Struggling - Had to go back to meds...
 

Hello,
I have written my ups and downs of trying to housetrain two Yorkies - and it just seems so overwhelming. I have been very down and stressed. I don't know how you all have done it! After being off my anti-depressant medication for some time, I finally decided I had to go back on them. It makes me sad because I was doing pretty good but I just am having a real difficult time with the housetraining.

I've questioned myself and my husband - did we make a mistake in getting puppies again after 10 years of having housetrained dogs? It's so sad and pathetic that I feel like this but it is the truth. I just keep hanging on but my tummy just wrenches at times.

You all have been so kind and supportive. There is joy and anger and lots of tears. I thought I was doing good one day and then the next day...boom, I'm a wreck! :(

Thanks for letting me talk about this here.
Blessings and Yorkie Love,
Terra

Terra, please don't let it get to you. It's hard most of the time with any new puppy, but it will happen. Mine are pee pad trained. I kept them in their crates the first few days, (it's hard I know), when I let them out, we went straight to the pee pads. We waited and other times we waited and waited and waited (ha) until they went. Then lots and lots of praise. After playing and eating, we go back to the pee pads. And yes, wait some more. Then we go back to the crate. I never left them in the crate more than a couple hours. Then when I got them out we started right at the pee pads again. After they were a little older, I put pee pads in each room. That way, as I let them out of their crates for longer periods and they would follow me around, they had a pad to go on. Even if you get busy and going from room to room, keep one eye on them and watch for signs that they have to go and place them on the pads. It takes time and can get so frustrating, but if you look at them as they are, your babies, it helps lower the frustration. Good luck to you.

oh sweetie, i know it seems like its gonna take forever, but trust me, just
be patient and it will all work out, i promise... i was so stressed too, it was really tough for me in the begining, and i managed it all by myself...it does get better.... dont stress it, just be calm and persistant...

It is tough, I remember, but one day it just clicked, at least for him.
It will get better. ;)

Hello Neighbor.
 

My little guys are 1-1/2 years old. I got siblings and they are the first dogs I've ever owned. I was doing everything wrong in the beginning - I let them have free run of the family room. They are now pee pad trained. It took a while but it really helped that I kept them in an x-pen. Do you have one?

It's funny you mentioned that they depressed you. I got mine because I was feeling depressed. My brother died after being chased/pushed of a 3rd floor porch. The puppies were born on the day he died and I bought them on what would have been his 36th birthday. Simon and Nigel occupy so much of my time, and make me laugh so much, that they saved me.

I think in those little guys will help you in the long run. The bond that forms over time with them is amazing.

Greetings,
I'm so sorry to read about your brother. The dogs are not making me depressed...its the xtra stress I am incurring right now that is part of the depression. I don't blame the girls at all. Annie and Susie (11 weeks now) were born on the anniversary date that my dad died (many years ago). I know puppies/dogs can bring one much joy as well as many lessons on love, loyalty and should I say it..."patience?"

Thank you for your words dear one.
Yorkie Love,
Terra

:o Thank you, thank you, thank you. I can really feel your support!

I have two lovely pups owed to me in March...there was a time I would be counting the days until they came..but the thought of more training is doing me in..honestly, Kate is so good now and to start over again with two is taking the joy out of it for me.
I do love Yorkies, but that puppy stage can be stressful. I do not know what I would do without hope..I hope I get these girls trained, I hope I do not go insane doing it..hope is my refuge. LOL I did make sure our house here in Florida had NO carpets..Kate has been an easy girl ..no chewing or barking. I hate to rock the boat..but who can resist puppy faces and kisses?
Best wishes

Hi Terra,
Hang in there. It does get better. When my hubby and I were looking for a Yorkie we looked for an adult because we didn't want to go thru the potty/puppy training stage. Anyway we ended up getting a puppy. We got him at 11 weeks old and the first few weeks have been a lot of work. He is just over 15 weeks and it is way better now. I have been crate training him and taking him outside to potty. Now we can have several days without an accident. Usually if he does have an accident it has been my fault as I have been busy with something else. I hope things get better for you.

