Please Help Me From Having To Sent My 2 Sweeties To A Shelter
 

Please Help!!! This is my first attempt at using a site like this. I am desperate. I have 2 female Yorkies. The will be 2 on December 28th. As of yet, I have not been successful at potty training them. We have been using a litter box that is located in our garage off of the laundry room. They should go out there to use the facilities. There are more accidents than successes. I just had double knee replacement surgery and cannot keep up with these little ones. They seem to make no attempt to try to hold it. During the day, when I was still able to work, before my medical leave, they have been in crates. I thought this was mean, however, everyone assures me this is ok. I deliberately bought 2 puppies so that they would keep each other company during my absence. I am heartbroken to say, that I am now at the point of bring them to a shelter. They have totally worn me out. I would praise their successful potty efforts my actually jumping and clapping (when I was able to jump that is). Now I am very limited. The have no problem with eliminating in their own crate. Nothing seems to work. I can't tell you how truly heartbreaking this is for me. I am typing between my teardrops, so I hope that this is readable. PLEASE, can anyone suggest what I can do to get them potty trained at this late time? I would even send them to a dog training school and leave them there for training. I don't know where to go. I have spent the last 4 months crying at the thought of getting rid of them. I don't want to do that, nor do I want them separated as they are sisters and have been together since birth. My son, 29 has made it clear to me that he will never speak to me again if I get rid of them. He has tried in vane to help with the house breaking too. He adores Mandy and Hailey. But I am now warn. I love them too, but the constant washing of blankets, cleaning of accidents, only to turn around and find after cleaning one mess, that the other just did the same. PLEASE HELP. I am so upset. I love them both, and fear losing them and my son. Thanks to any one who can help me with this sad dilemma. Kind regards, Princess Patte

I'm afraid that I won't be much help - but I'm really sorry that you are haivng such a hard time. I know about knee replacement surgery and you certainly cannot get around well now, but it should get better in the future.

About the housebreaking. Do you have a fenced yard? If so, and your yard is safe, can you try a doggie door so they can go outside to potty. That is what worked for me - when we put in a doggie door so that our Rowdy could go out the doggie door by himself, then he was almost magically housebroken. Rexy came a year later and he just followed Rowdy's lead, and so he was pretty easy to break.

I can't say that Rowdy doesn't occasionally potty on the floor, because he does. He is not neutered and so he marks - but it is only alittle bit and we have wood floors and stained concrete, so it doesn't matter, I just wipe it up. Rexy never goes in the house, except for occasionally pooping in my mom's room - I don't know why, but sometimes he does.

Good luck, I hope you get some good suggestions.

good luck
 

please just be patient, your knees will heal in time and then you can really attack the housebreaking problem, I also have 2 girls, sisters Laverne & shirley they are the same age as your 2 they sometimes still have accidents. Just hang in there it will get better, in the mean time just keep cleaning thier crates and maybe use an ex-pen if you have one, they can be used outside or inside. If not, call me I'd be intersted in them if you decide to re-home them. 931-270-7677

I have no advice to offer other than to just hang in there. Look to your babies as a source of comfort during this difficult time and on your road to recovery.

I had a spinal fusion 6 months ago and today I am pain free completely. I truly believe that my baby Scruffles helped me to recover. I had only had him for five days when I came out of the hospital so he was not even trained yet. It was not easy looking after a puppy by any means at the condition I was in, but I was determined and I know he helped me get through my recovery faster. Back brace and all I would take small walks with him, and as I got stronger I increased the distance and my pace. There were plenty of accidents throughout this time, but the good times far outweighed the bad. I know your babies will help you through your physically challenging time too.

Good Luck

I hope and pray that you don't have to give up your babies. It took my Yorkie girl over a year to get potty trained and she messed in her crate too. I got her a companion too, a Yorkie mix, and he was easier to train. Close to the time that she turned one, I was home with them full time and I was able to let them out more often. Persistance did pay off and she never has an accident in the house anymore. She is now 3 and I still praise her like she just won me a million bucks every time she potties and poops outside. In the morning her first poop of the day gets her a chicken jerkey and she knows it, she poops and then runs like crazy to come get her treat.

I tried to get them to use a litter box and also pee pads, but they just wouldn't use them. They WOULD use newspaper though. Maybe you could try using just newspaper on the floor. Good luck and I will pray for your fast recovery and that you will be able to keep your precious little babies with you.

Do you have a place to install a doggie door? We've had great luck with the boys using one once they get the hang of it. We haven't installed one in our new house yet so we keep a wee-wee pad (in a tray) inside for times when we're gone and they can't get out. When you crate trained your girls did they have too much room in their crates? They should only have room to sit or lay down, not to play. We crate trained our boys and yes, it does seem cruel at first but it's actually a great way to train them. Please don't give up...you've come to the right place for help...you'll find it here and be able to keep your girls!

I think you will need to go back to basics. Keep them confined to the laundry room untill they learn to go out to the box.

It might be that they don't like the box, but it sounds to me like they just never got the message, so you will need to start like they were puppies and retrain them.

