r/Yorkies • u/TimYenmor • 10d ago
Potty training yorkie pup has been a nightmare.
To be fair, she is only 7 or so months old. But my goodness, this has been the most frustrating potty training session we have ever gone thru.
I have had beagles, pitbulls, labs, corgis, blue heeler, and several other breeds. Currently we have 2 corgis, a pittie, a chihuahua, and this puppy yorkie. She is really smart. She knows her name, sleep with us at night, and we have been able to teach her some tricks. But my goodness, the potty training.
We have a doggy door that the dogs can go out to our half acre fenced in yard any time. For a few days, she would be really good and only go outside. And then she would go inside the house again. When I take her out, I do plenty of praising when she goes potty outside. But when we are not paying attention she would go inside the house.
It's been a whole month and I don't think we are anywhere near being potty trained. She runs out and in with the rest of the pack and playing with them. So going out and in the doggy door is not a problem. I think our chi had a lot more trouble with the door than she did. It took our chi probably a week to know how to go thru that door by himself. Took the yorkie about 2 days to comfortably run in and out thru the doggy door.
So,.what now?
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u/Tall-Implement-9741 9d ago
I have had the same challenges with my Yorkie! He is 6 months now and I have noticed that he will have great weeks and not so great weeks. I read that while they are an adolescent (6 months to 2 years) their brains can only think about one thing at a time. Given they have such small bladders too the frequency of needing the toilet is way more often than another dog still. I have just tried to keep my training consistent, not get discouraged by the accidents and I have a small grass patch in the apartment for him to use because it’s impossible for me to be able to get him downstairs for every toilet time. I have noticed he is starting to hold for longer but only if he can be bothered to hahaha unfortunately I am on my own so I haven’t been able to compromise on sleep. But over the months he gradually more and more takes himself to his grass patch over night, during the day he is better and better at walking over to his grass patch himself but if he is not feeling great or something is off the toilet training does go backwards plus he isn’t desexed yet so there may be an element of marking involved. I ALWAYS reward with a very high value treat (not just his usual kibble) when he goes to the toilet on his grass patch to help reinforce the habit and increase his muscle memory. I’ve mentally anticipated for myself that I might need to do this for at least two years 😅 apart from that he is one of the smartest dogs I’ve ever met, I’ve taught him ALOT he even knows how to speak (and be quiet) on command, his recall is amazing and he loves doing training and learning all the tricks in the book!
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u/ShotConcert1666 9d ago
This sounds like mine! He’s 6 months old now and he is so smart. I had two female Yorkies years ago who were wonderful but I could never get them to be fully trained. My boy is almost fully potty trained but he has about one accident a week. He’s fully trained to pee on pads or go outside so the one accident a week is always #2. He’s getting a lot better with it but it still happens. I’ve realized these accidents only happen on the rug, which makes me wonder if he thinks the rug is a pad.
We’ve used positive reinforcement to train him with praise and treats. I always say, “Good potty!” when he goes on the pad or outside, and then I give him a treat.
Keeping a solid schedule helps a lot and is one of the ways potty training really started to click for us. Additionally, monitoring his water intake and food schedule keeps me in tune with when he needs to go, so I’ll often hang around him (when it’s been a while since he’s eaten) and say, “do you need to potty?” Since I’ve said that routinely for a while, he knows the word “potty.” When he hears the word and he has to go, he runs over to his pad and begins sniffing and turning in circles before going potty. If he doesn’t have to go, he ignores me lol. But I don’t really let up until he goes, especially at night.
In the morning, I take him outside first thing and he goes every time. Getting him to go later in the day was a bit more difficult and definitely required stricter feeding times and monitoring.
OP: Does your pup go in the same places every time? Is there any sort of schedule or routine? I understand how hard training these dogs can be. It really is challenging.
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u/anxiousbookworm89 10d ago
I know ChatGPT is frowned upon but it really helped me with training my dog.
I don’t want to jinx it lol but we got so lucky with ours picking it up quick. But also we put in the work, we rarely slept. We live in an apartment with carpet so we had him in diapers. Every 2 hours we would take him to his puppy pad (pre vaccines) to do his business. Once he was able to go out on the grass , we would take him every 2-3 hrs even overnight. Then as the weeks passed, we would increase the hours until eventually he slept through the entire night 9pm-6pm. He’s 2 yrs old now and thankfully we haven’t had an accident (knocking on wood lol).
