9 weeks old, 1.6 pounds

[tbuckner]

I am needing some help. Last saturday I bought a Silky/Yorkie, she is 9 weeks old and weighs 1.6 pounds. The trouble I have is that being that small, the below freezing weather is too cold to keep taking her outside for training, so I have the wee pads. I am unable to take off work to stay home for a week or two at a time and she is left at home for 8-9 hours so I have a crate for her which has a bed, a wee pad in the corner and her food.

I am trying to figure out the best way to go about house training her so that when she is out playing during the day she either will go on the wee pad in her crate or on a wee pad I have by the door. Eventually I want her to be able to go outside and I will have set times she is fed to regulate that a little more. I can usually tell when she has to go and I try to get her to the wee pad by the door first, but getting her to go there on her own isn't really happening.

Any suggestions? After going on the wee pad I praise her, but at that size and age is it too early for treats to help train??

 

[bubbatd]

Why, oh why did you get a pup when it is home alone for so long !!?? If this isn't spam to stir things up here ....good luck !!

 

[tbuckner]

No, this isn't to stir anything up. I realize that she is home a long time alone, but gradually as she is trained she will be able to go throughout the house. Anytime we are there we are playing with her. I know there have to be other people out there that get dogs and aren't able to stay home with them 24x7. Please help with any suggestions. Thanks!

 

[lizzybeth727]

No, this isn't to stir anything up. I realize that she is home a long time alone, but gradually as she is trained she will be able to go throughout the house. Anytime we are there we are playing with her. I know there have to be other people out there that get dogs and aren't able to stay home with them 24x7. Please help with any suggestions. Thanks!

The majority of people don't train their dogs, either, that doesn't mean it's ok.

A lot of people leave their dogs outside their whole lives, that doesn't mean it's ok.

A lot of people get baby puppies when they shouldn't, it doesn't mean that's ok.

No, you don't have to be home 24x7 to raise a puppy. But puppies do need a lot (several hours) of direct interraction with humans every day. They also need a lot (several hours) of socialization every week, which means taking them out of the house to experience new things. They need to be fed several (3-4) times a day (free-feeding, where food's available all the time, is not particularly good).

8-9 hours a day is too long for adult yorkies to hold their bladders every day. So you'll probably always have to have potty pads available for your dog to use, unless you can hire a dog walker to come every day and take your dog out. If you're going to use potty pads, I'd suggest using them while you're home, too, so that you can directly supervise your puppy and encourage her to go in the "correct" place. That way when you're not home, she'll probably figure it out on her own.

Incidently, I usually advise people who are going to be gone 8-9 hours a day to adopt a full-grown dog, and preferably a larger breed, as they can usually hold their bladders longer than toy breeds. That way, they're saving themselves a lot of headaches.

And if your dog is old enough to eat food, she's old enough to eat treats. Just make sure they're tiny - about the size of a pea. Adult treats are fine, puppies don't need special treats just because they're puppies.

 

[girlbuffalo1]

1.6 lbs is tiny! I can't imagine she will be able to hold her bladder for more than 2-3 hours for a very very very long time--maybe when she is full grown.

When you are home and she is out you need to stare at her constantly--yes constantly--meaning you can barely watch TV--the moment you see her start to get in position to go (somewhere where she is not supposed to) you need to jump up and take her to the pad--and then treat her when she finishes there. It's all about catching them in the act and rewarding when they go where you want them to.

 

[tbuckner]

Yeah she is pretty tiny, she is actually bigger than my sister's puppy when she got her and her's can now hold her bladder all day, so I am hoping it gets to that but I realize it will be over a year before she can do that. I definitely watch her and play with her the entire time I am home, and I just got an extendable gate so I can block off the room so she doesn't run behind anythind and squat....I will have to pick up some small treats for her too!! Thanks for the input without the criticisim, that's what I am looking for.