When I got my guys, I put down pee pads where ever i found poop or pee, they were confined to the kitchen. At one point I had half of the floor covered, then I gradually started moving the pads closer together towards the area where I wanted the pad to be.

If they went back to a spot that I had moved a pad from, I put one of their beds or a toybox over the spot.

Gradually I got it down to one pad, and then I put that pad in a shallow under the bed type rubbermaid box. They did real well with that 95% of the time.

Since then I have fenced in my patio and installed a doggie door, and now they use the doggie door and only use the box if it is raining out.

However, I still keep them confined to the kitchen during the day, They are only allowed in the living room in the evening when we are watching TV, and then I put the box in the living room becase I still don't trust them.

I crate them only at night.

Please just give them time. I know it is hard for you right now, but for the time being, confining them to hard surface floor will help.

If you absolutely cannot handle it I would love to have them. And many others on here would also.

Oh, please, keep them. You can try diapers for a while till you get better and they will learn eventually. I saw some cute waterproof panties for girls and they are washable.

Being they havn't caught on in two years, you might consider hiring a trainer and an animal behavioral specialist to come out to your home and work with you on the potty training. There may be some other issues that are causing the potty training problems. Also, have you had your babies checked by a vet recently just to make sure there is nothing physically wrong with them? Where did your babies come from? If they came from a pet store or a puppy mill, they might have gotten used to going in the crate and as such, crate training probably won't work. Like the others said, I would sit tight until you have recovered from your surgery than get busy on this issue.

Go for the diapers!! All you do is put in a sanitary pad and change as needed throughout the day. Give yourself some peace of mind and ENJOY YOUR BABIES!! Lots of people do this! Wouldn't you be so lonely without them? Don't give up on them, put them in diapers!!

I feel so bad for you, that will certainly wear you out. If you have a child safety gate (you can find on cheap at Goodwill) you can section them off on some linoleum flooring ie kitchen, bathroom, to give you a break when you need it. At least it will keep the mess confined for the time being. When you have them sectioned off, you can place a pee pad in there or the litter box, while they're in thier pen. This way, the mess won't be all over them as in the crate. Best wishes to you,

Susan

You got some good advise & your son has a point..... Taking a dog to a shelter unless it's agressive is the lazy way out.....but I know you're frustrated.

It sure does sound like you need to start from the beginning and try to re-train them - or FIND SOMEONE WHO CAN - there are many people looking for yorkies that would be able to invest the time to train....with all the accidents you can't be enjoying them too much and that's just a shame for them and you.

PLEASE READ THIS ABOUT Taking a dog to the Shelter....I think it may change your mind on them http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=54913I

I wish you all the best

If all else fails and you decide they need to go offer them on YT and I am sure someone wuld adopt them. That would be alot better than taking them to a shelter

please don't bring them to a shelter. they will be so scared. someone here can help you rehome them. there are good yorkie loving people here. can you have a dog trainer come to your home? have you tried cesar millan books or dvds?

Please don't give up on them, I have 6 at my house and I can tell you that potty training is tough. If you could use a crate to train them that might help. I have two (2) that will never potty in their crates and one (1) that will wait to go outside, so that leaves three (3) more, and two (2) are the boys who can lift their legs in seconds. I truly understand the pains in potty training, confine them in one area and go from their. If you really have to re-home them, I will take them. Just give it some more time please...:Pawprint:

Please take a deep breath and rethink this. As has been said here go back to basics. Make sure the crate is small enough for them to just lie down in. Take them out and immediately outside. When they go praise and treat them. Cesars book is very good. Mine are 21mo and 13mo and still occassionally there is an accident but when I really think about it, it usually is my fault as I wasn't paying attention. Don't give up on them and if it has to be please post on here as there and alot of good people who would be willing to adopt them

I would try using pee pee pads in their crate at one end. Cali trained in 2 weeks that way. I live in Gurnee 20 minutes from Wheeling if you would like some help I would be happy to help you try and get them trained. Just PM me.

Princess Patte -

I just want to say that I support you whatever you decide to do.

If it weren't for your recent surgery, I too would be saying "don't give up". But, I know that knee replacement surgery isn't easy to recover from. And, it takes alot of work to housetrain a dog.

If your son is so attached to them, perhaps he could give them a home?

Please, if you do have to rehome them, call a rescue organization. They would be sure to find a home for them where the owner has the time and ability to try to housebreak them. It would be a shame for them to go to a shelter only to be sent back after the next adopters have the same problem.

Best of luck to you whatever you decide.

