Boy or Girl? & Belly band question

[Foster2Owner]

Hi everyone!

I'd like to know, do you prefer a male or female Yorkie?

I've been researching about Yorkies for a while in regards to possible health issues, finding an ethical breeder, and puppy training. I originally wanted a boy but I bonded well with a recent female foster dog and I see that girl dogs are awesome too.

Can you help me choose? Or does it not matter?

My current considerations:
1. When potty training and preventing accidents, does a boy Yorkie need to wear a diaper and a belly band?
2. Is it generally true that a male Yorkie will bond more with the female owner and a female Yorkie will bond better with the male of the house? I'll admit, I want to be selfish and be my Yorkie's bff!
3. Are boys generally calmer?

Your help, experiences, and/or advise is much appreciated! Thanks!!

[lovespandp]

Belly bands would be for the male. I had one for Peanut and he treated it like a diaper it didn't last long with us.

I wanted a female soooo bad, however a male was what I picked. I love my male. Our bond grows closer and closer everyday. He is my shadow. I've heard of Females being lovey dovey too, but I do think the males just get closer, esp to the females of the house... esp also if you tend to them.

I would just look around, and always meet the puppies in person. Usually the puppy ends up picking you!!

[Foster2Owner]

Originally Posted by lovespandp

Belly bands would be for the male. I had one for Peanut and he treated it like a diaper it didn't last long with us.

I wanted a female soooo bad, however a male was what I picked. I love my male. Our bond grows closer and closer everyday. He is my shadow. I've heard of Females being lovey dovey too, but I do think the males just get closer, esp to the females of the house... esp also if you tend to them.

I would just look around, and always meet the puppies in person. Usually the puppy ends up picking you!!

Thank you for your comment!
I've found a reputable breeder near me (through YTCA) and I'm meeting her two boys tomorrow. I believe in a puppy picking me as you said so it has been challenge for me to get one so far (because I haven't yet met an ethical breeder near me irl).

Am I right in my understanding that a male wearing a diaper would also need a belly band as in a male's case the diaper only covers poop--not pee?

[Maximo]

Belly bands do not potty train the dog and can actually hinder training. They are good as an aid for instance when visiting another home, or in cases where a dog can't be stopped from marking.

My boys are equally bonded with their grandpa as they are me. Max loves my brothers too, and tends to gravitate toward men.

There are so many things, including calmness, that really come down to the individual dog. There are no rules that one gender is more calm than the other.

A good breeder will chooses their breeding stock to produce good temperaments.

Best wishes in your search for a healthy, happy pup.

[Foster2Owner]

Originally Posted by Maximo

Belly bands do not potty train the dog and can actually hinder training. They are good as an aid for instance when visiting another home, or in cases where a dog can't be stopped from marking.

My boys are equally bonded with their grandpa as they are me. Max loves my brothers too, and tends to gravitate toward men.

There are so many things, including calmness, that really come down to the individual dog. There are no rules that one gender is more calm than the other.

A good breeder will chooses their breeding stock to produce good temperaments.

Best wishes in your search for a healthy, happy pup.

Thanks Maximo! If I get a boy I would only use the belly band when carrying him around as we run errands. And in the case that I were to visit another person's home. I'm still trying to understand, is a diaper and the belly band both used? As in, does the diaper itself not work to cover the pee of a male?

(Sorry, I know this may have an obvious answer that I'm missing).

Thank you especially for sharing the bonding experience. I started reading online (somewhere randomly yesterday) about how the attachments to the opposite sex is routine. I live at home but my bff is a male who visits often and he loves Yorkies (and "jokes") that if I get one who loves him more it is only fair to give the Yorkie the home it wants. I will be the sole "master" but he has offered to help me with training so I might be fearing something silly.

[lovespandp]

I'm trying to understand why you see the reason to have him wear a diaper or belly band?

I took Peanut everywhere with me when he was a puppy and he didn't have any potty troubles.

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by Foster2Owner

Thanks Maximo! If I get a boy I would only use the belly band when carrying him around as we run errands. And in the case that I were to visit another person's home. I'm still trying to understand, is a diaper and the belly band both used? As in, does the diaper itself not work to cover the pee of a male?

(Sorry, I know this may have an obvious answer that I'm missing).

Thank you especially for sharing the bonding experience. I started reading online (somewhere randomly yesterday) about how the attachments to the opposite sex is routine. I live at home but my bff is a male who visits often and he loves Yorkies (and "jokes") that if I get one who loves him more it is only fair to give the Yorkie the home it wants. I will be the sole "master" but he has offered to help me with training so I might be fearing something silly.

In terms of bonding, just be natural and loving and your pup will bond with you. Also, give your pup freedom. Sometimes people post that they are upset or hurt that their dogs won't cuddle or do things on their terms. Dogs are like humans -- you can't force them to love you or shower you with affection. You have to earn it through taking care of them (meals, playtime, walks, etc) and letting them show affection on their terms.