 

[FoxyWench]

firstly toy breeds should NEVER be expected to hold their bladders more the 6 hours 8 is possible but pushing it...

now to adress your question...

when she is not in her crate she must be watched like a HAWK, if you leave the room she either comes with you or goes in her crate...making dinner? in her crate, if your attention is focused on ANYTHING other than 100% on her she needs to be in her crate, at 9 weeks old she COULD hold her bladder up to about 2 hours SAFELY...however she needs to be taught...she also needs to be taught where to go.

when a puppy needs to go potty they display behaviours, most will sniff and turn in circles...you need to learn these sighns and be ontop of every movement she makes...
whenever she displays "i need to go potty" sighns you show her where to go, the first few times you might have to physically put her on the pad, but eventually shell get the idea...if she goes, LOTS of praise, i dont suggest treats for potty training especially in toy breeds, often they get too focused on the treet and forget there supposed to be going potty...

keep persistent, make sure if she even looks like shes thinking about peeing or pooping put her on her pad (preferably the one by the door you REALY dont want to teach her pooping and peeing in her "den" is Ok) if she goes to the pad on her own, watch her closely and then give her LOTS of priase if she goes...if you stand there for a few minutes and she seems to have lost interest / you misread the sighsn let her off and then take her back again in 10-15 mins...tell her "go potty" and if she doe, praise like crazy, make it fun, make it a game.

the rule of thumb with toy breeds is they can hold it 1 hour per month of life...so right now you need to be physically taking her to the pad, start taking her MORE often,put her on there every hour...then start increasing the time

if your persistent she WILL get the idea but it takes time...

and as a side note...i have 3 chihuahuas and a chinese crested, its only 20 degrees today and theres snow on the ground and they still go outside to potty when im home...
the chihuhauas are only ouit long enough to pee, if there going out any longer its sweaters and coats, but itll do her no harm to take her out, tell her to pee, priase if she does and take her back in...

 

[bubbatd]

I've never had a dog that tiny except at whelp .... I personally never sold to anyone who was gone that long , except if they would go home a few times a day . I personally like a gated off area ....open cage ... room to play and in my day newspapers in a specific area . My pups were almost 95% trained to papers before they went " home " . By 8 weeks they just had bedding in their whelping pen and plenty of clean paper spread out for their morning squat . I'd scoop the poop as soon as they'd go and cover pee with more paper ....... When they had breakfast I'd get rid of all papers and lay down clean for the after breakfast round . With 12 pups it was a busy time !!!

 

[PoodleMommy]

First, I dont think you should ever leave this dog alone roaming the entire house... he could easily injure himself. My yorkie is always crated when we are gone... I have a large size crate so I can put blankets and toys inside for him. Also, Yorkies really are not dogs that do well alone all day by themselves.... I would look into some type of daycare if possible. The most my yorkie is alone is 5 hours and that is only twice a week, the rest of the time he is alone for only 3 hours at a time.

I found the easiest way to wee wee pad train was to put up an xpen and put his bed on one side and the wee wee pad on the other.

Elissa

 

[PoodleMommy]

One other question... is this a silky and yorkie cross?

How big were each of the parents?

 

[FoxyWench]

i agree with grammy, i know with my chis they NEVER go home before 10 weeks old (toy breeds do better staying with their littermates longer) and one that small would stay till at least 12-14 weeks. and i never send one to a home that is empty that much...

id definatly look into doggy daycare once shes old enough and fully vaccinated or have a doggy sitter come in a few times throughout the day...

noone expects ANYONE to be home 24/7 however bringin a puppy home is time consuming, bring one that small home can be dangerous...dogs this size can go into hypoglycemic shock in a matter of seconds...

just some things to be aware of...

for anyone gone more than 6 hours a day if a sitter/daycare and home stops are out of the question i usually suggest getting an older dog.

 

[tbuckner]

Yes she is a silky yorkie cross, her dad was a yorkie, mom was silky, I didn't get her directly from the breeder so I'm not sure of their weights.

I have taken the advice and now at night she slepts in her kennel which has her bed and a wee pad on the other side and I am removing the food through the night. Then during the day I have an area blocked off with a crate to sleep in, place for her food, a wee pad and some room to play with her toys.

Is the best way to train her to not bite fingers a toes just to give her a toy when she does it?

 

[PoodleMommy]

Is the best way to train her to not bite fingers a toes just to give her a toy when she does it?

Do you know how early she was taken from the breeders? was she a rescue?

because this problem may be coming from being away from mom and the other pups too early.

The best way to get rid of it now, is to just say NO and give her something else to chew on... if that doesnt work then each time she bites, stop playing with her and completley ignore her for a few minutes...she will get that biting gets her no attention and eventually it will stop.