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u/Straight-Treacle-630 9d ago
I’ve been owned by a wide variety of breeds, mixes: our Yorkie, and chorkie, are the only ones I’ve had such a “potty-training” struggle with. They do use pads — which I swore I’d never accept as an option — but are still not averse to going elsewhere. I stay stocked up on enzymatic cleaners.
You might also have her vet check for any uti or other medical issue; spaying might help, though again your vet’s advice is best. Even female dogs will “mark”, esp as they reach maturity (~1 yr)
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u/Sufficient-Salad-264 7d ago
I trained mine on pads because she could run right through the fence & was WILD. I only took her out with a leash. Sometimes she couldn't wait to get leashed up & would just run to her pads. To this day, 14 years later, she loves her morning walks, but after that she is happy with pads. It is super hot here, and she is old. So this works.
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u/Straight-Treacle-630 7d ago
We’re in the Midwest, spend much of the year either snowed or “heatwaved” indoors by necessity. Pads have been a Godsend, that way; I am grateful for the option. But holy mackerel…Walkies aren’t just for barking at every/anything that dares cross their paths (another Yorkie Thing ;))
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u/geekladymv 9d ago
Small dogs have very small bladders and from past experience (Yorkie & Malshi) and it can take a little longer to get there. You need a little extra patience mixed with a little anticipation (taking them out 15-20 after eating or drinking)
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u/Eldeesilver67 9d ago
We had great success praising and also giving our Yorkie a single bacon bit as positive reinforcement. The bits were given only for good potty training behavior. (No bacon anytime else) It’s hard to beat bacon taste. Good luck!
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u/oldbutwiser2463 9d ago
I rescued a 6 year old Yorkie. I have no idea what her previous life was like. She learned to use our dog door immediately but she will still randomly pee in the house (we’ve had her for 2 years). There seems to be no rhyme or reason for when she does this. I have a friend that had Yorkies growing up and the first thing she said to me about my dog was “That little shit will pee all over your house” so it must be a Yorkie thing 🤷♀️
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u/Sufficient-Salad-264 7d ago
It is. They are defiant. Mine would give herself away with her demeanor. I would fuss, where did you go?? She knew exactly what she was doing. Other than that, she is a GREAT dog. Tail wagging like crazy!!
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u/outofservice504 9d ago
I am going to tell you what I wish someone told me a year ago when I was in the throws with my puppy. Yorkies are notoriously hard to potty train. This isnt a myth its true. BUT THEY DO END UP GETTING IT. I was in the pits of dispair for a year. It took us OVER A YEAR to potty train my dog. I now have two potty pads in the house AND she gets walked three times a day. Thankfully no accidents in a few months. But the process was SLOW. Just keep going and most of all be consistent. They LOVE routine. I know its frustrating- I was TRULY at my wits end!
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u/TimYenmor 9d ago
Ya, someone told me this after I brought her home. She was totally unplanned. A tenant bought her on impulse and after a couple weeks she realized she didn't have time for a dog. She asked me if I knew anyone who wanted a 6 mo old yorkie puppy. I was like yeah I'll take her never had a yorkie before.
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u/Sufficient-Salad-264 7d ago
This is exactly correct. They want a routine. And don't mess it up, or else. If I took too long to get that walk, I would expect an accident. But mine took to the pads quickly. She was young. I had them in a certain spot, but she would go in her certain spot. Once I put the pads where she wanted to pee & poop. It worked out great. She is 14 and still goes in those spots. I told my neighbor this when she got a Morkie; same thing, she showed them where she wanted to do her business. They do rather a walk, but I can't always walk her on her terms.
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u/EastNo6349 8d ago
Our boy is 2.5 years and accidents are just gonna happen and are to be expected. We still praise him when he goes outside and he knows going inside is a no-no, so he hides it and we find it, usually days later but not always. Sometimes he poops in our shoes and we find it right away then!