:thumbup: :thumbup:

:thumbs_up I agree wth the above statement..
if trying to go back to basic does not work
Soon they will be chaseing you all around :doghop: ..my Aunt had replacement surgery too. and she gets along better than I do now
DON'T GIVE UP...IF YOU NEED ENCOURAGEMENT PM ME :callme:
I'LL TALK YOU THROUGH IT..
GET WELL SOON:getwell:

My yorkie wasn't fully potty trained until I was able to train myself to work with her. She went into heat and we got her puppy undies. These were a huge relief for us. If she had an accident, it was in the undies and not on the carpet/floor. This helped to eliminate odors on the carpet, which I believe helped her to learn that she doesn't go on the carpet. I had to train myself to take her to the pad every hour or two depending on how active she was. If she was sleeping, I put her on the pad as soon as she woke up. It took about a month or two for her to really "get it" with this routine. She was fairly trained when she got here, but I think for dogs that use the bathroom inside, it can be confusing for them when the "good" area and the "bad" area are right next to each other. There are times when I know she has to go and (for whatever reason!) she won't go. I have Olivia's pad in an area that we can easily gate off. I put a gate up until she goes- she may cry, but as soon as she goes, she gets to get out. She does still have infrequent accidents, but I'd say that for the most part, she is potty trained. Since you just had knee surgery, I think that your whole family needs to be very involved in this whole process.

Good luck!

Just one more suggestion that I don't think has been made.

You HAVE to get the urine smell out of any place they have pee'd! That means hot HOT water and bleach if possible (or white vinegar) on blankets and pads and steam cleaning carpets and floors. IF they can smell urine they think it is OK to go there. There are products that will take out the urine too.

Then start from the basics as has been said.

IF you can afford a dog trainer then go for it, but have someone come to your house...training them somewhere else won't teach them where to go at home. If you can't afford a dog trainer per se, what about a vet tech student or even someone who volunteers at a animal shelter and or rescue...they would charge less.

I hope you feel better soon. When you are in pain it is hard to cope with things as well as do what you want.

I'm so sorry that you are having such a hard time. Sometimes, it just takes time. You have to be patient. I know it's harder since your knee surgery. I agree with one of the posts if, you have a place to install a dog door. They are wonderful. We put one in in Feb of this year and I have never regretted it.

Please don't take them to a shelter try and adopt them out yourself. I'm sure you won't have a problem if I were you I would prefer they stay together.

Hang in there.

maybe this will work
 

Put a lot of newspapers around overlapping one another. Put the group of papers at the door that your yt will go outside to do business. Then each day remove a piece of paper that is furtherest from that door. As you reduce the area to a very small section that is right by the front door you are planning to use to go outside. At some point you could possibly remove the indoor paper section all together with some success to have your yt go outside. Good luck, keep trying.:thumbup:

I know it must be heartbreaking to be in the shape your in. That has to be enough pain by itelf, without adding the help of trying to keep up with 2 dogs not housebroken.

Is there anyone (like your son) who could take them until your knee recovers?

Is there anyone who could take them on this board, that lives close by, until your knee heals?

If your dead serious about getting rid of them, you've already had several offers here. If they don't pan out, we have a sections for "yorkies for sale, or wanted" here.

Shelters are mostly "high kill". Which means they only get a few days before they are euthunized.

There are many tips here on housetraining, but I know being in the shape your in, its probably almost impossible to keep up with them, much less trying to get someone to put a doggie door in, or finding a doggie gate, or a crate. I live alone, so I understand how hard it is for "one person" to do things when immobilized.

There are many options, and several offers here. If none pan out, please put it in the other section called "yorkies for sale or wanted". I'm sure you could find someone willing to take them.

Also many vets know folks that would take them too.

If they "have to go" I pray they get a good home. I know there isn't a soul here that wouldn't take the very best of care with those pups here.

Meantime, keeping you in my prayers, as I feel you've already took as much as you can take already, or you wouldn't have made this post. My prayers go out to you, in whatever decision you make. But I assure you, Yorkies are NOT hard to place dogs at all!

Me From Having To Sent My 2 Sweeties To A Shelter
 

Hi… I would just like to let you know that I have turned Mandy and Hailey over to the Yorkie Rescue of Illinois. I am hoping that they will find them a home TOGETHER. I have not stopped crying yet. Thank you everyone for your kind words and advise. God bless you all and take care and cherish your little friends. I miss mine so very much. Princess Patte

I'm so sorry that you had to do this. But, now you know that they will find a good home and hopefully together.

Better choice than the first one for sure:thumbup:

Hope you knee gets better really soon. Keep this site bookmarked, never know what you will do once your knee is healed.

I have learned so much with my 2ond one here, than I ever knew with my first one, not having a way to learn all of what needs to be done, and how to do it.

I wish you were in Mobile, AL. I am pad training one now, whats another 2?

Where is the Yorkie Rescue in Illinois? I know you live in the far northern suburbs. I'm in the western suburbs near Wheaton. Maybe I can rescue one of them. Please PM me!

I know it was hard for you to do but you had to do it and I totally understand why. Recently a friend of mine asked me to take her Bichon to the pound for her because she couldn't get her potty trained and she was also having her own health issues. I couldn't take her myself and I called everyone I knew that would give her a great home. No one could take her. I knew of a wonderful Bichon rescue group called Small Paws Rescue and I got her permission to turn the pup over to them instead. We were both confident that the pup would be very well placed and loved by her new family. I hope you don't have second thoughts about it because I know you did a lot of thinking about this before you did it. I am sure that Yorkie Rescue is a great organization and your babies will find a wonderful and loving home too. God Bless You and my wishes for a speedy recovery for you.