take him out of the crate while I am at home. I have been told, by countless people, "He will be fine in his crate and will not pee or poop in it bc he won't wallow in it." I have given him just enough room to lay down and turn around (just like I was told). Almost everyday when I get home...there is poop and pee all over him. I don't know if he is too young (12 weeks) and too little, or if Im doing something wrong. When he is out of the kennel, I take him out frequently.

I know it is not good to wash a yorkie too much, but I cannot see where it is good for him to have pee and poop all over him either!!!

[ladyjane]

11 hours is a very long time for a pup to hold it. Maybe you could try an xpen instead with pee pads in it .. away from his bed?

[Ellie May]

A lot of dogs won't go in their crates. Some do even with little space. I agree with Ladyjane. You are gone too much for your pup to hold it and peepads are going to be the best option for you.

[DvlshAngel985]

Is he alone in the crate for 11 hours at a time? If so, that is way too long and he just can't hold it. You say he's little (physically) and young correct? That means he has a tiny bladder, and needs frequent outings. (every 2-3 hours or so)

Can you have a neighbor, or a friend that can come let him out of the crate while you are working?

If that's not possible, there is an alternative, expen with piddle pads. It limits his area so he doesn't mess up in the house, but it's small enough to give him designated areas:
-eating area (he should have food and water available at all times anyway)
-sleeping area (a nice soft bed for him. )
-potty area (piddle pads)

You can start with piddle pads, and when he's older and able to hold it, you can train him to go outside. Having a dual trained yorkie has a lot of benefits.

[Yorkielover0102]

Yorkie pups tend to need to do every 2-3 hours. And with you being gone for 11 hours the puppy has to relieve itself somewhere. I agree with previous posters about the ex pen with potty pads inside. I hope it helps. I don't know if you have read this but this might help with any other questions you may have about your puppy.
http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/gen...w-parents.html
Good luck!

[kayse18]

I thought that was a long time too. The breeder I bought him from said that he was pad trained. We started him in a small bathroom where I had pads out, with food and water. He used the bathroom in the floor more than the pads, so thats why I chose the training kennel (wire kennel). I have a woman that I work with, who has 3 yorkies and she has the same schedule as me. She keeps her teacups in there for that long too and said that one day he will just quit using the bathroom in the kennel as he gets a little older. Everybody has their own opinions on how to do things.....I just need to find what is best for Tank man

[shawnzeppi]

And you dont even need to invest in an x-pen, you could just get a full sized crate, and put the pee pad on one end of it or fence your boy in a space that's easier to clean. Of course your pup could still make a mess but it should be more manageable.

Our female made terrible messes until we let her wonder around the whole main level of our house. After that, although she may not be confident enough to go on the pad every time, her messes are in one spot. After a long day working, the last thing you need is to come home and have to give your pup a bath every night and clean the kennel; cleaning up one spot is a whole lot easier especially if its on tile.

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by kayse18

I thought that was a long time too. The breeder I bought him from said that he was pad trained. We started him in a small bathroom where I had pads out, with food and water. He used the bathroom in the floor more than the pads, so thats why I chose the training kennel (wire kennel). I have a woman that I work with, who has 3 yorkies and she has the same schedule as me. She keeps her teacups in there for that long too and said that one day he will just quit using the bathroom in the kennel as he gets a little older. Everybody has their own opinions on how to do things.....I just need to find what is best for Tank man

A 12 week old pup should not be expected to hold it for 11 hours.

For the health of kidneys, bladder, and other vital organs, I would never force a dog to hold it for 11 hours. It is not healthy for humans, and it is not healthy for dogs. You can almost guarantee stones, urinary tract infections, and premature breakdown of related systems. Drinking frequently and eliminating waste is how we clean out our bodies. Our pets need the same.

[Maximo]

I re-read your initial post and I see I may have misunderstood about the 11 hours. However, I agree with everyone about piddle pads being a highly desirable option for your pup, even when he grows older. Some people do leave their dogs without potty breaks for 8 hours, but I stand by what I wrote: this is not healthy long term.

[capt_noonie]

So I am to understand that Tank has been home for already one month, and he is not barely 12 weeks old? So the breeder released a "teacup" at 8 weeks, omg. I would not believe this breeder in saying he is already pad trained. Puppies this young need to go able to go every 2-3 hours. They will not benefit from being crated 11 hrs a day. Your co worker at least has yorkies who can keep each other company, but still her situation is less than ideal. Yorkies love to be with their humans.

Tank is soiling himself bc he can't hold it that long. Could you? I agree with the others to get an ex pen and have enough room for his bed and food, and the rest of the area covered in pee pads. As he gets older, you leave less pads down until there is just one. Don't give him the opportunity to pee anywhere else but the pads. If you only put down one, you are setting him up for failure. Make it so it's near impossible for him to fail.

[DvlshAngel985]

Originally Posted by capt_noonie

So I am to understand that Tank has been home for already one month, and he is not barely 12 weeks old? So the breeder released a "teacup" at 8 weeks, omg. I would not believe this breeder in saying he is already pad trained. Puppies this young need to go able to go every 2-3 hours. They will not benefit from being crated 11 hrs a day. Your co worker at least has yorkies who can keep each other company, but still her situation is less than ideal. Yorkies love to be with their humans.

Tank is soiling himself bc he can't hold it that long. Could you? I agree with the others to get an ex pen and have enough room for his bed and food, and the rest of the area covered in pee pads. As he gets older, you leave less pads down until there is just one. Don't give him the opportunity to pee anywhere else but the pads. If you only put down one, you are setting him up for failure. Make it so it's near impossible for him to fail.

Pups are done being weened at 8 weeks, and spend week 8-12 learning social skills from mom and litter mates. This includes early potty training lessons that the breeder helps with. I say "early potty training" because they learn the basics. Once you take them out of their environment and into a new home where they are all alone, you have to start over again. They do retain basics, but the rules they had at the breeder's house may not all apply to your house. (differing styles etc.) So when you have a pup that was taken at 8 weeks, you can't have very high expectations. There is teething, which can throw them off. A new environment, throws them off. And, since your Tank is all alone, yup, that's going to throw him off.

You just have to be patient and if you're not there to watch him and guide him, do as Capt Noonie said and set him up for success.

[Taryn0405]

Gizmo is not a "teacup" is going on 9 months and I don't leave him in the crate any longer then 7 hours.

Way too long for a smaller baby.

[kayse18]

thank you to everyone who has taken the time to help me!!! I feel so bad now!!! Can someone please tell me what an ex pen? Would an ex pen allow me to work my hours and still keep him happy and train him at the same time?

[Taryn0405]

Amazon.com: ex pen - Home & Kitchen: Home & Garden

There's many options on amazon. I would still try to get someone over to take your baby out, or maybe take your baby to daycare a few days a week just so he remains social.

I wouldn't enjoy over 11 hours locked in my room, and I know Giz wouldn't either. I know it can be challenging with work schedules, but and expen as well as daycare will be big helps.

[Ellie May]

My Yorkie is 10 years old and still goes both pee and poop in her crate.