Housebreaking a Yorkie

[iheartyorkies]

Does anyone have any suggestions about housebreaking an 8 week old Yorkie in freezing windy weather when he doesn't want to stay outside long enough to do anything?

[Renee750il]

I'm going to let the little dog owners field this one since we've got quite a few who have experience. My girls don't necessarily want to stay outside when it's really cold, but they're waaaayyy too big - they get their butts shoved out the door!

You should get more response here in the training forum.

[avenlee]

LMAO Renee and that's exactly how you need to do it no matter what the size, in my opinion of course. Being a mother of a Cocker and Westie presently, and a Lhasa who passed 3 years ago AND living in Mass. I completely can understand the situation. My hubby snowblows a path and area where the dogs can go after a Northeaster. I just posted in the Puppy forum on this same subject. But, you HAVE to take your puppy outside to instill the behavior. Even if its cold, windy, snowy whatever. Even if its just for 3-5 minutes and he doesn't go, you are teaching him that that is the where to go and the behavior you expect from him. Dogs, even puppies will not get harmed from being out for 3-5 minutes and of course supervised. Even have a blanket or dog bed waiting for him when he comes in.

BTW and off topic, Nora, my Westie, will keep her three favorite squeeky toys in her dog bed. She will carry them over to it and put them to bed. LOL She's soooo sweet

Go to www.teachyorkie.com and click the housebreak button. you will get all types of things on it.

[candy722]

I also have a yorkie that's 10 months and he doesn't want to go outside either if he feels cold. I have to kick him out so that goes out and potty. And I live in California. My yorkie is too spoiled because he used to be potty trained on wee wee pads so when I started training him to go outside he did not like it at all.

[mrs.gonzalez]

My princess Sophie is only 9 weeks old. We just picked her up last weekend. Since then, the housebreaking has been horrible. When she starts to sniff around in circles, I pick her up and put her on her pee pad, but she just runs off. If I pick her back up and put her back on the pad, she runs off again. The only time she actually goes on the pads is when she just wakes up from her nap and she's too tired to move... Any suggestions on how to potty train her? I've heard of using litter boxes with the shredded newspapers from the petstore... has anyone tried that and has it worked for anyone? I can't train her to go outside because we're at work during the day and we leave her at home for about 4-5 hours each day by herself... And when we go to sleep, we bring her upstairs to our room with us...

Any advice would be great.. we're very frustrated.. it's my first puppy.. first dog ever... is it really this hard?? Don't get me wrong.. I'm already in love with her... but wow!

[Brattina88]

Using puppy pads, litter boxes, and newpaper teaches a dog that its okay to go to the bathroom inside. That's okay if that's what you want your puppy to do for the rest of her life. If your ultimate goal is for her to go outside, however, I'd suggest skipping the pee pads and taking her right outside.

Originally Posted by Red

House training your dog is simple if you follow a few basic rules.

1) The puppy must have NO time unsupervised in your home. NONE.
If you are not directly watching the puppy, it should be in the
crate, or outside in a safe area. You MUST watch the puppy at ALL
times when loose in the house. Use baby gates, crates, or tie the
leash to your belt.

2) The puppy should sleep inside the crate by your bedside.
This way you can hear if the puppy should happen to need to go out
during the night.

3) You must go WITH the puppy outside for ALL trips for
elimination. You must have treats with you. When the puppy is
urinating, say "GO PEE PEE" in a nice praise tone of voice the entire
time. When she is finished, pop the treat into her mouth at once, and
praise praise praise. This should be something she gets at no other
time, like tiny pieces of string cheese or boiled chicken. Same for
defecation. Say "GO POOP" while she is going, and food reward and
praise afterwards. You must observe and reward ALL outdoor potty time.

4) Keep a schedule. Feed at the same time, and walk outside at
the same times. Your pup needs at least 4 trips outdoors each day,
and 5 is probably better. Pup needs to go out at wake up time, lunch
time, 4-5 PM, after dinner or any other meals, and before bed.

5) Use a key word each time you go out. I say "Let's go out!!"
in a happy tone of voice each time I'm opening the door to go out with the dog.

6) If you catch the puppy IN THE ACT of eliminating in your
house, CLAP YOUR HANDS, say AH AH, OUTSIDE!! And immediately rush her
outside. If she finishes there, do your usual food reward and praise.

The keys to getting your dog reliably housetrained are:

SUPERVISION: NO loose time in the house if you are not watching

REWARDS: ALL outdoor elimination MUST be observed
and rewarded. If you only do this ONE thing, your puppy will get housetrained.

PATIENCE: Anger and punishment have no place in dog
training. Elimination is a natural and pleasurable experience for
your dog. You can teach her to not soil your house, but punishment
will NOT help. It will only teach the dog to hide when she needs to eliminate.

If you have applied these techniques carefully for 4 weeks and you are still finding spots or piles after the fact, it's time for stronger measures. Roll up a newspaper and fasten both ends with a rubber band. Keep it handy. The very next time you find a spot of a pile that the dog has left behind, whip out that newspaper, and hit YOURSELF over the head firmly several times as you repeat "I FORGOT TO WATCH MY PUPPY".

Works every time.

If your pup is being stubborn and doesn't want to go outside, get a leash and take her out. Let her know its not a choice
I hope that helps a little

[Doberluv]

Take her out, act like it's no big deal, be confident.....give her a treat the second she's finished and don't worry about a little cold. She's got hair at least. LOL. I've got two smooth coated Chihuahuas and a Doberman. They go out and hurry up and come back when they're finished. It can get to 30 below zero here at times (not for too long at a stretch) during the winter. We go walking in the snow and cold....(not when it's that cold) LOL.

[BlackPuppy]

This is a pretty old post, but I bet it applies to the heat wave we're having.

I got my puppy the second week of January. We went outside every half hour. If there was not potty, she went back into her crate. Well, come to think of it, she lived in her crate a lot those first couple of months. Part of the leadership training.