Terra,
They are young and accidents will happen. Time, Work and lotsof praise and treatswill win in the end good luck to u..
Rose, your gonna make it ..lol.. :)

:wavey: Hi Terra!
Hang in there my friend, when they learn, they learn pretty fast.
It just takes time to click in. House training isn't easy, but when it happens,
you will be so happy, you will forget all about the potty days.
Yorkies have a way of filling in all the rough spots in life. Just look in their
eyes, and their love will pour out to you.
This is one reason I really love YT. When someone is upset,
we try to make them feel better. We have all been there, and
we will try to help you too. Hang in there, your not alone! :hug:

I agree...hang in there!!! It will get better....enjoy the good days and cherish them and let them help you through those hard days!!! Once you get past the first 3 months, you will have months and years to come of happiness....try to stay as positive as you can!! And when you are having trouble come to us and let us cheer you up...thats what we are here for!!

Thank you, thank you, thank you! Big Hugs to you!

Terra,
YOu are not alone. I HAD major puppy remorse the second day I got my baby girl. I thought I must be crazy getting a pup after empty nesting and our other dog already passed onto Rainbow Bridge. KimMee was really lonely for her litter mates at night and cried alot the first week. Just like having a newborn human baby. But it really wasn't very long before-POOF- she is the love of my life and was trained before you know it. Just try and remember they are so little and can't help the messes. In two months time you won't remember the headache. I wish you well.

Same here..........
 

Kids were gone, and my other wonderful pets had gone to the Bridge. My heart was hurting and I needed a new furbaby. About a week after I got him, I was thinking I was a crazy insane fool.......WHAT HAVE I DONE????? All the training you have to put into a new furbaby.......WELL, let me tell you it went by very very fast and training took lots of my time and patients. HE was sooooo worth it!!! :aimeeyork He was just so cute and I really loved him to death! :aimeeyork I even got another Yorkie 3 1/2 years later. AND, I wish I'd gotten one alot sooner. In fact, I'm wishing I could get another one..........CRAZY ME!!! :D Hang in there! They love you very much and I know you love them........it will all come together. Hugs

How delightful your reply is here!! Thanks for the pep talk! They are so lovable those little girls (Yorkies).

Terra,
Maybe you should take them for walks. I know that they might not be athletic dogs, but I walk Thunder at least 3 times a day for about 10 minutes. He loves it, it helps with his potty training (he smells the other dogs' pee and it makes him want to pee there), and, it also helps with my depression and stress/anxiety. I have been on anti-depressants for about 5 years now, and I am only 25 years old. It has been tough, I tried to get off them, but I just snowballed and got worse. Basically, what I'm trying to say is this: 1-The walks would probably help you get some air and exercise, 2-The dogs would be able to smell the outside pees and MAYBE want to pee there and 3-It would maybe help you create a schedule with them... you know, walk, sleep, pee, playtime and repeat.
Hope this helps!!!

Terra I know how you feel. I always have to take my anti anxiety medicine at first when I get a new puppy. Cali is the first puppy I've gotten since the doctor put me on antidepression meds and it helped me through the initail phase with no problems. Some of us just need a little help! It is so worth it in the end, these babies are worth it. Please keep us posted.

Terra ...they sure can be a challange...I had my oldest trained in 2 weeks and Cheri took TEN MONTHS...but when they get it...they get it.

Some yorkies will always have accidents but once you get past the puppy stage it really is way better....and I know how the little things can really overstress our minds....I just started on Anti-Depressants for the 1st time in my life recently...don't really know if they're helping... but I don't cry at commercials anymore lol !!

An interesting way to look at this issue is IF you had or have REAL kids...remember it took THEM 2 years to potty train :D ...and with yorkies - NO DIRTY DIAPERS ;)

Just keep up the good work and things will look up one day....The best of luck to you...Hang in there and hugs to you !