You do not need diapers. Puppies need a lot of supervision during the potty training stage. That means limiting their roaming area to where you can watch them, and giving them ample opportunity to potty in the correct place. When you can't supervise closely, use an xpen or babygates in a smallish room. When you visit another home, you should keep your puppy in your sight for many reasons, safety included.

I blogged some potty training tips:
Potty Training Small Dogs - Dog Life and Style

[lovespandp]

As Kristin has stated the Belly Band isn't for training- it is more so used for marking in males.

I tried to use it for training LOL I thought to myself " He isn't going to pee on himself". Boy was I wrong!!

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by lovespandp

I'm trying to understand why you see the reason to have him wear a diaper or belly band?

I took Peanut everywhere with me when he was a puppy and he didn't have any potty troubles.

If you have a puppy in a carrier for instance, the puppy isn't going to potty in the carrier unless you left him/her in there for hours.

[Foster2Owner]

Originally Posted by lovespandp

As Kristin has stated the Belly Band isn't for training- it is more so used for marking in males.

I tried to use it for training LOL I thought to myself " He isn't going to pee on himself". Boy was I wrong!!

Lol, Sorry, I meant for use to prevent accidents while training. Not to actually use as a means of training. ( English is my 3rd language so please excuse me when I'm not as clear as I could be)

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by Foster2Owner

Lol, Sorry, I meant for use to prevent accidents while training. Not to actually use as a means of training. ( English is my 3rd language so please excuse me when I'm not as clear as I could be)

Your English is perfect. It's the subject that can be confusing. Diapers are not necessary. Focus on training and preventing accidents by giving your pup more opportunity to pee and poop in the right place. The smaller the puppy, the more they need to go potty.

[Foster2Owner]

Originally Posted by Maximo

If you have a puppy in a carrier for instance, the puppy isn't going to potty in the carrier unless you left him/her in there for hours.

Actually, this was the particular instance I had in mind with my questions. Thank you so much for helping me! I am actually picking up a couple of puppies tonight, to foster. They are just 12 weeks so I'm going to get some hands on experience at trying some potty training with them. I will keep them on bleachable surfaces, only at home so just wee wee pad training. With my own dog I will have long term and imagine I'll need to step out with them often so possible carrier pooping was a concern for me.

Thank you!

[Foster2Owner]

Originally Posted by Maximo

Your English is perfect. It's the subject that can be confusing. Diapers are not necessary. Focus on training and preventing accidents by giving your pup more opportunity to pee and poop in the right place. The smaller the puppy, the more they need to go potty.

Thank you for being continuously kind and helpful.
Now I'm sure I will not use diapers (unless I were to need to do a long term trip of some kind).

I am excited to try to "potty train" another life.

[KazzyK810]

Originally Posted by Foster2Owner

Thanks Maximo! If I get a boy I would only use the belly band when carrying him around as we run errands. And in the case that I were to visit another person's home. I'm still trying to understand, is a diaper and the belly band both used? As in, does the diaper itself not work to cover the pee of a male?

Diapers are usually used on a girl, and belly bands are used on a boy...it's all about where the pee comes out!

ZoE is fully potty trained & I never have any potty issues with her at my house, my parents house or my daughter's apartment. She knows where her potty pad is at each of those places because she's been there a lot.

But when I visit friend's homes I put a diaper on her. Especially if that friend has a dog. Friends will claim there dog is fully trained too, but ZoE will sometimes sniff a certain rug & try to squat on it, which leads me to believe she's smelling something there...and thinks its an appropriate potty place. Putting a diaper on her shows friends that you respect their home and thus aids in her being welcome in more homes.

[Foster2Owner]

Originally Posted by KazzyK810

Diapers are usually used on a girl, and belly bands are used on a boy...it's all about where the pee comes out!

ZoE is fully potty trained & I never have any potty issues with her at my house, my parents house or my daughter's apartment. She knows where her potty pad is at each of those places because she's been there a lot.

But when I visit friend's homes I put a diaper on her. Especially if that friend has a dog. Friends will claim there dog is fully trained too, but ZoE will sometimes sniff a certain rug & try to squat on it, which leads me to believe she's smelling something there...and thinks its an appropriate potty place. Putting a diaper on her shows friends that you respect their home and thus aids in her being welcome in more homes.

Thanks so much Kazzy. Everyone here is so helpful. It makes sense to have the diapers to show respect for friend's homes. I'm usually the one playing host but now that you mention it, having diapers as a backup sounds like the right thing to do. Plus I might end up making fur-loving friends!

And that is funny about Zoe sniffing out spots on a friend's rug. It's like when kids slip out the real truth unintentionally.