Training Yorkie
Do you own a “YORKIE” some help please with Potty Training.?
How did you go about training your Yorkie. I have a baby puppy at 11 weeks. All advice will be very much appreciated. Thank you.
Crate training is the best thing for any puppy as they have a natural instinct to NOT want to go where they have to lay down, so it helps them learn to control their bladders; the best crates are those that have an adjustable interior panel so the crate space can “grow” with the dog. Typically, you want a crate sized to allow pup to lay down comfortably, but not much bigger than that. That being said, this puppy is so young that it is not physically able to hold it’s urine for more than a couple of hours, if that, so if you cannot let it out frequently, keep the pup in a crate that is large enough for a small “bed” of some sort at one end, and a puppy pad at the other. Also, you need to be aware that toy & small breed dogs are the most difficult to potty train, and while many dogs are fully trained within the first few months, these breeds usually take much, much longer – a year or more sometimes! Puppy should be crated any time you are not able to supervise continually, as well as any time you are not available to take puppy outside every hour or so for potty opportunities. Typically, a dog’s bladder is developed enough by 6 mos. of age to be able to hold it overnight – again, with toy breeds, you are talking about a very tiny bladder, so that timeline may not apply.
Check out this article on crate training:
http://ezinearticles.com/?7-Sure-Fire-Tips-For-Success-With-Puppy-Crate-Training&id=1309872
In general, with all training, consistency is key – establish a routine of feeding, going outside, etc. and decide what “commands” you want to use for training & always use the same words in the same situations. Here’s how I do it: As my dog starts to sniff the ground, I say “Find a spot” several times, then right when she starts to go, I praise her, saying “Good girl, go potty.” She actually knows lots of phrases now, so I can ask her “Outside? Go potty?” and she’ll either go to the door to say “Yes,” or she sits down, to tell me “No, I don’t need to go out.” They are so smart & if you are consistent, they can learn lots of words & phrases. It’s also important to know that within 10 min. or so of eating, most dogs will have to have a BM, so make sure you allow for that time outside very soon after eating. Feed on a schedule, and they will poop on a schedule, making your life MUCH easier. You don’t need to leave food out all the time – any uneaten food should be taken up after 10 min., and they learn to eat asap when you put the food down.
As a sidenote, I hope that you are well versed with this breed & it’s potential health issues, but if not, do some research so you are not blindsided later, or worse, unaware of preventative measures and early signs of problems which leave your pet in discomfort until the problem becomes severe. I worked for a vet for several years, so I saw lots of this in real life. These toy breeds typically have dental problems – baby teeth that don’t fall out, tartar build up early in life, etc. Learn to brush your puppy’s teeth & save yourself tons of $$$$ in vet bills later! Check into a product called Oravet, which is something that prevents buildup on the teeth. Another issue can be joint problems, so maintaining proper weight is very important – overweight dogs get arthritis more & earlier, just like overweight people. There are many great web sites out there, so arm yourself with knowledge – one of my favorites for general info is WonderPuppy.net., and another is PetPlace.com Good luck & enjoy your puppy!
Puppy School Training, Yorkie Puppy, Puppy Potty Training