My wife wants our pet out on the porch!!

[MeganS]

Guys, there's no need to be rude. He came here and asked for our advice. Instead of bashing his wife, maybe we should give him some?

Welcome to Yorkie Talk! I don't think it is a good idea to leave a little yorkie out on the porch all day. They could be taken away by any bird or animal. Not to mention they crave attention, and one might just go crazy if it's kept away from it's humans.

I agree, X-Pens are a much better resort. You can block off any section of your appartment just for the little guy and that will be his "place" until he's trained. But you have to make sure to take him out several times a day and give him love and attention. While you're house breaking him, make sure every time he goes on the pad (even if he misses a little. if it looks like he put effort into it at all) praise him like CRAZY. throw him a mini-parade lol. Here's an example of what an X-Pen looks like: http://www.petco.com/Shop/petco_Prod...lyID_5992.aspx

And also, Yorkies can be very difficult to house break. They have very small bladders, especially when they're babies like your puppy is. It's hard for them to hold it. So you want to make sure that when you're home with him you take him out every hour or 2, and after he eats and after he goes to sleep.

Best of luck to you! I hope you decide to stick around here. We are a friendly group and you'll learn a ton of new things!

[RLC12345678]

Originally Posted by shaderhacker

That looks AWESOME!! I'll send my wife this link.

-M

Isn't that the neatest setup?! I love it. And you could put the shower curtain or tarp UNDER the sheet so if he misses the pee pad, it won't get on the carpet.

[YorkieShadow]

Originally Posted by shaderhacker

I think some of you people are being a little harsh with the responses.

I don't think my wife knows much about dogs and especially about little ones. That's why I'm asking on these boards to see what the general consensus is.

In any case, can someone send a screenshot of an x-pen? I don't know how those look. Also, we did section off a small portion of the kitchen for Peanut. I'm fine with it, but my wife doesn't want him in the kitchen. If we can section off a small part of the apartment, with this x-pen, then that would be the best option for us. Otherwise, if my wife can't compromise with me, we may have to find it another home.

-M

I agree with some people are being a little harsh with their responses. Im sorry you had to go thu that. It seems to happen a lot. And Im sorry for that.
Maybe you can use another part of the apartment to use an xpen.
It seems that some of our Yorkie Babys are harder to potty train then others. But your baby is still young and will catch on in time. It took me a long time to get my male where he is today.
A lot of people that have never owned dogs do not like them in their kitchen. I my self dont have a problem with that, Guess I just love my baby's so much I think of them as kids. lol I just wanted to wish you luck if you try useing the xpen. But It really isent safe for them in the cold or out side unattended.

[Patti]

Another option that worked real well for me was i got a dog playpen http://www.dogdecor.com/dog-pen-dog-play-pen.html
and put her beding at one end and a wee wee pad at the other. She trained in weeks this way. Also she was safe and I could put her anywhere without a mess. With my puppies in the past when I worked full time I gated them in the braekfast area with a view of the outside. It took longer to train when I was not home all day but it does get done. I hoep you can find a workable solution.

[chachi]

I am glad you are looking at Xpens as a possible solution. I have two and just love them. They are also great because you can fold them up and take them with you and use if you want to confiine your pup elsewhere

[buddybramble]

Hi M, just changing the subject a bit but was it you or your wife who wanted the puppy, it just sounds a bit like you're dead keen but that she isnt really 'bonding' with peanut saying she thinks he's unsanitary in the kitchen and that she would think it was ok to leave him on a porch at 4 months sounds a bit like she's maybe regretting getting him. do you think maybe she feels like that? If she feels like that maybe rehoming him would be better ... although depending on how close you and Peanut have become maybe rehoming your wife

[BLowry]

First...WELCOME to YT! I wouldnt' leave him outside either...like everyone said here...x-pens seem the way to go...I didn't use one...I use the re-usable cloth pee pads...once they go on it and it is washed it still holds the scent so they are likely to go back to the pad...However, Yorkies are not known for being the easiest breed to train..I have a soon to be 3 yr old (Sadie)and a 5 month old (Lillie) Lillie did really well using the pads as soon as I brought her home. Sadie is a different story..she has more misses than hits on the pad..Lillie has more hit than misses...I have removed my area rug from the living room which has helped with using my rug...I don't know why this breed is so difficult to train...I always had good luck with any other dog that I have owned...But, I love my little furgirls and I am just being consistent with them...As far as unsanitary for the kitchen...IMO...I don't think this would make anyone sick...Do you have an area that you could block off....like a laundry room? you could put everything in there that he needs and just put a gate across the door...

[JiggityJig]

I really don't like the idea of keeping a doggie crated or penned for most of the day. If he will be there for more than a few hours, please find the largest space that you can to section off for him.

I'm glad that you really don't want to put him on the porch....yorkies are particularly social little animals, and can be so delicate. They need to be around the comforts of home, and he will certainly be ready to romp and play and love with you at the end of the day!

