I understand. Like I said, I'm not a fan of the crate AT ALL. But, if everything else hasn't given you results, why not give crate training a try? What harm will it do to try something else, even if it's only slightly different? This is just an idea, and how I would do it. No piddle pads in the house at all, crate train Abbie as if she was a puppy. Leash her when you take her out, which might be different and will start to show her you're not out in the yard for play, or sunbathing. Walk her the perimeter of your yard and tell her, "Abbie, go pee pee." If she sniffs, tell her, "good girl Abbie, go pee pee." When she does eliminate, PRAISE PRAISE PRAISE! It might take a while at first since it might be new and foreign to her, but yorkies are smart and she will get it.

You can do diapers, but I find that to be more of a band aid than an actual solution. Is she incontinent? If Abbie is, then no amount of training will help, and diapers are an awesome solution.

I guess I should have been clearer in the beginning. Abbie isn't incontinent, no medical issues and will go potty on command each time she'd brought outside. She knows why she's out there and pottys each time. The problem is, she will also go in the house whenever she feels like it and won't give me any indication she has to go. I started actually using a timer this morning so I wouldn't go longer than 1 1/2 hours between times she goes out AND the fence AND a diaper and so far so good. I'll keep this up for a week or so or as long as I can and see if it works. I don't have my grandchildren today but get them back tomorrow so hopefully I can manage it all. Wish me luck!

We have used babies "Onesies" with a little hole cut for the tail over diapers for girls in season so they would work for pee problems. :rolleyes: Of course a short haircut will be manditory I think. Good luck!!

I have an 11 year old Longcoat Chihuahua that gives me a similar problem. We have 7 dogs and all of them will use a puppy pad but her. She was the first dog we had and we didn't start her on potty pads in the beginning and when we started getting more we introduced the pads. She will NOT use a potty pad. That seems odd to me since you would think she would WANT to pee where the others do, right? She is a marking queen outside but refuses to go on the pad to mark in the house. She also refuses to use the doggy door. She is timid about many things and even though we have a perfectly good doggy door where she could go out....SHE WON'T.
I really don't think she is the sharpest tool in the shed.;)
She only wants to use the bathroom outside or hidden down our hall. We realize that most of the problem is us because she does try to tell us but in her own quiet way. If we are sidetracked or she doesn't get our attention when it's time she just sneaks into the hall and piddles. We finally removed the carpeting and replaced that area with linoleum but it still irritates me! I have tried most things with her but to be truthful since we have such a housefull I tend to run out of steam and before I know it I am not so vigilant.
If nothing else....I feel your pain.:)

Thank you! I just smiled for the first time today!

Thank you! She's been confined today but so far has kept her diaper on. If she starts losing it once (if ever) allowed to roam again, this would be a great idea!

I agree with the cute panties for her! There are some really really cute ones too! :) I would do whatever it takes to keep my baby with me. I hope you are able to work it out. And if something does happen that you must rehome, take Ladyjane up on her offer. She will help you if she can!

I was wondering if she is spayed?

Your story makes me miss my hardwood floors SO BAD.

A little accident? Wipe it up - so easy. Put some cheapo throw rugs down and throw them away every few months.

Sigh. Now I have cream colored carpet, a Westie who digs and gets dirt EVERYWHERE; and little Miss Potty - Lucy.

She is exactly like your dog - will go on command outside - but if you turn your back or if it's raining - she will pee on the rug. I think that I could probably re-train her (as if she were a puppy) and she would be more successful. ESPECIALLY bringing treats back into the picture always helps.

Truth is - I just don't know if I have the time with the new job; not home as much; teen-age son and activities and 90 y/o father. It's just one of those little problems I try not to think about!

But I do think the diapers are a good idea as well as starting from square 1 - with crate training.

Best of Luck.

Yes, she is spayed.

Thank you! Good luck to you too. It's tough when so many other things require your attention. When we got the girls I had time to really enjoy them. I would dress them up, take them to visit patients in nursing homes, all kinds of things. Now I can hardly find time to keep them combed out!!!

An update on my potty problem.
Both of my girls have runny poop right now so I don't feel terribly guilty about keeping them confined. As usual, Abbie holds her urine until I take her out, she has been using the potty pad for pooing but not to pee. The real test will come when they are over this and she's runny free again. I'm using the panty in the evening when we let them out to sit with us but I'm VERY aware of taking her out every 90 minutes. So far so good. Thanks to everyone who suggested the panty. That might be the answer.

Glad the routine and use of the panties is working for you! :)

Yay! :)