The Real Truth Behind Yorkie Housetraining
Yorkie housetraining Yorkshire Terriers can be done, although I know that coming home and walking around with your bare feet or you socks can be miserable when you feel that squishy feeling!I guarantee it is a matter of being focused and consistent.
Since Yorkies are small and they have small bladders, it is not quite as easy to train them as a larger breed, but well worth when you are done. It won’t be overnight and each of these babies responds just a little differently, but the key and secret is to do it over and over and over on a schedule. Remember how they used to tell us Moms to keep our human babies on a feeding and sleeping schedule? Well, when we followed through with that, it worked out a lot better for everyone in the office. And your Yorkie is no exception to that rule.
So, you might want to realize that this puppy is a baby, a dog-baby, but a baby nonetheless and don’t expect him/her to act like a grown, well-trained dog until he/she has learned how to housetrain. It actually takes a few months for your Yorkie to get the hang of it and even then, you might want to put them in the crate or a confined area when you leave the house for any length of time.Too many mistakes and being irregular in your schedule will take your Yorkie housetraining back a few steps, so stay consistent.
First, you need to take your Yorkie outside to the same spot or to his/her puppy pad at the same time every day. Make a schedule – either written or in your head that this is the schedule that you are going to stick to every single day.Being consistent is the key. I know life gets in the way, but then hopefully you have a neighbor, child, friend, significant other that can help you when you can’t be there to do this on a schedule.
So, first when the Yorkie wakes up, remember he/she has to go potty and I mean immediately. Keep the first visit outside or to the puppy pad short and then feed him his breakfast. Remember, not long after you feed the puppy, about as long as it takes for you to get your short shower or drink a cup of coffee, it is time to go back to the potty place.
Next, when you leave the house, put the puppy in the crate or wherever he/she stays confined while you are gone for the day. In a perfect world, the puppy will need to have a potty break at mid-morning and mid-afternoon break as well.Let’s hope you can find a dog-walker, a friend or another family member that can do this when you cannot. Make sure that the person you ask to help you follows the same routine as close as possible to keep the puppy on schedule and without confusion as to where and when he is to go to potty. This potty time should be kept to about fifteen minutes or less and is not to be confused with a time for playing outside!
When it is time to eat dinner, follow the same schedule as in the early morning.You must remember to take your Yorkie baby to his potty place in the yard or to his puppy pad as soon as you come through the door. Try to keep him on a feeding schedule during the day and stay as close to that schedule within a thirty minute period as you possibly can.
You will want to feed your Yorkie first thing in the morning and then early in the evening when you return home so that as soon his bowels are stimulated from the food, he will be ready to go to potty before he goes to bed. Make sure you follow the same routine taking him out at night as you did in the morning, same place to potty, not a time to play.
It might be a great idea to write up your little schedule and put it somewhere visible, like the frig so that everyone in the house sees what it supposed to be happening, in case you need to enlist their help! In fact, it should involve the whole family as this is a family pet and you can all bond with the puppy at the same time, instead of just one person.
One important point about housetraining a Yorkie and other Yorkie stuff is to remember how very important it is to praise him/her when he/she finished going to potty when he is supposed to!Some like to offer a treat immediately, while your Yorkie is just as happy with your approval. He will try very hard to please you, so don’t forget to thank him for doing well! This is a much better tactic than the old school ways of rubbing his nose in it.
When you do have an uh-oh moment in the house and you probably will, remember not to be too upset or harsh. They are still learning, and perhaps it was your fault for not staying on his schedule. Just quickly clean it up, and get back on schedule.It is similar to your own children. They make mistakes. Forgive them and move on.You will have a winner and a happy, well-trained Yorkie when you combine praise and positive feedback on a regular basis!
When your Yorkshire Terrier completes his potty break, remember to give him praise and affection. You can offer a Yorkie biscuit, but it’s not necessary. He’s just as happy with your approval. Your Yorkie is begging for you to approve of him, so give it to him when he follows through! Instead of the old training methods that punish a Yorkshire Terrier for making a mess in the house, you can take the more effective positive approach to show him approval for getting the job done during a scheduled potty break. You’ll have a happy Yorkie and he’ll have a happy family!
