We have lots of construction by us, interstate construction, etc. so the Hawks are all over, the fields they used to hunt in are gone, so I see them on my fence every few days. When GiGi goes out, I am there with a long stick in my hand. Always watch the sky, always keep moving my head and eyes.

even if I had a fenced yard I would never train Lola to just run loose to do her potty, besides the hawks you never know what a yorkie might get into or eat if left alone to roam a large back yard. Lola only goes out to potty via a leash this way she goes where I want her to go and I know just when she went and what she did and she does it in a hurry. If you open a door and let the dog out and come back an hour later you have no idea if they went potty, what the did, what them may have eaten, chewed on an so forth. Then when you are in a hurry they might just go out to play. My sister's yorkie is free to roam the yard and I swear it has more stomach problems and accidents in the house because half the time my sister lets her out she just sniffs things or tries to hunt birds or squirrels. She also has a pool and a pond and twice she found the dog fell in the pool and once it was at night, you said you will let them out in the pool enclosure, not sure if you keep the water in your pool covered all the time, but have you thought about how your yorkie or any of you dogs will get out if they fell in the pool. Most yorkies hate water but some do not, Lola loves getting in the water so I would never leaver her outside in the area of a pool on her own.

When Cody goes in the yard I am there with him because he eats anything and everything, if it walks, crawls or flies, it's in his mouth. Last year I saw him sniffing and sniffing something, as I was approaching him he saw me coming and snapped it up, I had to pry his jaws open, a huge yellow jacket bee feel out, thank god he didn't get stung. Since then I am with in 3 feet of him.

I always go out with them. They are not left to go alone or for long periods of time. In regards to the pool, we watch them close. Ellie doesn't like the water unless I make her go in during the summer. I am not sure about Pepper since she's only 5 months old. However, they are never left unattended. I talked to my husband last night, and I think we are going to get some sod and make our own potty area outside under the covered patio/pool enclosure.

BEWARE hawk activity will increase as nesting and feeding young will soon begin. During these times they are very active and more aggressive in their search for prey! We are already noticing the increase in close-up encounters in our area:eek:

Good point. I didn't even think of that.