Couple of questions

[Dave C]

Been reading Yorkie Talk for awhile and I enjoy the site.

My wife and I just got a new Yorkie, 13 weeks old. His name is Buster.

We are trying the crate method to house break him. He sleeps in it all night and pee's when I take him out in the morning. He has only done the dirty deed 4 times in the past 6 days so far. Is this normal?

I thought the normal thing was for pups to need to go out 30 minutes to an hour after feeding?
As an example Buster ate last night at around 5:30 PM and again at 6:00 AM and he still hasn't gone potty.
He will drink all day and will not pee when I take him out but within 5 minutes of bringing him back in he will go on the floor when you take your eyes off him.
I take him to work with me each day so I can take him out several times a day, at least until I know he can hold it till we get home.

Also, it seems he doesn't want to eat. We keep food out for him as recommended by the vet we got him from. He will reluctantly eat a small amount of canned food twice a day but only a couple of tablespoons full.

Anyone see any problems or am I paranoid? To soon after getting him to worry?

Our last dog (Bud) was also a Yorkie, he died one month short of 15 last month. We really thought a lot of him and he is the reason I wanted another Yorkie. Bud received the best of care and Buster will also, but it seems he is being real hard headed about being house broke.

OK I would like your thoughts on this.

Thanks
Dave

[Yorkiekids]

He's really young to be totally housebroken. Sounds like he's trying too though. You just need to keep offering the food or you'll end up with a picky answer.

[dani23d]

maybe he is shy when you watch him go pee. i bet if you took him outside and put him on a leash to make sure he didn't run away, you could turn your back for a few moments and then see if he does his deed?

[Superstarkba]

You might need to try cottage cheese or some type of topping to mix with his food. How long are you staying outside with him? I know with mine, they will nibble at there food, then they will come back and eat some more later.

[Ladylavender]

Well, in crate training they tell you that if you take them out and they won't pee, then you put them back into the crate for about 5 -10 minutes and take them back out again. You keep us this regiment until they go. Once they go, they should be allowed to play and check things out, but never never should you take your eyes off of him for a second until they are reliably housebroken. If you need to get ready for work, and have chores to do that will require your unattention, then back in the crate your puppy goes.

Since they will be spending a good deal of time in the crate, for crate training, you really need to spend quality time with them when they are out of the crate. (in other words, one to one contact)

It would concern me a little about the lack of pooping. I know that Millie would go at least 2 x a day when she was a puppy. Once in the morning and once in the evening (when we got back home from work). I would ask your vet about this.

Also, Millie never really ate a whole lot when she was little either. It seemed like it took us forever to get a good food that she liked and to relax about the eating thing. I think Yorkies are grazers more than eat at one sitting. But it does not make for good habits when you are trying to regulate the feeding schedule so that you can regulate their potty habits.

[Dave C]

Originally Posted by Superstarkba

You might need to try cottage cheese or some type of topping to mix with his food. How long are you staying outside with him? I know with mine, they will nibble at there food, then they will come back and eat some more later.

I'll try mixing something with his food. We always had to mix a turkey dog or something with Buds food to get him to eat. I was kind of hoping not to do that with Buster, but whatever it takes I'll do it.

I take him out at least every 1 - 1 1/2 hours we are out for anywhere from 15minutes to 45 minutes, it depends on weather he is snooping around of not. Usually he will just lay down at my feet and watch me.

Thanks
Dave

[Dave C]

Originally Posted by dani23d

maybe he is shy when you watch him go pee. i bet if you took him outside and put him on a leash to make sure he didn't run away, you could turn your back for a few moments and then see if he does his deed?

I really don't have to worry about the leash. He doesn't let me out of his site. I kinda like that part of it. I have turned my back and watched him out of the corner of my eye so I can make sure to reward him when he does do his business. He really goes nuts over the praise when he does good.

Thanks
Dave

[Dave C]

Originally Posted by Ladylavender

Well, in crate training they tell you that if you take them out and they won't pee, then you put them back into the crate for about 5 -10 minutes and take them back out again. You keep us this regiment until they go. Once they go, they should be allowed to play and check things out, but never never should you take your eyes off of him for a second until they are reliably housebroken. If you need to get ready for work, and have chores to do that will require your unattention, then back in the crate your puppy goes.
He is either with my wife or myself when he is not in his crate, but you are right I swear if I blink he will squat. I will tell him NO, grab him and head outside but it is to late, he has either finished or refuses to finish.
With Bud he would go everytime I took him out, but it still took him a while to become reliable.

Since they will be spending a good deal of time in the crate, for crate training, you really need to spend quality time with them when they are out of the crate. (in other words, one to one contact)No problem with that.. We are really enjoying having him here, he has filled the void left by Bud, so he is becoming severly spoiled I'm afraid.

It would concern me a little about the lack of pooping. I know that Millie would go at least 2 x a day when she was a puppy. Once in the morning and once in the evening (when we got back home from work). I would ask your vet about this. Will do!!

Also, Millie never really ate a whole lot when she was little either. It seemed like it took us forever to get a good food that she liked and to relax about the eating thing. I am more concerned about changing his diet , Bud had pancreitis and was on medication and special food from 10 weeks. So I'm concerned with giving Buster something that would effect him. That's why I have followed the vets recommendation. But it makes sense if he doesn't like it he will not eat it. I will mix something in it and see what he likes. I think Yorkies are grazers more than eat at one sitting. But it does not make for good habits when you are trying to regulate the feeding schedule so that you can regulate their potty habits.Bud would eat like a horse one day and then nothing the next. But he always ate every other day really well.

I will call the vet and ask about him not going to potty though and also ask about the different foods we could use.

Thanks for the help.
Dave