Taking Charge back - Help please!

[sims822257]

Hello,
I have a 4 pound 6 1/2 month old boy Yorkie who has been neutered and was doing very well with potty training until about 2 weeks ago. I have no clue what changed his mind and I have tried to think of everything. I have been keeping him locked up in an X-Pen during the day when I am at work. We were able to rig the X-Pen up against the doggie door and taught him to go out the door when he needed to go potty. (I have attached a picture to show you). My problem is this: He has now decided he does not want to potty outside any more. I have read tons on crate training and all things point to it being a very positive thing because it teaches them to hold their bladder and to go potty when you tell them to not when they want to. Therefore today I have decided to take charge and start crating him while I am at work. I will be able to come home and let him out every 4 hours so hopefully he will learn to hold it. I would appreciate any suggestions on this tactic because as much as I feel bad for locking him up I think it is best for me and him in the long run. I do not want to be a person who has a dog that pees and poops anywhere they want. I want to be able to enjoy my dog and have him well trained. I think now he thinks he is the ruler of the house and I know that is my fault at this point.

Also can anyone tell me who did this how long it took for their puppy to learn to hold it or become potty trained? I know he is still a baby but I was just curious how long I should or would have to keep this up.

[kalina82]

Originally Posted by sims822257

Hello,
I have a 4 pound 6 1/2 month old boy Yorkie who has been neutered and was doing very well with potty training until about 2 weeks ago. I have no clue what changed his mind and I have tried to think of everything. I have been keeping him locked up in an X-Pen during the day when I am at work. We were able to rig the X-Pen up against the doggie door and taught him to go out the door when he needed to go potty. (I have attached a picture to show you). My problem is this: He has now decided he does not want to potty outside any more. I have read tons on crate training and all things point to it being a very positive thing because it teaches them to hold their bladder and to go potty when you tell them to not when they want to. Therefore today I have decided to take charge and start crating him while I am at work. I will be able to come home and let him out every 4 hours so hopefully he will learn to hold it. I would appreciate any suggestions on this tactic because as much as I feel bad for locking him up I think it is best for me and him in the long run. I do not want to be a person who has a dog that pees and poops anywhere they want. I want to be able to enjoy my dog and have him well trained. I think now he thinks he is the ruler of the house and I know that is my fault at this point.

Also can anyone tell me who did this how long it took for their puppy to learn to hold it or become potty trained? I know he is still a baby but I was just curious how long I should or would have to keep this up.

just curious, does the doggie door go outside to the whole yard or just to the patio area?

Also i think your doing the right thing but recrating him and teaching him all over. he'll learn that until he stops going potty in the house instead of outside he'll be in the crate while your gone.

[Tiger's Mom]

Caren, I tried to PM you regarding this issue but it says your box is full . . .can you delete some so I can send it

[vainchick5]

I think it's great that you are taking charge and showing him that you are the Alpha. Just be aware that if the crate is too big he will still go in it. Sometimes some dogs will go in their crate so just be aware that it might not work right away but eventually it will. Good luck and great thinking.

[JCarlson2004]

Good luck. I hope crate training works for you and him.

[sims822257]

Originally Posted by Tiger's Mom

Caren, I tried to PM you regarding this issue but it says your box is full . . .can you delete some so I can send it

Opps.....try again - I just cleaned out my e-mail box - thanks!

[sims822257]

Originally Posted by kalina82

just curious, does the doggie door go outside to the whole yard or just to the patio area?

Also i think your doing the right thing but recrating him and teaching him all over. he'll learn that until he stops going potty in the house instead of outside he'll be in the crate while your gone.

The doggie door goes out to the patio which is secure from the yard and the pool while we are not home but when we are home he has access to a small secure part of the yard.

[sims822257]

Originally Posted by vainchick5

I think it's great that you are taking charge and showing him that you are the Alpha. Just be aware that if the crate is too big he will still go in it. Sometimes some dogs will go in their crate so just be aware that it might not work right away but eventually it will. Good luck and great thinking.

I think the crate is just right. It is basically 24 inches long by 12 inches wide. A small but not too small crate. He has room to stand up stretch out and turn around but not room to potty and get a way from it if he wants too.

[sims822257]

Okay so far not so good - he is just going potty in his crate where he sleeps - UGH!!!!

Oh well hopefully he will learn to hold it since this is his home for a while.

[chattiesmom]

I wonder if something scared him when he went outside to go potty and that is why he has decided to potty inside where it is safe?

[Bailey's Peeps]

Originally Posted by chattiesmom

I wonder if something scared him when he went outside to go potty and that is why he has decided to potty inside where it is safe?

Good point. Since my little 3 1/2 pound bundle of terrier fortitude seems so completely fearless, I tend to overlook the possibility that she might be frightened of something. I'll bet a lot of other Yorkie owners are the same.

[Ponyup]

We did a similar thing with our Logan. However, we put him in a pack & play while at work. We made an area where he could potty if he needed to. We noticed he was almost 8 months old before he could hold it the full 4 hours that we were gone.

[Tophersmom]

I was thinking the same thing as chattiesmom...perhaps he's afraid to go outside alone? I think that could be a very strong possibility...especially since he seemed to do it fine before, then stopped. We all know they can regress (I think we've all been there!) but perhaps he did get a scare from something.
(if he's anything like my Topher, it could have been something as small as a bug or noise...it's hard to say what goes on in their heads!)

It will all work out in the end...Topher has been pee pad trained for months now (he's 8 mos. old now) but about a month an a half ago he seemed to go through a two week period where he forgot EVERYTHING he ever learned..lol...it all came back, though.

[sims822257]

I have not thought of the possibility of him getting scared by something. I seem to think nothing scares him since he is such a feisty little Terrier. I have a really nice secluded are on the covered porch for him to potty so nothing can get to him so I do not know what it could have been but it is a possibility. I am just going to try and stick to the crating thing for a while and see where it gets me. I think it has very positive results for both owner and puppy from what I have read. Thanks again for all the input!