Am I a wimp? - YorkieTalk.com Forums

karen24 · 02-27-2015, 02:43 PM

Well, we are reconsidering the whole outdoor potty training plan. We have had frigid (like -15) temps here and we just couldn't send our little guy out to potty, even to the attached garage, it was too cold. So we set a clean potty box just inside the door. Jack was able to go in and out to use the potty pad at his leisure. Well, he did! And he did sooo well that after a few days, with no accidents anywhere inside, my husband and I are looking at each other and saying, this is too easy. We were both so serious about the whole potty outside only plan, but...

I talked to our vet yesterday and he said he wasn't even sending his 11lbs. yorkie out to potty in these frigid temps. He also advised that at 16 weeks old, Jack will probably double his current weight at adulthood. So he's 2.2lbs now, so he is anticipated to be 4.4lbs. I thought he would be closer to 6lbs as full grown.

Well, given all, we are wondering if we should just find a good spot for his little potty box and call it good? It really hasn't been an issue with odor or anything, I change the pad once or twice a day and pick up and flush his tootie rolls. So easy, so much easier than chasing this little guy around, running him in and out. And cleaning up his accidents, he has had his good days and bad days regarding accidents, well based on my ability to give him undivided attention. But now, with the potty pad inside, it seems that he is already pretty well trained. I have been praising and rewarding, and I will certainly continue that, but he hasn't had an accident since he's had constant access to the indoor pad.

Am I a wimp or is the indoor potty pad just the most practical situation for such a small dog?

Britster · 02-27-2015, 04:39 PM

If it works for you, it works! I don't think Jackson could ever be pad trained, even as a pup, he wasn't into it. He needs lots of space to sniff and move first, but wow it definitely would've been nice on some days we've had recently with below freezing temps. So if he's already being successful at it, I'd say go for it. I usually prefer outdoor training simply because I find a lot of pad trained dogs will always have accidents throughout their life rugs and carpets etc but I'm all for it if you can do it and be successful.

ironmike86 · 02-27-2015, 07:05 PM

Moki is pad trained and outdoor. He prefers to go out door. Will go outdoors when I let him. I leave a pad out so if I'm not home he will use it. But rarely. He doesn't have accidents. He always has a place to go. But I couldn't trust him till he was ~2 yrs old. He has a bell to ring when he wants to go out side

anneclaire · 02-27-2015, 09:51 PM

It has been the coldest here as it has been in 136 yrs so they say. Who knows? LOL I just know it is too cold for my 2.7 baby to be outside!!! Especially since she has never been, not even at the breeders.
SO I say do whatever you feel comfy with and Jack is comfy with! I dont mind picking up the little tootsies and since I watch her constant when I see she has to go I know exactly where to find it! She does pee on her pad tho.
Just do whatever works for you and Jack .♥

Maximo · 02-28-2015, 08:17 AM

Good boy, Jack! I say stick with the pad if all is going well. You can still take him outside when weather permits. My boys do both. They have the pad available at all times, and when possible we go outdoors.

KazzyK810 · 02-28-2015, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by karen24

Am I a wimp or is the indoor potty pad just the most practical situation for such a small dog?

IMO, it's practical....for so many reasons. As you said, living here in Michigan winters is just makes sense for very small dogs.

Also, any time you are out of the house or late getting home, he has access to potty as needed, which to me is humane. Too many dogs are expected to "hold it' ridiculous amounts of time, regardless of what they eat or how their belly feels that day, while their human 'carers' are feel to use the bathroom whenever they have need. If school prohibited their human kids from using the bathroom facilities all day, I'm sure there would be outrage, but prohibiting furkids is acceptable? Even prison cells have toilets, to humanely treat the worst of criminals while they are locked up.

karen24 · 02-28-2015, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KazzyK810

IMO, it's practical....for so many reasons. As you said, living here in Michigan winters is just makes sense for very small dogs.

Also, any time you are out of the house or late getting home, he has access to potty as needed, which to me is humane. Too many dogs are expected to "hold it' ridiculous amounts of time, regardless of what they eat or how their belly feels that day, while their human 'carers' are feel to use the bathroom whenever they have need. If school prohibited their human kids from using the bathroom facilities all day, I'm sure there would be outrage, but prohibiting furkids is acceptable? Even prison cells have toilets, to humanely treat the worst of criminals while they are locked up.

