Training - Help! - YorkieTalk.com Forums

CassMarra · 12-21-2012, 07:47 AM

Hello!
I have had my Yorkie home for just about two months now... He will be 6 months old January 3rd.
He is my first pet, and I am having a VERY hard time training him not to potty in this house or to use his potty pads. We are leaving him in a cage while we are at work during the day. We want to just leave him out, but he potty's everywhere! I've researched and done everything everyone has told me. Please help! Any pointers would be GREATLY appreciated!

MandiesMom · 12-21-2012, 08:28 AM

Hi there

May I suggest a gate for the kitchen or an xpen instead of the crate? That is a really long time to keep a puppy in a crate.

It just takes time to get a yorkie trained. I've come to realize that. They can even regress sometimes.

I would just start from the begining. Keep access to only one room available for him. Put pads down all over where you have him. Then he has no choice but to use the pads. Then, gradually, pull pads up until you have one where you want it.

At 6 months old, he may be marking instead of peeing. Is he neutered?

Lovetodream88 · 12-21-2012, 09:17 AM

Yorkie puppies can be stubborn and hard to potty train but with any puppy its takes normally a few months at least. With puppies it is best to pick either training him to go outside or on the puppy pad. When he goes where you want him to it is very important to praise him and give him a treat and when you catch him going some where he should not tell him no (do not yell) and put him where he should be using the bathroom. It is best when potty training to put the pup in a play pen especially when you can not watch him so he is not running lose in the house potting every where and possibly getting into stuff that can hurt him. With most dogs they should not be left lose in the house while you are gone until probably around a year old because there is so much they can get into. Congrats on your new pup!

gracielove · 12-21-2012, 10:34 AM

It is harder with you being gone. The more time he is in the crate the less time you have to train him. I agree with an x-pen. When they have enough room to choose the pad but not enough room to wander around they will do it.

When you are home you have to be with him and get him to the potty area in time. It is the only way he will learn. Since he has been crated all day you do not want to crate him while you are home. Try tethering him to you so you can watch his every move. When he starts to act like he has to go get him to the potty and stay with him there until he does it. Try teaching him a word or words to associate with pottying so he knows what is expected of him when he is there. Have a reward ready for when he gets it right.

Potty training does require a lot of time and attention but they will learn. Giving them too much freedom too soon just encourages bad behavior.

12-21-2012, 07:47 AM	#1
CassMarra YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: South River, NJ, USA Posts: 1	Training - Help! Hello! I have had my Yorkie home for just about two months now... He will be 6 months old January 3rd. He is my first pet, and I am having a VERY hard time training him not to potty in this house or to use his potty pads. We are leaving him in a cage while we are at work during the day. We want to just leave him out, but he potty's everywhere! I've researched and done everything everyone has told me. Please help! Any pointers would be GREATLY appreciated!

12-21-2012, 08:28 AM	#2
MandiesMom and Shelby's too Donating Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Millbrook, AL Posts: 7,842	Hi there May I suggest a gate for the kitchen or an xpen instead of the crate? That is a really long time to keep a puppy in a crate. It just takes time to get a yorkie trained. I've come to realize that. They can even regress sometimes. I would just start from the begining. Keep access to only one room available for him. Put pads down all over where you have him. Then he has no choice but to use the pads. Then, gradually, pull pads up until you have one where you want it. At 6 months old, he may be marking instead of peeing. Is he neutered? __________________ Terri, proud mom to Mandie & Shelby-Dale

12-21-2012, 09:17 AM	#3
Lovetodream88 Yorkie mom of 4 Donating YT Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: LaPlata, Md Posts: 23,248	Yorkie puppies can be stubborn and hard to potty train but with any puppy its takes normally a few months at least. With puppies it is best to pick either training him to go outside or on the puppy pad. When he goes where you want him to it is very important to praise him and give him a treat and when you catch him going some where he should not tell him no (do not yell) and put him where he should be using the bathroom. It is best when potty training to put the pup in a play pen especially when you can not watch him so he is not running lose in the house potting every where and possibly getting into stuff that can hurt him. With most dogs they should not be left lose in the house while you are gone until probably around a year old because there is so much they can get into. Congrats on your new pup! __________________ Taylor My babies Joey, Penny ,Ollie & Dixie Callie Mae, you will forever be in my heart!

12-21-2012, 10:34 AM	#4
gracielove YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: NY Posts: 6,582	It is harder with you being gone. The more time he is in the crate the less time you have to train him. I agree with an x-pen. When they have enough room to choose the pad but not enough room to wander around they will do it. When you are home you have to be with him and get him to the potty area in time. It is the only way he will learn. Since he has been crated all day you do not want to crate him while you are home. Try tethering him to you so you can watch his every move. When he starts to act like he has to go get him to the potty and stay with him there until he does it. Try teaching him a word or words to associate with pottying so he knows what is expected of him when he is there. Have a reward ready for when he gets it right. Potty training does require a lot of time and attention but they will learn. Giving them too much freedom too soon just encourages bad behavior.