Frustrated -- perhaps yorkies aren't for us?

[vainchick5]

First I want to say to the original poster, hang in there it does get easier as they transition out of the puppy stage. We would never expect an infant or newborn to be pottty trained so why do you expect the poor pups to be? Consistency is the key with potty training so be prepared to have no life until they are fully trained because that is the kind of dedication it takes.

For those breeders that said they would never sell to someone who works Ummmm I know I'm not made of money, but I make the best yorkie mom. These little babies cost a lot to care for and expect to be spoiled and that requires money. I'm a unmarried young woman who loves her yorkie to death and probably has one of the most best behaved and best trained yorkies. I work a full 8 hour shift after which I come home and am her slave Just because we have to work doesn't mean we're not fit to be good homes for yorkies. Trust me, if I could I would stay home and work from home or not work at all. But I don't have that luxury. No offense but I hope other breeders don't have your mentality because some yorkies might be missing out on perfect forever homes because the person has a job This wasn't directed at anyone in particular. I just saw it posted a few times and it struck a nerve.

On a side note, Coco is by herself from 8am-430 pm, and she has been in that schedule since the first day I brought her home. Haven't had any training or behavioral issues and she really hasn't been sick. I don't trust people going into my home without me there so I will never hire a walker and I don't trust workers at a daycare to care for her like I do. So she is perfectly content sleeping at home. She has run of the dinning room, livingroom and kitchen. I don't think she minds getting some quiet time.

[Emmsmom]

This CAN work. I would leave food and water down for them while you are gone. Just leave toys for them to play and they should be fine till you get home. My husband is gone for about 10 hours a day and we do just fine. We are going on our 13th year of marriage. LOL As long as you spend quality time with them when you get home they would be just fine. In the meantime .. If you change you mind I ccan still take one off your hands!! LOL

[rachelsyorkie]

It would be very hard to train pups when you work all day. If they are pooping at night it sounds like you are feeding to late. Feed a half hour before taking the dogs out for a half hour. I work nights 11p-7a, So I'm home all day & my husband is home from 2:30 in the day & all night. So my dogs are never alone. We take them places with us when possible. My girl pees & poops around the house. She uses her pee pads most of the time. I would suggest that if they pee on the floor to get another pad out soak alittle up, mop the area then lay that pad down for use in that spot. You may have them all over the place-Then they will think ok I peed here, but I guess mom wants it on this pad, I can do that I would limit the food to the recommended amount. I take my dogs out first thing in the morning then feed, then back out after a half hour-if they poop sooner try 15 minutes after eating. then hide some treats around the kitchen or get the toys that you can put treats inside to give them something to do. repeat the potty break, feeding & potty again when you get home. It is alot of work but if they arent eating the legs off your kitchen chairs you are luckier then some Some people leave food out 24/7, it really isnt nessaccary unless they have shown signs of hypoglysemia-just my opinion

[ARCHIE]

I feel your frustration, really I do. I was sure I made a huge mistake after
bringing Buddy home and having him for a couple of days. I did not know this
site existed so I went it alone. He was 14 1/2 wks old and I worked all day.
I learned how to crate train by reading books and traveled 26mi each day at lunch time
to releive him from his crate and give him a walk. I did this for 6 wks.
I never got up at night with him. He only had a couple of accidents in the crate. On the weekend I still got up at 6:00am to walk him and I would
sit in the kitchen and cry because I could not go back to bed. He was up
for the day because that was our daily routine. Then came the chewing of
rugs, 13 of them in total, furniture and any other thing he could get his little mouth around. He jumped the gate I put up in the kitchen when I left for work. Who knew they could jump like a cat? I didn't. I really thought I bit off more than I could chew. He was so darn adorable the thought of giving him up just wasn't an option. I made a commitment and I was going to see it
through somehow. Well at 4mos he was completely trained and by 1yr his chewing on things just stopped! I started letting him sleep in my bed at 9mos because he would not sleep in his own. I have to say that after all
the hell he put me through he became a loving, sweet, smart and beautiful
pet. Buddy is just perfect in everyway. He now has the run of the house all day.
These little ones require lots of work and patience more than I could ever
have imagined. I often say it's like raising a 2yr old who never grows up.
They are constantly on the go and always getting into things.
Our schedule:
6o am 15min walk
6:30 am fed
6:40-7:10: Buddy's time to be played with
8:10 am 20min walk
5:30 30 min walk after getting home from work
6:00 pm fed
Rest of the night is he and I doing whatever but attached at the hip!
9:30 pm 20min walk
Sleep until alarm goes off at 6:00am and he jumps on my head to start the morning.
Yes, I believe Yorkies do need more work than other breeds because they
demand it or they are misirable and will act out in other ways or become depressed.
Buddy and I have settled into our lives and I truly can't imagine life without
him.