Thank you! Those are really good points!

JadeD · 03-07-2015, 02:37 PM

I live in NC and I hate to have to take my Yorkie out in the cold here. I put a sweater and coat on him when it is cold out to help him stay warm. If he was a puppy I would consider pee pads so I could stay inside. LOL

I have to take out the big dog anyway though, so bundling up Teek isn't too bad since they both go out together.

If pee pads work for you then I say go for it! This spring you can see if he wants to go outside and you can still have pee pads there in case he has to go out or if it is pouring down rain.

I grew up in Michigan so I know how cold it is there in the winters and I am glad we are down here now even though it has been cold here. My friends in Michigan post the temps and I just can't believe it!

KazzyK810 · 03-07-2015, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JadeD

I grew up in Michigan so I know how cold it is there in the winters and I am glad we are down here now even though it has been cold here. My friends in Michigan post the temps and I just can't believe it!

It has been frigid this year in Michigan. This year kids have missed more school days due to frigid temps than they have for snow days. Personally, I'll take this years record cold over last years record setting snowfall. At least the roads are clear and I've not had to shovel my driveway too much.

alaskayorkie · 03-08-2015, 12:11 AM

Yeah, I agree with the group -- do both. Jillie is 5 pounds and was pad trained before she learned to go outside. Rather than stop putting the pad out, though, I let her decide what she wants to do. When it's warm, I'm finding she doesn't use the pad. When it's cold, she uses the pad. It's a win-win situation because I don't mind leaving a pad out for her.

yorkiedallas · 03-08-2015, 10:09 PM

My brain stopped at -15 degrees. I can't process that. Best of luck to you all. Do whatever you have to do to keep everyone safe and comfortable.

TysonMyBoy · 03-09-2015, 01:18 PM

Tyson absolutely prefers outside, but he will use a potty pad.

Rin, my little 4lb girl, was pad trained from the very beginning and has always done very well. I have hardwood floors that can easily be wiped up, but I always keep a small rug in front of the back door and of course there is a rug in the shower. When Rin was a puppy, she mistook those small rugs for "potty pads." I watched her every second for about two days. When I would "catch" her about to pee on a rug, I said "uh huh" and took her to the potty pad. She now understands not to pee on a rug and always uses her potty pad (always in the same location). Smart girl!!!!

I say stick with what works for you.

Doodlebug · 03-09-2015, 02:37 PM

I wish mine would use the potty pad In the winter. They wake me up in the night to go outside. I worry that they will slip on the ice going up or down the steps, which they have done many times. I can see that they are scared and both have arthritis. Sometimes I go out and carry them down the steps. Last winter I stepped down onto a sheet of ice at the bottom of the steps and my legs flew out from under me in different directions. I barely managed to scoot myself up the steps on my rear and scooted into the house, but I couldn't even get up and walk. I was lucky that I wasn't carrying the pups or that I didn't hit my head on the steps when I fell. i am thinking about trying to come up with something to put on the deck that they will use and block the stairs so they don't go down. I just wish they would use a pee pad but they wont, they will whine to go outside.

yavenay · 03-16-2015, 12:43 PM

You are definitely not being a wimp. Whatever works best for you. I suspect it wasn't your decision anyway. Your little was probably like "Heck no I ain't going out there...it's to0 cold" So he tricked you into letting him potty indoors....it happens all the time.

It's called "YMC". The Yorkie Mind Control and we have all experienced it. There are going be other things that he will forced you to do as well. Funny thing is you won't even realized you are being controlled. Remain diligent.

babnaw · 03-19-2015, 05:31 AM

I agree with others that you could do both. The night I brought my pup home it was very cold and snowing heavily and she was just a 2.5 lb. 8 week old pup so I did not want to bring her outside to do her business. The first week or so she did all her pottying on the pad (well except for her accidents, but she seemed to be already partially pad trained because she didn't have too many). Once she was more settled in I started bringing her outside regularly to pee and she caught on pretty quickly. If it was really cold or blustery outside I wouldn't bring her out, but otherwise I brought her out every approximately every 45 min. throughout the day, whenever she woke up from a nap, and about 15 min. after each time she ate. She now goes outside 95% of the time. Sometimes I can go days without changing the pee pad because she'll only use it once or twice, but I do like having it there in case she does have to go and I don't bring her out quickly/often enough. She will sometimes ring her bell if she has to go outside to poop, but for pee she doesn't seem to let me know so I just bring her out frequently still, though at 18 weeks she can now go 1-1.5 hrs. without going outside.