 

[FoxyWench]

tell her no fingers firmly wihtout shouting THEN give her a toy she can chew on, if she then ignores the toy for the fingers and toes all games stop, with the chis i found putting an "angry" look on my face, crossing my arms and turning away realy got it into them that "hey when i do THAT all the fun stops" these little guys are smart but yorkies and silkies are terriers, your in for a job, be VERY persistent!

*we posted at the same time *

 

[tbuckner]

I had gotten her from a puppy expo, I believe they got her when she was 8 weeks old, she wasn't a rescue because they have all of her background info and shot records.

thanks for the advice, I will be back with any more questions...

 

[josetheoj]

try and leave some pads in every room i sually left like 2 per room normally kitchen living room and hallway block off parts of hous eyou wnat her in my yorkie is 11 weeks old and 1.5 =lbs and she is perfectly able to poop and pee only on the pads like you ilive in a very cold city dont crate her for that long period of time constrict her in 1 to 2 rooms so she wont be cruely bored

 

[Sch3Dana]

I agree with the ex-pen suggestion. I would make a good set up for her and plan on using it for at least the next year, until she is housebroken and never chews on anything other than her toys. I don't know enough about the blood sugar problems common with these tiny dogs, but you should learn about it. She may need someone to come in the middle of the day to confirm that she is eating something. Otherwise, I don't see leaving her in a safe ex-pen with food, water, bed and toys as cruel and unusual. You do need to make sure you get up early enough to have an hour with her in the morning. Make sure she has plenty of running and play to tire her a bit, if the weather is nice a long walk would be great once she is ok on her shots. That way when you leave her she is ready for a long boring day and not full of unspent energy.

8 hours is a long time for a puppy. I would prepare her some fun treat toys like stuffed kongs and treat balls before you leave so she has things to do. You might also put the wee wee pads in a tray or box to keep her from playing on them as she runs around her area.

I think you need to plan on pads long term given your schedule and the fact that you have to use them now. Most dogs trained to pee on pads are never completely housebroken, so you should plan on having an indoor potty area forever. I would not put two pee pads in every room. This just teaches dogs that they do not need to control their bladders and that they should look about 10 feet and then give up and pee wherever. Teach her that there is one potty area in the house and that that is the only acceptable place to potty. Anywhere else gets her a stern "no" and a lift to her potty area. Having it inside an ex-pen makes it easy to drop her in on the papers and watch while you wait for her to pee.

If you want to learn more about this type of training, check out this index of articles all related to indoor potty training:

http://thehousebreakingbible.com/training/papertraining.htm

About the nipping of your fingers, this is totally normal for puppies. Make sure you are not waving your hands around (which will incite her "prey" instinct). Move your hands slowly and deliberately when you are touching her and if she gets nippy say "no" and no not move your hand. When she lets go, praise her and present a cool toy she likes to sink her teeth into. Something small and soft for such a tiny baby. Then tug on that with her a little bit, showing her how much more fun it is to "make prey" on a toy than on your hand. If you need to, put the toy onto a string (like a cat toy) so that you can really make it jump around like prey (think mouse) with your hand totally out of the picture. Most yorkies love this game and it gets them focused on biting toys, not hands.

Good Luck and Enjoy! They are only babies for a short time.

 

[Herschel]

I had gotten her from a puppy expo, I believe they got her when she was 8 weeks old, she wasn't a rescue because they have all of her background info and shot records.

:yikes:

 

[PoodleMommy]

I would not put two pee pads in every room. This just teaches dogs that they do not need to control their bladders and that they should look about 10 feet and then give up and pee wherever. Teach her that there is one potty area in the house and that that is the only acceptable place to potty. Anywhere else gets her a stern "no" and a lift to her potty area. Having it inside an ex-pen makes it easy to drop her in on the papers and watch while you wait for her to pee.

I completley agree with this.. you do not want many spots for your dog to go.
In my house there is one pee pad.... Armani needs to go to it in order to go.

Also get one of the trays they sell at Petsmart... it keeps it in one place otherwise many dogs destroy them when they are bored which is a HUGE mess... trust me.

 

[SizzleDog]

What is a puppy expo? I'm genuinely curious...