Carol & Buddy

[JCarlson2004]

Originally Posted by JeanieK

I agree. It may sound snobbish, but yorkies are not "just a dog". They are much more delicate and their needs are greater. I am guessing most toy breeds need the same type of care. But they definitely need more care than a large breed.

Well said.

[Rhanna]

I have 4 dogs and they are all high maintenance in different ways. In fact our Yorkie is the easiest. We have a Shihtzu who is way more maintenance than our Yorkie. One of our dogs is a mix breed about 35lbs and way more maintenance than any of our smaller dogs. If you leave him alone too long he will do way more destruction than our Yorkie would ever do. All their personalities are different and they have different needs. One thing they all have in common is they need a consistent routine every day. All 4 of mine have worked well with crate training and feeding schedules.

[margot.]

I have a few suggestions:
[QUOTE=Friley]They have even started eating their own feces which gets everywhere cause they drag it back to their kennel. We've read that most puppies will outgrow this stage (eating their poop) and when we're home we usually clean up the feces before they begin to eat it.....[QUOTE]

There's stuff you can put into their food that makes their poop taste unappealing (although, you'd think it'd be unappealing enough as is!)

Banks doesn't seem to want to eat his OWN poop, just other dogs poop...which is gross...we're working on that too!

Originally Posted by Friley

Our 2nd issue is their constant need of attention, whining, & barking. Our typical routine during the evening is the dogs use the pee pad for their business before we take them out to play, since Belle will pee anywhere in the apartment. We then take them out to play or run around for 30 minutes, about which time Belle usually stops to find a corner to pee in. They then go back in the crate to rest or to allow us to eat dinner. Then we do the process all over again, if its nice outside we'll take them on a 20 minute walk.

I know that these are small dogs, but I think all dogs - regardless of their size and the weather - should be walked for an hour or more each day. On the days that I just can't get myself out of the house for over a half hour or 45 min. on his walk, I'll play the COME game with Banks. Basically, I'll run backwards saying "come banks, come banks, come banks" in a really friendly, fun, enthusiatic way so that he chases me, back and forth, back and forth in my apartment. It teaches him to come and that coming is fun attention from me.

Also, I think by walking him (or playing that game if you can't walk them for an hour or more or any kind of vigorous [sp?] activity) tires him out completely. He may protest a little bit when I first put him in his crate, but settles down and goes to sleep. There's no substitute for exercise - it's good for people and for dogs - a tired pup is a happy pup!

[JCarlson2004]

Originally Posted by margot.

There's no substitute for exercise - it's good for people and for dogs - a tired pup is a happy pup!

I couldn't agree more.

[YorkieRose]

I realize this is a very debatable post...many say, "hang in there"...sure your Yorkies will adapt to your long hours and boredom, but then, what have you got?...Two lonely, bored Yorkies.
And, yes, in MY perfect world MY babies owners are with them all or most of the day. I do believe if I found out any of my puppies spent their day in a small crate with no food or water there would be hell to pay...and the last thing anyone wants is an irrate breeder on their backs..LOL

Seriouly, I have gone and physically removed a few of my Yorkies from homes that did not turn out to be good...been a long time, but it has happened to me in 33 yrs..and it's been a long time since I told any forum about climbing over a fence in the middle of the night to rescue one that lived outside in 30 degree weather...
Jay Ammons (Montclair) broke in a house through a small bathroom window to rescue one of her males that was being abused...as I recall she was arrested or threatened with arrest...of course this is way off the subject..the poster is a good owner, just overwhelmed with the needs of two Yorkies...

[YorkieShadow]

It sounds to me like your Yorkies are bored and need more attention.
I have had so many different breeds and Yorkies being the hardest for me to potty train, But I think thats some what my fault, I dont take them out as much as I should, and that because of my back. They do use the peepad but I think I could of had them potty trained faster if I was able to get around more. so its prob the same prob you are having with being away so much. even thou im home 24/7 I think if you give them a little more play time and out side time you will get better and faster results on the potty training and the whinning.I dont crate or cage my baby's, I know they would cry.
And I do agree with Yorkierose some what. these babys seem to need more attention then any other breed I have ever owned. they dont have much life being crated or caged all day. the same for dogs outside in kennells. I know I have two, They do come in and they do get some exercise running in the yard. But I still feel that they too need more attention.and im just not able to let them run like I use too.