02-27-2015, 02:43 PM	#1
karen24 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Saginaw, MI, US Posts: 97 Blog Entries: 2	Am I a wimp? Well, we are reconsidering the whole outdoor potty training plan. We have had frigid (like -15) temps here and we just couldn't send our little guy out to potty, even to the attached garage, it was too cold. So we set a clean potty box just inside the door. Jack was able to go in and out to use the potty pad at his leisure. Well, he did! And he did sooo well that after a few days, with no accidents anywhere inside, my husband and I are looking at each other and saying, this is too easy. We were both so serious about the whole potty outside only plan, but... I talked to our vet yesterday and he said he wasn't even sending his 11lbs. yorkie out to potty in these frigid temps. He also advised that at 16 weeks old, Jack will probably double his current weight at adulthood. So he's 2.2lbs now, so he is anticipated to be 4.4lbs. I thought he would be closer to 6lbs as full grown. Well, given all, we are wondering if we should just find a good spot for his little potty box and call it good? It really hasn't been an issue with odor or anything, I change the pad once or twice a day and pick up and flush his tootie rolls. So easy, so much easier than chasing this little guy around, running him in and out. And cleaning up his accidents, he has had his good days and bad days regarding accidents, well based on my ability to give him undivided attention. But now, with the potty pad inside, it seems that he is already pretty well trained. I have been praising and rewarding, and I will certainly continue that, but he hasn't had an accident since he's had constant access to the indoor pad. Am I a wimp or is the indoor potty pad just the most practical situation for such a small dog? __________________ Karen, Mom to Jack Daniel and Chloe Grace

02-27-2015, 04:39 PM	#2
Britster Action Jackson ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Maryland Posts: 17,814	If it works for you, it works! I don't think Jackson could ever be pad trained, even as a pup, he wasn't into it. He needs lots of space to sniff and move first, but wow it definitely would've been nice on some days we've had recently with below freezing temps. So if he's already being successful at it, I'd say go for it. I usually prefer outdoor training simply because I find a lot of pad trained dogs will always have accidents throughout their life rugs and carpets etc but I'm all for it if you can do it and be successful. __________________ ~ Brit & Lights! Camera! Jackson! CGC ETD TKP ~ Follow Jackson on Instagram: https://instagram.com/jacksontheterrier

02-28-2015, 08:17 AM	#5
Maximo ♥ Maximo and Teddy Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 25,045	Good boy, Jack! I say stick with the pad if all is going well. You can still take him outside when weather permits. My boys do both. They have the pad available at all times, and when possible we go outdoors. __________________ Kristin, Max and Teddy

03-07-2015, 02:37 PM	#8
JadeD YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: NC Posts: 1,201 Blog Entries: 1	I live in NC and I hate to have to take my Yorkie out in the cold here. I put a sweater and coat on him when it is cold out to help him stay warm. If he was a puppy I would consider pee pads so I could stay inside. LOL I have to take out the big dog anyway though, so bundling up Teek isn't too bad since they both go out together. If pee pads work for you then I say go for it! This spring you can see if he wants to go outside and you can still have pee pads there in case he has to go out or if it is pouring down rain. I grew up in Michigan so I know how cold it is there in the winters and I am glad we are down here now even though it has been cold here. My friends in Michigan post the temps and I just can't believe it! __________________ It's raining Yorkies here! LOL Teek ,Rowan , Raksha (Grand Puppy) , Raelyn

03-08-2015, 12:11 AM	#10
alaskayorkie Banning Thread Dictator Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Anchorage Posts: 30,843 Blog Entries: 57	Yeah, I agree with the group -- do both. Jillie is 5 pounds and was pad trained before she learned to go outside. Rather than stop putting the pad out, though, I let her decide what she wants to do. When it's warm, I'm finding she doesn't use the pad. When it's cold, she uses the pad. It's a win-win situation because I don't mind leaving a pad out for her. __________________ Mike ~ Doting Dad to Jillie, Harper, Molly, Cooper, Eddie (RIP), Lucy (RIP), Rusty (RIP) and Jack (RIP). Check us out on YouTube