Terra...it will get better, I promise!
 

We got Oscar in November 2004. We were working storm claims down in Florida and it was a very stressful time working claims, seeing all of the devastation from the hurricanes, living in a 29 foot 5th wheel camper and yes...housebreaking a yorkie! But I did it. I loved Oscar from the moment I got him and we made it thru just fine. He loved his long walks thru the campground and to this day, loves every stranger he meets because those are his first memories of all the strangers coming up to him on our walks and making over him. But as Oscar got older, he became more demanding of my attention to the point of barking constantly if we would not play with him right then. He wanted to play non-stop. I ignored him to a point and was o.k. for awhile. Then a terrible family problem just almost killed me. I started having severe panic attacks where I could not breathe and even passed out and fell on the floor once. Scared my hubby to death. My Dr. put me on Wellbutrin XL. Oscar just became more than my nerves could bear. I was talking to a dear friend in Memphis and told her how I was feeling. She knew from my tone and the urgency in my voice that she needed to intervene. She offered to take Oscar for a long as necessary...that ended up being three months. She had a Bichon and he and Oscar got to play and had the best time...but I missed my baby! She knew I missed him and when we would talk she would always remind me "Now you know, he is your dog...he will always be your dog...you take him back whenever you are ready". That day came about a month ago and I have never been happier! He changed a lot during his time with her...he grew up. Just don't give up on your girls. If you do and place them with someone else, you very well may regret it someday. I was just blessed that he went to a dear friend that knew his forever place was with his mommy. It broke her heart to give him back, but she wanted to do it...she loves him like he was hers. Give them time...they will come around and become potty trained and you will wonder how it ever really bothered you in the first place! Keep your chin up and take those meds.

Thank you much for your words. It will be wonderful at the time we can take walks - right now though it would be tough as they are not on leashes yet and its pretty chilly here in Minnesota - although they do play outside in the backyard which is fenced in. We will start the walking with the girls process as it gets a little warmer.

I take walks everyday for at least 30 minutes. I have been off and on antidepressants for years and years and was hoping that I could be off for quite a while but I'm not able to handle the stress at this point. Just losing Ginger (our Pomeranian for 11 years) in January and starting out with new puppies (2 of them) in February - well the impact is more than I can manage. Again this is not the dogs fault by no means - they are divine beings and we love them. Others could probably handle this stress just fine, but it's not the case with me. I can tell when I need to be on medication...since I have dealt with clinical depression for years and years...so I don't mess around too long with it. The impact it (the depression) has on myself and others is not pleasant to say the least. So it goes. Thanks for sharing.

Dear Debbie G..Oscar's Mom,
Blessed be you dear one for sharing such a story. You deserve a great big hug and 1000's of Yorkie kisses. Oscar is so lucky to have you as his mom. Thank you so much for sharing your story with me. I can understand the panic for sure. The panic feelings were not as severe as yours by no means, but I'd wake up with my stomach just feeling of being so scared...ugh! It kept getting worse, till finally the weekend came and my husband could help me more. Now I am going back to my Prozac and that's okay - it will help. I wish to be a good influence for the girls...not this panicky, stress-out, crying lots mom!! After all they are just babies.

Thank you again Oscar's mom!

Terra - I hope you start feeling better soon..........I know that your girls love you dearly and only want to please you. Just look into their eyes and you will find a place where you are relaxed and your worries disappear!!!!

Hi Terra

I imagine the joy of having two new furbabies at once is wonderful but the stress might be multiplied by 3 :eek: Even one is a lot of work!

My only advice is do what it takes to make things easier for YOU. Decide the potty training technique that fits for your home and go from there. In an ideal world our dogs run to the door and make it very clear that they want to go out. I think it's wonderful when that can be accomplished but that wasn't even a goal for us. We went with the expen, potty pad plan and it is was a breeze. Maybe a little lazy but a breeze.

Be easy on yourself, hug your pups and know that we are here for you. Good luck!

