New Job, Now What?
 

Hello All!

I started my new job a little over a week ago. When I got Winnie I was home all of the time and was able to constantly train her and care for her. I had her a little over a month before I started my job, she had been doing great with potty training and training in general.

Now I am off to work 5 days a week. So I have A LOT of questions, first is, those of you who have to leave their pets alone during the day, what do you do with them? Do you crate them, puppy playpen, put them in a closed in area of the house?

My next question is, she is taking HUGE steps back in potty training. She has started pooping ALL over the house again even when I am home. How can I make sure that she doesn't lose what she already learned? I understand it must be difficult for her since she use to have me to let her out all of the time. The problem is even when I get home I am still working pretty late into the night. I think she has lost how to signal to me that she needs to go out. Besides I started having to put her on a leash outside because she wont stay in the yard and she HATES it, some times she even refuses to go outside when I take her.

Obviously there are many side stories to this but the gist is. . . How do I handle my pup AND work?

Thanks guys!

I've experienced several regressions in potty training since I've had Mandie. "They say" that yorkies and small dogs are harder to house break. I suppose they say it for a reason.

I am gone to work at least 10 hours a day, 5 days a week. Sometimes, I have to work later depending on what's going on. I close off all carpeted areas in my house and 90% of the time, Mandie will use the potty pad. The times she doesn't, it is poo and I really think that she starts on the pad and just walks off as she goes.

Since this was a drastic change for your little one, I would recommend an xpen set up. That way, you can put her bed, food, water, toys, and a potty pad in there. She won't be able to just wander all over the house and potty where ever. I definitely would NOT crate for that long of a time. Just start back with the training when you are at home..like from new. Praise heavily for going in the right place and correct when you see her going in the wrong place.

It's a long process. I've never had a dog take as long to potty train as my Yorkie. At 9 months, it is still an ongoing process. Every so often, she'll just go anywhere and I get so confused. I think that is her secret plan..to keep me guessing. lol

Hang in there, be consistent, remove any obstacles to success that you can (like take away free roam until it gets back under control). I have to block off my carpeted rooms every few weeks...who knows why? She just makes me. Patience and consistency...you'll both get there. I keep telling myself that anyway ;)

Thanks, that is helpful. At the moment I just have her blocked from going anywhere except my room and the hallway. But there are so many places she can get under like the bed, that I am concerned she regresses because she knows she can hide things like poop under there.

My hubby and I both work during the day. The pups are baby gated to our hallway plus laundry room. It is quite a large area, but seems to do the trick. They use their potty pads but still someone randomly does leave a surprise here and there! And having 4, we never know who did it!! But, they are not allowed run of the house if we aren't home!! Good luck!

I gate my yorkies in a hard floor area only. They are litter box trained. It works!!