[YorkieShadow]

Originally Posted by YorkieRose

I realize this is a very debatable post...many say, "hang in there"...sure your Yorkies will adapt to your long hours and boredom, but then, what have you got?...Two lonely, bored Yorkies.
And, yes, in MY perfect world MY babies owners are with them all or most of the day. I do believe if I found out any of my puppies spent their day in a small crate with no food or water there would be hell to pay...and the last thing anyone wants is an irrate breeder on their backs..LOL

Seriouly, I have gone and physically removed a few of my Yorkies from homes that did not turn out to be good...been a long time, but it has happened to me in 33 yrs..and it's been a long time since I told any forum about climbing over a fence in the middle of the night to rescue one that lived outside in 30 degree weather...
Jay Ammons (Montclair) broke in a house through a small bathroom window to rescue one of her males that was being abused...as I recall she was arrested or threatened with arrest...of course this is way off the subject..the poster is a good owner, just overwhelmed with the needs of two Yorkies...

THis reminds me of myself, Many years ago I rescued two dogs, I was just a young girl and I thought these people was starving these dogs and I was going to save them. I went into these peoples house and down into the basement and took these two dogs home with me. Boy did I get into trouble not only from the police but from my Mother. turns out these dogs were greyhounds and are suppose to be thin. I was young how was I to know. all I know is that was eating pretty good on my moms food. lol

[wnturner]

I'm a full time yorkie Mom w/ a husband who works full time as well. I PM'd you some suggestions hope they help.

[sgab80]

They are like children-needing attention and ALOT of it. I know you love them-
but its hard for them to be alone and confined all day, and only have a very brief time with you-then bedtime already. I work 2 days/week -12hrs thats a very long day and excruciating for me to leave Lillybelle that long, because otherwise she is in my lap, im carrying her around or she is right at my feet-ALWAYS. When I work, either myself, my husband or my boys drive all the way home off and on during the middle of the day to play with Lillybelle and take her out, spend time with her and let her play. We live out in a rural area and its not a short drive for any of us-but if we all worked all day, everyday, then only had a couple hours before betime-I just think it would be really difficult. Im not saying either way - you have to do what is best for you and your doggies-only from your description-they sound bored and lonely. Not your fault-just a fact.

[margot.]

Originally Posted by Friley

Our 2nd issue is their constant need of attention, whining, & barking. Our henever they whine or bark not to take them out of their crate because it teatypical routine during the evening is the dogs use the pee pad for their business before we take them out to play, since Belle will pee anywhere in the apartment. We then take them out to play or run around for 30 minutes, about which time Belle usually stops to find a corner to pee in. They then go back in the crate to rest or to allow us to eat dinner. Then we do the process all over again, if its nice outside we'll take them on a 20 minute walk. But anytime we crate them they whine and bark like crazy, even when its time for them to eat, they'll ignore their food and just sit and whine. We try to ignore them because otherwise it just encourages them to bark and whine louder and longer. I've read that wches them to whine and bark to get what they want, which of course interrupts the routine we're trying to establish and they get less play time.

Have you tried Kongs or chew toys? Banks isn't TOO interested in his Kong (to my dismay!), but he loves his boba (?) rope. Figures - they always like the cheaper things! Kongs are great and you can put food in them to keep them occupied. Plus, all dogs, paticularly terriers (originally working dogs), which are bred to hunt small underground game, like to work for their food. I haven't done this yet, but I've heard that it's good to train and play games that the dog was bred for. The word terrier comes from the latin "terra" meaning "of the earth" becuse terriers are DIGGERS at heart. my plan is to bury something like a bone or treat and tell Banks to find it. I know this will take time and many people might not be able to do this (i.e. you can't go digging up someone else's yard or dig in the park), but maybe even shredding a bunch of newspaper and burying a little treat will help them work for food AND do the things that they are bred to do.

I also talk to Banks when he's awake in his crate and being quiet...like when we're eating - I encourage his calm, relaxed behavior in there and ignore his bad behavior or say "eh-eh in an assertive tone that lets him know I dont like what he's doing. Also, when he's being good, I'll open the gate, but not let him out and just pet him and rub his belly, telling him what a good boy he is. Hopefully this helps!

Just curious, but did you think that getting two would make training, seperation anxiety etc. etc. easier? I've heard this from some people as the two can entertain eachother, but heard the exact oppisite from others - that the dogs bond more with eachother than with their owners and it makes training more difficult..dunno though, cause I don't have two!

[Yorkiedaze]

Your pups are not getting the proper training, plus they are feeling your apprehension and getting nervous.
The area you have them in sounds too big. Small area is fine as long as they are both together.
Walk them before you leave, and either come home for lunch or have someone come and either play or walk them. (depending on the weather)
Buy some Deter to give them each day to stop the poop eating.
At night, make sure you either walk them or play with them. Put them on the sofa with you when you watch TV and not let them get down. Give them a chewy to occupy themselves. It should be a pleasant experience for all of you.
Put their crate at the masterbath door with the crate door open and wee-wee pad on the bathroom floor. Make sure they can't get between the crate and the door jam. Give them a couple of toys. Pups only take short naps in between playing at night till they are a year or year and a half.
I hope things work out for you and those little babies.