Yorkies are also notoriously hard to housebreak, and some never are....and others can take up to two years I've heard. I have one a little over a year, and one a little less, and scarcely a day goes by that we don't have accidents. This is just part of being a yorkie owner for most of us, and hopefully your wife will be able to understand that he WILL need to have SOME freedom around the house when you're home, and be prepared to deal with this.

I soak up as much of the pee as I can with a papertowel...pour on a mixture of white vinegar and hydrogen pyroxide and baking powder...and then use a no-vacuum foam pet deoderizer. It's quick, and seems to control the smell.

Anyway! Back to the idea of building a pen of some sort. This may seem off-the-wall, but I built a huge guinea pig cage based on this concept:

http://www.guineapigcages.com/

The base is made of a corrogated plastic, or "coroplast", like election signs and such are made from. You can buy sheets relatively cheaply from sign companies, and the site I linked gives instructions for building the "box" if you so desire.

I've never seen this suggestion here, but I think that coroplast would be a great base to protect the carpet (or hard wood!) under a dog pen. Of course, you would make sure that he had a soft spot for bedding down, toys to play with, and keep his food/water and piddle pads areas separate.

Good luck!

[JeanieK]

UNSANITARY?. I'm guessing bathing in the kitchen sink and grooming on the countertop is not allowed either.

Don't put him on the porch. A dog penned away from humans cannot be a companion. If they're not companions then what good are they? they're not enjoying you and you aren't enjoying them.

Your puppy is still a baby. Give it time. I still keep mine confined to the kitchen. They are pee pad trained but also have a doggie door. when I let them in the living room for limited periods of time, I move the pee pad to the living room also.

[friesianlady]

Welcome M.
Just to let you know, I have a total of 6 furbabies at home, and yes ALL 6 are in my kitchen, they have the back end of it, and at times are all under foot... I have in my kitchen a large crate that is lined so that they can go in there when nature calls, and yes I have had many accidents.. . I bought a floor vac for those accidents........My little ones go out several times during the day too....... I also have an X-Pen, and use it during the summer months on my deck....Please do not leave him on the porch unsupervised......

[BubblPopElectrc]

I used a baby playpen when Britney was a puppy. It was much cheaper (and the exact same thing.. maybe even nicer) than "puppy playpens."

[Emmsmom]

Originally Posted by JeanieK

UNSANITARY?. I'm guessing bathing in the kitchen sink and grooming on the countertop is not allowed either.

Don't put him on the porch. A dog penned away from humans cannot be a companion. If they're not companions then what good are they? they're not enjoying you and you aren't enjoying them.

Your puppy is still a baby. Give it time. I still keep mine confined to the kitchen. They are pee pad trained but also have a doggie door. when I let them in the living room for limited periods of time, I move the pee pad to the living room also.

I think it is unsanitary as well. Yes, I washed Diesel in the kitchen sink when he was a BABY but that was it! Now I never groom him in the kitchen. I alway trimmed him in the bathroom. Now since he is older he is always bathed and groomed in the bathroom. I can't imagine grooming him in the kitchen. I guess I am just a little anal.

[Patti]

Originally Posted by BubblPopElectrc

I used a baby playpen when Britney was a puppy. It was much cheaper (and the exact same thing.. maybe even nicer) than "puppy playpens."

The thing I liked about the puppy playpen was the fact that the front zipped open so I could leave it open when she wasn't in it and she could run in and use the wee wee pad. I still have it up for that reason and she likes to go lay in there sometimes.

[abbie's mom]

WELCOME, M to YT!

While I applaud and sincerely appreciate the fact that you want this baby, perhaps a Yorkie just isn't the breed for you and your wife? Yes - they're adorable. Yes - they're small and cuddley. Yes - one would THINK they'd be the perfect apartment pet. However, as stated many times over above, they are extremely SOCIAL, and need to feel accepted. Their spirits can be broken very easily if constantly scolded for 'accidents'. A puppy's bladder is quite small, and at four months, I had several 'potty-stations' through my house for Abbie to get to quickly, and thus give her a better chance for success! As she got more consistent with finding her target, I took away a potty place. Now we've cut it down to one 'potty place' - in the kitchen! LOL I understand your wife's aversion to this. I don't really like it, either; but, it's a spot where there is no traffic, and she can get to it. Outside training, though the best option, is not practical for our family.

You've gotten some wonderful advice and encouragement here (despite some harsh opinions) that should equip you to keep this pup, should you be willing to work. At any rate - a pet should be an ADDITION to a family, not a point of contention and stress. If you and your wife are not ready at this point, perhaps 'twould be best to consider rehoming.

[JiggityJig]

...pour on a mixture of white vinegar and hydrogen pyroxide and baking powder...

Errrrr, I suggested this "odor control" potion a little earlier, and thought I better come back and point out that obviously you should dilute the white vinegar with the hy/per and a little water, and only add a LITTLE baking powder (if you wanna avoid having a very clean and fresh smelling mini-volcano chemical reaction on your hands! )