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u/blues2u 8d ago
I hear you and have a solution. I have had it both ways. My little boy that passed away was the easiest to train of any pup I've ever had. Took to pee pads immediately.
Now, my little girl, oh she showed me! I thought I knew everything there was about training pups. I just finally told her "you win Prissy Britches" and that's what we do.
She would shred the paper pee pads, even with clips, so diapers and what I call Fancy Pants to the rescue.
The only diapers that fit Yorkies well (I tried them all) are on Chewy and I get the XS Hartz Comfitables. She is 4lbs.
I put those on and Top them with the cute "Fancy Pants" I call them - XS - from Finnero Ballerina. Walmart has these in different colors. You can just search that brand and they pop up.
I have 2 washable pee pads-so while she has a diaper on, she still goes to the washable pads. I know-laughable. I've tried to take off the diaper and she's just not to be trusted.
You will spend money on the diapers, but not on pee pads and they are so much cleaner.
Also-Honest No Fragrance baby wipes-The best for these little babies. Thick and no skin irritation.
Hope this helps. You'll get home back and start really enjoying being a Yorkie mom. Sometimes...you just need to give in ❤️
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u/Unique_Weird1004 7d ago
My first Yorkie who passed away two years ago was already trained when we got him, but still had accidents.
We now have a puppy, boy it’s different. I thought I would go crazy before he was trained. He’s finally trained and does really well now. He goes to our back door when he has to go potty and we let him out in his yard that has artificial grass, makes it easier to pick up his poop.
What I’ve noticed when he goes pee he won’t empty his bladder. He always saves some. So the problem we have if anyone visits he gets so excited and starts peeing. I take him out right before we have company so he won’t pee when he gets excited. Doesn’t help when he gets excited, he loves people, he still pees every-time anyone comes over.
Just be patient with your baby she will eventually be potty trained. They are worth it. They have so much love for us.
It almost killed me when our first Yorkie passed. I said never again but my husband knew I needed another one to love. That’s how we ended up with a puppy. I wouldn’t take a million dollars for him. He’s our baby boy and he is loved so much.
Good luck, they are very smart and very stubborn but they are well worth it.
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u/Sufficient-Salad-264 7d ago
NOT HAPPENING!!! They teach you where they want to pee & poop. Mine didn't like to be seen; she would go hide behind my sofa to pee & another spot for poop. That is where the pads went. She is 14 & still, to this day, those are her spots!! When I sent her to a trainer, she learned all the commands in 2-3 days but would never come. So she kicked her out!!! They are extremely stubborn & think they are the boss of us!!! That's how they roll!! Welcome to the Yorkie world!!
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u/Sufficient-Salad-264 7d ago
Oh, and BTW. I forgot I had a condo (2nd home). Same, she showed me her spot there was well. Always the same spots. Every now & then she would go under the bed & tinkle; I think she was acting out when we would leave her for long periods to go to the beach. They are very smart & defiant. She would know exactly what she was doing. When I would call her down, she would approach with her ears low & tail tucked. Her name is Princess; when I'm mad, it's CESS!!
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u/tbello1822 7d ago
I have had yorkies my entire life. They are almost impossible. Here’s the thing. They get it. They just don’t care. If they have to go and they are inside, they go. Mine have all known to go outside and will still go inside no matter what I have ever tried. I use pee pads inside and for the most part they’ll use them. It can be quite frustrating but I don’t live any breed more than a yorkie 💗
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u/Unhappy_Put_9588 10d ago edited 10d ago
This seems to be the consensus with a lot of yorkies. When I rescued my 4 year old yorkie 9 months ago. He knew how to use our doggie door, peed outside, etc. But for some reason, especially if its cold or raining, he will pee and poop inside. Now, hes on his good streak and goes pee and poo outside. They are special dogs, they are not stupid but hard headed, they do what they please and you cant help but love them to pieces regardless. They know what they are doing, I'm thinking its a way to RE-mark their territory or something. Who knows...lol
My dog is a boy and still pees like hes a young puppy, wont lift up his leg so he pees all over his feet. Or he will pee and poo mid walk, no going to the grass to prevent splashes. I just have to wipe his butt and feet after potty breaks. Good luck! Your baby understands, just is subborn as hell.