When is a reasonable time to start potty training? - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Volgirl65 · 04-23-2014, 06:23 AM

I got my new puppy last Saturday at 6 wks old....not because I wanted him then, but those were the circumstances. He seems to be doing very well and I love him dearly already!
Anyway, because he is so young and so small, is it even remotely reasonable to try to teach him to go outside to use the potty?
Thanks,
Amy

Maximo · 04-23-2014, 07:44 PM

The biggest concern about going outdoors is that he has not had all of his puppy shots. If you have a yard that you can set up an xpen and take him only to that spot, you might be okay, but I personally wouldn't risk it. You also would need to take him out a lot.

At 6 weeks, I wouldn't expect too much. I would stick to pads.

I'm going to post again on your diet thread now that I know he is really young.

Batgirl38 · 04-23-2014, 07:59 PM

My puppy is 13wks now and I'm STILL having trouble potty training her. I'll take her outside to pee and she want do anything. The moment I bring her in she pees or poop. I tried pads and she just avoids them 85% of the time. My daughter has a Yorkie around ten same age and is having the same trouble. I met a few Yorkie owners in Pet Smart the other day and they were telling me their Yorkies are still not potty trained. And a few were adult age. I was wondering if it's the breed?

Maximo · 04-23-2014, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Batgirl38

My puppy is 13wks now and I'm STILL having trouble potty training her. I'll take her outside to pee and she want do anything. The moment I bring her in she pees or poop. I tried pads and she just avoids them 85% of the time. My daughter has a Yorkie around ten same age and is having the same trouble. I met a few Yorkie owners in Pet Smart the other day and they were telling me their Yorkies are still not potty trained. And a few were adult age. I was wondering if it's the breed?

Yorkies are notorious for being more work to train than most dogs. Some take to it right away, but most require a lot of effort and time. At 13 weeks, you might just be getting started.

I wrote a blog post with some tips that may help (I did not include much about crate training because I am not experienced in that department):

Potty Training Small Dogs - Dog Life and Style

Maximo · 04-23-2014, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Batgirl38

My puppy is 13wks now and I'm STILL having trouble potty training her. I'll take her outside to pee and she want do anything. The moment I bring her in she pees or poop. I tried pads and she just avoids them 85% of the time. My daughter has a Yorkie around ten same age and is having the same trouble. I met a few Yorkie owners in Pet Smart the other day and they were telling me their Yorkies are still not potty trained. And a few were adult age. I was wondering if it's the breed?

Also, when you take her outdoors, use keywords and phrases to tell her to go potty. Stay outside longer, until she goes potty. Then praise her like she just performed the best trick and give her a piece of kibble or other treat reward.

Outdoor training can be more challenging because Yorkies tend to be more interested in playing outdoors rather than taking care of business and going back inside right away.

Volgirl65 · 04-24-2014, 09:06 AM

I have let him go outside some...and also have pee pads by the door. He has gone on the pad all by himself a few times already. I am not sure if that is just coincidence or if I have a really smart baby.

I wouldn't have let him outside other than we have a fenced in yard and my other dogs are adults, fully vaccinated. I feel pretty safe as long as he is right outside the door. I am going thru the motions that I went thru to potty train my miniature schnauzer, just knowing that it might take him longer since he is so small...but I am hopeful that he will catch on. I take him out after every nap and play session. He has peed and pooped outside a few times when I do that. Of course I praise him like crazy. He gets excited and stands on his back feet, pawing at me. It's like he is trying to clap for himself. LOL....SO adorable!!!

Thanks for any other suggestions!
Amy

LoriML · 05-06-2014, 09:31 AM

My advice is to not start trying too much yet. I'm afraid you'll end up very very frustrated after trying to house train for the next year if you start so young. Mine is still only about 75% trained and he's 7 months old! I would suggest to try to make it convenient to have him on his pads around potty time, but don't expect to really start training him until around 12-16 weeks. It's an intensely long process to house train yorkies from what I've experienced and read. I may just have a little stubborn fella though

04-23-2014, 06:23 AM	#1
Volgirl65 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Sarasota, Florida Posts: 33	When is a reasonable time to start potty training? I got my new puppy last Saturday at 6 wks old....not because I wanted him then, but those were the circumstances. He seems to be doing very well and I love him dearly already! Anyway, because he is so young and so small, is it even remotely reasonable to try to teach him to go outside to use the potty? Thanks, Amy

04-23-2014, 07:44 PM	#2
Maximo ♥ Maximo and Teddy Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 25,044	The biggest concern about going outdoors is that he has not had all of his puppy shots. If you have a yard that you can set up an xpen and take him only to that spot, you might be okay, but I personally wouldn't risk it. You also would need to take him out a lot. At 6 weeks, I wouldn't expect too much. I would stick to pads. I'm going to post again on your diet thread now that I know he is really young. __________________ Kristin, Max and Teddy

04-23-2014, 07:59 PM	#3
Batgirl38 YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Saint Petersburg, Fl Posts: 518 Blog Entries: 1	My puppy is 13wks now and I'm STILL having trouble potty training her. I'll take her outside to pee and she want do anything. The moment I bring her in she pees or poop. I tried pads and she just avoids them 85% of the time. My daughter has a Yorkie around ten same age and is having the same trouble. I met a few Yorkie owners in Pet Smart the other day and they were telling me their Yorkies are still not potty trained. And a few were adult age. I was wondering if it's the breed?

04-24-2014, 09:06 AM	#6
Volgirl65 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Sarasota, Florida Posts: 33	I have let him go outside some...and also have pee pads by the door. He has gone on the pad all by himself a few times already. I am not sure if that is just coincidence or if I have a really smart baby. I wouldn't have let him outside other than we have a fenced in yard and my other dogs are adults, fully vaccinated. I feel pretty safe as long as he is right outside the door. I am going thru the motions that I went thru to potty train my miniature schnauzer, just knowing that it might take him longer since he is so small...but I am hopeful that he will catch on. I take him out after every nap and play session. He has peed and pooped outside a few times when I do that. Of course I praise him like crazy. He gets excited and stands on his back feet, pawing at me. It's like he is trying to clap for himself. LOL....SO adorable!!! Thanks for any other suggestions! Amy

05-06-2014, 09:31 AM	#7
LoriML Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: New Mexico Posts: 42	My advice is to not start trying too much yet. I'm afraid you'll end up very very frustrated after trying to house train for the next year if you start so young. Mine is still only about 75% trained and he's 7 months old! I would suggest to try to make it convenient to have him on his pads around potty time, but don't expect to really start training him until around 12-16 weeks. It's an intensely long process to house train yorkies from what I've experienced and read. I may just have a little stubborn fella though