02-27-2015, 07:05 PM	#3
ironmike86 Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: USA Posts: 1,628	Moki is pad trained and outdoor. He prefers to go out door. Will go outdoors when I let him. I leave a pad out so if I'm not home he will use it. But rarely. He doesn't have accidents. He always has a place to go. But I couldn't trust him till he was ~2 yrs old. He has a bell to ring when he wants to go out side

02-27-2015, 09:51 PM	#4
anneclaire YT Addict Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Leon, Iowa USA Posts: 474	It has been the coldest here as it has been in 136 yrs so they say. Who knows? LOL I just know it is too cold for my 2.7 baby to be outside!!! Especially since she has never been, not even at the breeders. SO I say do whatever you feel comfy with and Jack is comfy with! I dont mind picking up the little tootsies and since I watch her constant when I see she has to go I know exactly where to find it! She does pee on her pad tho. Just do whatever works for you and Jack .♥

03-08-2015, 10:09 PM	#11
yorkiedallas Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 220	My brain stopped at -15 degrees. I can't process that. Best of luck to you all. Do whatever you have to do to keep everyone safe and comfortable.

03-09-2015, 01:18 PM	#12
TysonMyBoy Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Panama City Beach Posts: 161	Tyson absolutely prefers outside, but he will use a potty pad. Rin, my little 4lb girl, was pad trained from the very beginning and has always done very well. I have hardwood floors that can easily be wiped up, but I always keep a small rug in front of the back door and of course there is a rug in the shower. When Rin was a puppy, she mistook those small rugs for "potty pads." I watched her every second for about two days. When I would "catch" her about to pee on a rug, I said "uh huh" and took her to the potty pad. She now understands not to pee on a rug and always uses her potty pad (always in the same location). Smart girl!!!! I say stick with what works for you. __________________ Pam, mommy to Tyson and Rin, grandma to Ernie (Surely I'm not old enough to be a grandma)

03-09-2015, 02:37 PM	#13
Doodlebug ♥Love My Puppies!♥ Donating Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: US Posts: 5,786	I wish mine would use the potty pad In the winter. They wake me up in the night to go outside. I worry that they will slip on the ice going up or down the steps, which they have done many times. I can see that they are scared and both have arthritis. Sometimes I go out and carry them down the steps. Last winter I stepped down onto a sheet of ice at the bottom of the steps and my legs flew out from under me in different directions. I barely managed to scoot myself up the steps on my rear and scooted into the house, but I couldn't even get up and walk. I was lucky that I wasn't carrying the pups or that I didn't hit my head on the steps when I fell. i am thinking about trying to come up with something to put on the deck that they will use and block the stairs so they don't go down. I just wish they would use a pee pad but they wont, they will whine to go outside. __________________ RIP My Sweet Darling Angel Daisy 08/09/03 - 10/02/15, RIP My Sweet Baby Boy Teddy Bear 02/01/04 - 02/11/16 Photos HERE

03-16-2015, 12:43 PM	#14
yavenay Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Delaware Posts: 2,663	You are definitely not being a wimp. Whatever works best for you. I suspect it wasn't your decision anyway. Your little was probably like "Heck no I ain't going out there...it's to0 cold" So he tricked you into letting him potty indoors....it happens all the time. It's called "YMC". The Yorkie Mind Control and we have all experienced it. There are going be other things that he will forced you to do as well. Funny thing is you won't even realized you are being controlled. Remain diligent.

03-19-2015, 05:31 AM	#15
babnaw YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Canada Posts: 6	I agree with others that you could do both. The night I brought my pup home it was very cold and snowing heavily and she was just a 2.5 lb. 8 week old pup so I did not want to bring her outside to do her business. The first week or so she did all her pottying on the pad (well except for her accidents, but she seemed to be already partially pad trained because she didn't have too many). Once she was more settled in I started bringing her outside regularly to pee and she caught on pretty quickly. If it was really cold or blustery outside I wouldn't bring her out, but otherwise I brought her out every approximately every 45 min. throughout the day, whenever she woke up from a nap, and about 15 min. after each time she ate. She now goes outside 95% of the time. Sometimes I can go days without changing the pee pad because she'll only use it once or twice, but I do like having it there in case she does have to go and I don't bring her out quickly/often enough. She will sometimes ring her bell if she has to go outside to poop, but for pee she doesn't seem to let me know so I just bring her out frequently still, though at 18 weeks she can now go 1-1.5 hrs. without going outside.