Hi Terra I know just now you feel that your babies will never be trained but before long it just seems to click and things start to work out . It is quite stressful potty training but it does not last long I hope you are feeling better you are still greiving your other little dog so dont be so hard on your self ,just think of all the things you are acheiving every day with them good luck Julie

Terra - Sometimes puppies are just hard to housebreak. And, it's not just you, most of us struggle to get our puppies housebroken and we all hate them peeing around the house.

Summer is coming - that might help. My pup is 6 months old and definitely not potty trained. I have a little boy though - so I just slap washclothes (bellybands) around him (pinned with a diaper pin) when he is running around the house. When I work, he's confined to the kitchen and does use his pee pad. But, believe me he's not well trained at all.

Probably no one will agree with me --- but if this is a problem that bothers you so much that you need to go back on your antidepressants -- you don't need this problem. You might find good homes for your little guys and find an older dog that has already been trained (it still could be a relatively young dog - 1 year or 2 years old.)


***** My sweet little Sun Conure had to go to a new home (a wonderful home) today - because my little Yorkie was making his life miserable. The pup thinks the bird is the greatest toy in the world, and I have really snatched the little guy from the jaws of death at least four times. My bird needs to be where he can go in and out of his cage and be happy and feel safe. He is a playful, affectionate, loveable little bird, and I was very devoted to him and loved him a lot - but I had to do what was best and safe for him. I am going to get a new little bird or two that will be happy staying in the cage...finch or canaries...something like that. It's hard and sad to give up any pet. But you have to consider yourself, your pets, and everyone's quality of life in your decision making. Sometimes it's not easy, but it is the responsible and mature thing to do. And please don't let anyone make you feel guilty or try to tell you what to do.

You do what is best for you and think of yourself first!!!

Good luck - Carol Jean

(Terra) I really appreciate your honesty. You were brave to take on the task of two - I know deep inside there's a lot of love inside you to give these two pups a home and it took great courage in the first place to step out of your comfort zone. And I'm proud of you for recognizing that you need some extra help in getting through the extra stress. I have anxiety/panic problems too and get overwhelmed and depressed. It is difficult & my reactions sometimes surprise me - like no matter that I wanted a dog for years, I nearly passed out when I knew it was "a done deal" and then I found out how very much I *abhor* peeing on the carpet! But my kids & dh are very supportive and sometimes I just take time out away from the dog. Thankfully, too, Buddy isn't a barker and sleeps well in his crate. I once saw a theory in a book on anxiety disorder, about a rainbarrel. The idea is that when the stressors (rain) in our lives add up, then the barrel overflows (a symptom of too much stored up). I've got to get into the habit of those daily walks too. They are one way of getting some rain out of the barrel. But lately around here it's raining too hard (not literally, but you know what I mean?) and I've got anxiety, strange bouts of crying and insomnia. Plus PMS LOL! Anyway, I just wanted to say that I think you're brave and strong and courageous and good things are coming your way! Take care...and lots of hugs/smiles, Cheryl :)

Don't worry, I am going through the same thing with Chloe. Really my mom and I both are. I feel bad because a lot of the responsibility falls on my mom. Because I work and she is home with her more than I am. Because if it would not be for her, I doubt if I would ever get her housetrained. But, Chloe is only 8 weeks old. So she is quite young to get the hang of it. It can take up to 6 months. We are puppy pad training Chloe. Our last yorkie Lacey was a breeze to train and she was newspaper trained. We keep the puppy pads in the laundry room and we are trying to teach Chloe that is where she has to go to potty. She gets it 50% of the time and the rest she squats wherever she feels like it. It just takes plenty of patience.

Terra hon, Keep your chin up :) God bless you!
Your two little terrors will bring you such joy when they finally get it :D I have HUGE respect for you trying to raise two at the same time. I have only got one, and she is a real handful!! She could try the patience of a saint at times. BUT... I know there is light at the end of the tunnel :)
You will make it, and you will be just fine :) Don't give up, don't give in :) :Puppy: