Potty Training - YorkieTalk.com Forums

ritac221 · 01-03-2008, 01:01 PM

Hi first time yorkie owner here and hoping for wise advices/insights to shed some light on a pooping issue. My boyfriend got me a 5month old yorkie girl for christmas and we are continuing her potty training. Maggie is good at holding her pees until I take her out. Not so much with the poops. I have caught her pooping on the carpet twice recently and she just scoots away from me and continues to finish her business elsewhere while she looks back at me. I keep a pretty close eye on her and have kind of figured out her poop/pee schedules (right after eating for poops and right before eating for pees) Thoughts? How do I fix this? I have heard conflicting methods from my friends who has dogs and the book. Is it ok to hold her nose to where she pooped (but definitely not touching the poop) and tap her on her butt while saying no? Thanks in advance!!

bchgirl · 01-03-2008, 01:14 PM

No, don't hold her nose to it and it isn't necessary to tap her butt either. A firm NO is all you should need...scoop her up and place her outside. Tell her to potty outside. If you have figured out when she usually goes...then that's when you should have her outside....don't wait for signs from her. If you happen to see the signs she needs to go...sniffing and getting in a poop position...take her out immediately. She might not go the minute you take her out, it'll take some patience on your part.

road61 · 01-03-2008, 01:42 PM

I have to say after a few times of firm NO and talking to your pup and showing them your sad at their behavior it really works... they are very smart and realize that they are not pleasing you... like kids... consistenty is the name of the game.. good luck....

MIZBROWN · 01-03-2008, 01:50 PM

First, Welcome to YT

And Congrats on your furbaby

I pee pad train my girl Meka (10 mo's). I work full time, so its the best for us. We started her at 9 wks. When she was 5 mos I would have to watch her like a hawk to help her know where/when to go. Usually within 5-10 min after drinking and at least 30 min after eating. We'd be playing or something and when I would see her attention start to focus on sniffing around...that ment potty time. I would take her to her pad and wouldnt leave until she went potty. When you have accidents, make sure to tell her NO firmly and then show her where she is suppose to go. Might involve taking her poop and putting it on the pad so that she knows that is where she should go. Its also helpful to get her use to the commands/terms your going to use and be consistant with them. I can tell Meka to GO POTTY ON PAD and she'll go do her business. Its also helpful to keep her on a feeding schedule rather than free feed, that way you can kinda control or monitor when she needs to go... My husband had dogs as a child and was a believer in the "nose in it" method... But, it really doesnt take all of that. They are really smart and talking to them and being consistant usually does the trick... Feel free to PM me w/ ?'s

Sophie Bella · 01-03-2008, 02:10 PM

It's great that you know her poop/pee schedule, because the best way to potty train is to PREVENT her from having an accident. Take her outside when you know she needs to go, say "go potty" (or whatever you want to say to tell her to go), then wait until she goes. Don't give her attention while she's outside sniffing around. She needs to concentrate on going potty, so when she stops sniffing and looks up at you, just look away and ignore her, so she'll start sniffing around again. As soon as she goes where you want her to go, say "GOOD GIRL!" and give her lots of attention, and then take her back inside. Some people give treats when they go potty, I just give lots of happy, positive attention. When she's inside the house, watch her like a hawk. If you see her sniffin' around, take her outside. If you see her squat to poop or pee, pick her up and run her outside. Even if she finishes on the carpet, take her outside anyways, and say "go potty".... then wait for a few minutes and take her inside. Potty training can be very frustrating, so just try your best to prevent accidents from happening, and she'll learn much quicker. GOOD LUCK!!

ritac221 · 01-03-2008, 02:30 PM

Thanks so much for the inputs. I wasn't really sold on the whole holding her nose to the poop area and tapping on the butt either...good to get some confirmations. Her previous owner free fed her and I changed her schedule to morning, lunch and dinner, I know that took her some time to get adjusted to. I am just worried that I am not doing the right way of potty training her.

hha · 01-03-2008, 03:18 PM

I have had dogs all my life, and have always had them trained fairly quick..When they pee or poop anywhere but where they're supposed too, I take them over to it, put their nose down by it, tell them NO in a harsh voice, then put them on the pee pad and say you poo poo(pee pee) on the paper)..The one I have now is 5 mos. old and has been trained for quite awhile now...the only problem with the pooping, is that she was going in the laundry room, but about 3 feet from the pad, today, she actually did pretty well..

lopresm · 01-03-2008, 03:33 PM

One of the first things I learned was that I was not waiting long enough for my pup to finish relieving himself. I was quite happy when he began getting the idea of going outside but then I became more surprised when he completed his pooping inside the house. Now I give him plenty of time, especially during his first morning trip outside.
Good luck! Patience is the answer.

01-03-2008, 01:01 PM	#1
ritac221 YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 4	Potty Training Hi first time yorkie owner here and hoping for wise advices/insights to shed some light on a pooping issue. My boyfriend got me a 5month old yorkie girl for christmas and we are continuing her potty training. Maggie is good at holding her pees until I take her out. Not so much with the poops. I have caught her pooping on the carpet twice recently and she just scoots away from me and continues to finish her business elsewhere while she looks back at me. I keep a pretty close eye on her and have kind of figured out her poop/pee schedules (right after eating for poops and right before eating for pees) Thoughts? How do I fix this? I have heard conflicting methods from my friends who has dogs and the book. Is it ok to hold her nose to where she pooped (but definitely not touching the poop) and tap her on her butt while saying no? Thanks in advance!!

01-03-2008, 01:14 PM	#2
bchgirl Donating YT 10K Club Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: at da beach Posts: 15,444 Blog Entries: 2	No, don't hold her nose to it and it isn't necessary to tap her butt either. A firm NO is all you should need...scoop her up and place her outside. Tell her to potty outside. If you have figured out when she usually goes...then that's when you should have her outside....don't wait for signs from her. If you happen to see the signs she needs to go...sniffing and getting in a poop position...take her out immediately. She might not go the minute you take her out, it'll take some patience on your part. __________________ Deb, Reese, Reggie, Frazier, Libby, Sidney, & Bodie Trace & Ramsey who watch over us www.biewersbythebay.com

01-03-2008, 01:42 PM	#3
road61 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: shakopee mn Posts: 174	I have to say after a few times of firm NO and talking to your pup and showing them your sad at their behavior it really works... they are very smart and realize that they are not pleasing you... like kids... consistenty is the name of the game.. good luck.... __________________ Road -Rudy's Mom

01-03-2008, 01:50 PM	#4
MIZBROWN Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: California Posts: 2,293	First, Welcome to YT And Congrats on your furbaby I pee pad train my girl Meka (10 mo's). I work full time, so its the best for us. We started her at 9 wks. When she was 5 mos I would have to watch her like a hawk to help her know where/when to go. Usually within 5-10 min after drinking and at least 30 min after eating. We'd be playing or something and when I would see her attention start to focus on sniffing around...that ment potty time. I would take her to her pad and wouldnt leave until she went potty. When you have accidents, make sure to tell her NO firmly and then show her where she is suppose to go. Might involve taking her poop and putting it on the pad so that she knows that is where she should go. Its also helpful to get her use to the commands/terms your going to use and be consistant with them. I can tell Meka to GO POTTY ON PAD and she'll go do her business. Its also helpful to keep her on a feeding schedule rather than free feed, that way you can kinda control or monitor when she needs to go... My husband had dogs as a child and was a believer in the "nose in it" method... But, it really doesnt take all of that. They are really smart and talking to them and being consistant usually does the trick... Feel free to PM me w/ ?'s __________________ Mommy to Meka "MeMe" Brown aka Meka the Diva Member of the Spoiled Rotten Club & CA Yorkies www.dogster.com/dogs/567943

01-03-2008, 02:10 PM	#5
Sophie Bella Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Washington State Posts: 70	It's great that you know her poop/pee schedule, because the best way to potty train is to PREVENT her from having an accident. Take her outside when you know she needs to go, say "go potty" (or whatever you want to say to tell her to go), then wait until she goes. Don't give her attention while she's outside sniffing around. She needs to concentrate on going potty, so when she stops sniffing and looks up at you, just look away and ignore her, so she'll start sniffing around again. As soon as she goes where you want her to go, say "GOOD GIRL!" and give her lots of attention, and then take her back inside. Some people give treats when they go potty, I just give lots of happy, positive attention. When she's inside the house, watch her like a hawk. If you see her sniffin' around, take her outside. If you see her squat to poop or pee, pick her up and run her outside. Even if she finishes on the carpet, take her outside anyways, and say "go potty".... then wait for a few minutes and take her inside. Potty training can be very frustrating, so just try your best to prevent accidents from happening, and she'll learn much quicker. GOOD LUCK!!

01-03-2008, 02:30 PM	#6
ritac221 YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 4	Thanks so much for the inputs. I wasn't really sold on the whole holding her nose to the poop area and tapping on the butt either...good to get some confirmations. Her previous owner free fed her and I changed her schedule to morning, lunch and dinner, I know that took her some time to get adjusted to. I am just worried that I am not doing the right way of potty training her.

01-03-2008, 03:18 PM	#7
hha No Longer a Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Seneca, SC Posts: 2,837	I have had dogs all my life, and have always had them trained fairly quick..When they pee or poop anywhere but where they're supposed too, I take them over to it, put their nose down by it, tell them NO in a harsh voice, then put them on the pee pad and say you poo poo(pee pee) on the paper)..The one I have now is 5 mos. old and has been trained for quite awhile now...the only problem with the pooping, is that she was going in the laundry room, but about 3 feet from the pad, today, she actually did pretty well..

01-03-2008, 03:33 PM	#8
lopresm YT Addict Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Long Island, New York Posts: 328	One of the first things I learned was that I was not waiting long enough for my pup to finish relieving himself. I was quite happy when he began getting the idea of going outside but then I became more surprised when he completed his pooping inside the house. Now I give him plenty of time, especially during his first morning trip outside. Good luck! Patience is the answer.