| For most people, the most challenging part of owing a | | | | him to associate the spot, and eventually outside in |
| Yorkie is house training. For Yorkies, house training can | | | | general, as the place to go potty. Do not walk your |
| be very difficult. Yorkies are very smart and very | | | | Yorkie until he is accident-free. Go to the spot you |
| stubborn. Without consistent training, Yorkies can take | | | | want him to go, and stand there until he goes. It may |
| an extremely long time to train. I have had many | | | | take forever the first few times, but if you go in and |
| frustrated Yorkie owners ask me for training advice. | | | | out without your Yorkie going potty, then he will think |
| Most of the time problems stem from inconsistent | | | | outside is for play. Once he starts going consistently |
| training. | | | | outside, in the same place, then you can start taking |
| If your job requires you to be away from home for 9 | | | | him to different places. |
| hours a day, unless you take some vacation time to | | | | For puppies around 12 weeks old, the typical schedule |
| focus on training, your Yorkie will take a very long time | | | | would be to take them outside or to the puppy pad |
| to learn the rules of going potty. So, if you are reading | | | | about 6 - 8 times per day: first thing in the morning, |
| this before bringing your new Yorkie home, do your | | | | about 15 minutes after the first meal, then every three |
| best to plan on having a week at home with your new | | | | hours during the day, after the evening meal, just |
| addition in order to get training off on the right foot. If | | | | before bed, and possibly once over night. As your |
| you are reading this as a frustrated owner of an | | | | Yorkie starts to get a handle on the potty schedule, |
| untrained Yorkie, do not despair. All it takes is time, | | | | you can slowly increase the time in between breaks. |
| patience, and consistency, and your Yorkie can be | | | | While you are potty training your Yorkie, there will be |
| trained. | | | | accidents. It is important for any new Yorkie owner to |
| First and foremost, Yorkies respond very well to | | | | try to minimize the accidents. An untrained Yorkie |
| positive reinforcement. They will basically do whatever | | | | should not have the full run of the house. Instead, |
| you want them to if they know they will be rewarded. | | | | create a puppy-proofed place in your house for your |
| So, when your Yorkie goes potty in the proper place, | | | | Yorkie to stay until he is trained, or, you can use crate |
| give lots of praise. Use treats, petting, a "good boy" or | | | | training. |
| "good girl," and lots of hugs and kisses. It won't take | | | | You can create a Yorkie puppy safe area in a place |
| long for your Yorkie to catch on to potty training is | | | | that is easy to clean if there are accidents, such as a |
| enthusiastic positive reinforcement is used. Do not let | | | | bathroom, laundry room, or kitchen. Restrict your |
| up on the praise or treats until your Yorkie is fully | | | | Yorkie to this area using a baby gate or exercise pen. |
| trained. On the other hand, scolding and punishment for | | | | Make the area comfortable with your Yorkie's food |
| accidents are a major no-no for any Yorkie owner. | | | | and water, toys, bed, and puppy pad or newspapers. |
| Scolding is counter-productive and will only make your | | | | If you will be employing crate training, start with the |
| Yorkie confused and upset. So not hit your Yorkie or | | | | right sized crate. Your Yorkie should have enough |
| rub his face in the spot where the accident occurred. | | | | room to stand up and turn around, but not enough |
| Be patient and kind and very enthusiastic when he "hits | | | | room to go potty in the crate and be able to get away |
| the mark." | | | | from it. Gradually introduce your Yorkie to the crate by |
| As far as where your Yorkie will go potty, there are a | | | | feeding him in it with the door open. You can also put |
| number of typical options. Here is a short list: | | | | toys in the crate to encourage him to go in. Over a |
| Inside on puppy pads or newspaper | | | | few days of your Yorkie eating in the crate with the |
| Inside in a special dog litter box | | | | door open, you can start to shut the door while your |
| Inside with an indoor potty system (like sod or fake | | | | Yorkie is eating for a few seconds at a time. Gradually |
| grass) | | | | increase the time that the door is shut each day until |
| Outside on a harness and a leash (not a collar) | | | | your Yorkie is comfortable in his crate. |
| Outside in a fenced yard | | | | The idea is that your Yorkie will not potty in the crate, |
| An inside/outside combo | | | | so you can take him out to his appropriate potty area |
| - outside except when your Yorkie is home alone or | | | | as soon as you let him out of the crate. Many Yorkie |
| the weather is bad | | | | find the crate to be a very calming a relaxing place to |
| - crate training | | | | "get away" from noise and stress, but it can take |
| Which ever method you choose, be consistent. | | | | some time for Yorkies to get to like the crate. |
| Predictability is the key when it comes to training a | | | | Remember: a Yorkie should not be crated for more |
| Yorkie. Setting up a schedule is paramount. If you are | | | | than 4 hours at a time without a potty break. So, do |
| using a puppy pad or newspapers, place your Yorkie | | | | not expect to crate your Yorkie while you are gone all |
| on the designated area on the same schedule you | | | | day at work. Yorkies have small bladders and need to |
| would if you were taking your Yorkie outside. Also, | | | | be able to use the bathroom fairly frequently. If you |
| remember to put the pad or papers in a place that is | | | | leave your Yorkie in the crate too long, he will |
| easy to clean up and is far enough away from your | | | | eventually have to go potty, and then any crate |
| Yorkie's food that he will be comfortable eliminating. If | | | | "training" will be lost. |
| you will be employing an outside method, take your | | | | The most important things to remember when potty |
| Yorkie to the same place every time you go outside | | | | training a Yorkie are: positive reinforcement, |
| until he "gets it". Pick a good spot like a nice patch of | | | | consistency, and patience. Remember these keys and |
| grass or a tree, or something similar. | | | | you will have a properly trained and well-mannered |
| The smell of his urine in the same place will also help | | | | Yorkie in no time. |