How to Potty Train a Yorkshire Terrier
Yorkies can be difficult to potty-train.
NB....My wife and myself have been breeding "Yorkies" for over thirty years and these notes are taken from our experiences.
Your Yorkie -- is one of the most popular dog breeds because of its loyal, lively disposition.
These toy dogs, however, are also notoriously difficult to potty-train.
With consistency and plenty of encouragement, you can potty-train even the stubbornest of dogs.
Keep your puppy in a puppy cage when you are not home or are unable to supervise her.
Yorkies are prone to suffer from separation anxiety, which can increase their likelihood of having accidents in the house.
A puppy cage can help your puppy feel secure, and puppies are much less likely to urinate or defecate in their cage.
Avoid leaving your puppy in her cage for long periods of time.
Puppies can usually tolerate two to three hours in a cage, while adult dogs can stay in a cage for six to eight hours.
Depending on individual circumstances, some dogs need more frequent breaks while others can wait longer.
Prevent accidents by taking your pup for potty breaks regularly.
Each accident increases the likelihood of future accidents, because your pup begins to think it's okay to go inside.
Puppies should go outside at least every two hours.
Both puppies and adult dogs should go outside after waking up, before bed, after eating or drinking, and after play sessions.
Give your pup/dog a treat when she does her business outside.
This helps her associate going outside with getting a reward and increases her incentive to control her bladder and bowels.
Take your pup/dog outside immediately if she has an accident.
This helps her develop an association between going to the bathroom and going outside.
If your pup/dog goes outside and does her business give her a treat.
If you do not have a cage to keep your pups in, then try this way to train your pups.
Keep a pad of newspaper in the area which you keep your pups so that they learn to use the pad as a toilet.
If the newspaper does not work for you, one can buy washable doggy potty litter boxes to use.
Use same process as with the cage but use the pads or litter box as being outside.
Every time you want to take them outside, just put them on the newspaper pad/litter box.
They will associate the pad/litter box with going to the bathroom.
If your pup goes to the pad/litter box to do its business then give the pup a treat.
Once you find that the pups are using the pad/box for a toilet, start to move the pad towards the door to outside.
Then move the pad/box outside the door but keep the open.
If you are going out, bring the pad/box in while you are away.
Later keep the pad/box outside and close the door for short periods.
Slowly increase the time of keeping the door closed.
Remember the pad/box must come in at night until you see the pups can wait a long enough period before wanting to go out.
During this period move the pad/box to the grass as well.
All Photographs are my own except for the advert for Doggie Lawn.
