Yorkie Potty Training Yorkshire Terrier
Yorkie Housebreaking your Yorkie or Brussels Griffon

Potty training is a long process whether it's a Yorkshire Terrier or any other dog. You will not accomplish this overnight or in a week. It's much like training a child. The most important thing in training is consistency and putting them on a schedule. The 1st thing you want to do is get them use to the area they are going to be trained to. If inside paper training or potty pad training your Yorkie, choose the room that the papers/pads are always going to be in, a utility room is a nice size generally. Put up a mesh baby gate. Do not close the door in so small of a room as that can cause your Yorkie puppy distress to be closed off in so small a space without being able to look out.

Cover the floor with pads/newspapers. Pee pads or weewee pads you can buy at most pet stores. Put the pad in the area that you want them to go to in this room. When they are in the room they will learn what spot they are to go in. Pull up areas of the pads/paper as you see fit, until you are down to just one section of pads/paper in the room.

When you let them out to play in the house, make sure you are watching them. Don't get distracted because they know that and will take advantage and go potty somewhere. If you see them going in circles than get them into their potty room. Wait until they go so that you can praise them. Don't be skimpy on the praise. In fact act like a fool over them going. They want to please you and when they see how happy this makes you everytime, they will catch on and do it automatically. If you can't keep an eye on them than do not let them out of their confined area. Once they get the idea you can pretty much count on that they can be out for atleast a couple hours at a time without having to go again. At 1st it is like training a child, you really train yourself, but that does get you results. You will learn about what time your Yorkie is going each time and know to expect it.

If outside training, you will start with the inside training the same way, but you will start the puppy outdoors also. The 1st thing when you get up take the puppy out, even before you go. Each time your Yorkie puppy wakes up, take the puppy out. After each meal, take the puppy out. Sometimes you may have to stand there for some time to get the puppy to go. This is very important in the beginning so that you can praise the puppy for pottying. Praise goes a long way in potty training a puppy. If you are outside training you may use a room to keep them in or a crate. The smallest size I would use would be the 18 inch by 36 inch. There is room for a bed, dishes and pads/papers. If they are confined some hours they need more space than a little airline carrier.

Some people like to use a collapsible exercise pen to keep the puppy in during training. This folds up flat for storage or transporting. They open up about the size of a baby's playpen. These are also wonderful for outside training for those that do not have a fenced yard. You just set it up next to the back door and put the puppy out in to it. If for outside use, I would get one atleast 36 inches high for Yorkies. For the Brussels Griffon, since they are climbers, I would not trust one in an exercise pen as they can climb right out of it. For in home use the 30 inch height is just fine. You can buy these from the larger pet stores, or some of the mail order catalog dog supply companies or at dog shows.

On males you can tie a tube sock around them from underneath up around to the topline. That way if they do make a mistake they are not establishing a spot to go back to. Just throw the sock in the washer when done. On females you can buy the little premie underpants with cotton on the inner and plastic on the outer side and just cut a hole for the tail. This will help while they are playing if you do miss them going, plus you will know if they had an accident if you find the apparel damp.

The biggest complaint I hear is "they came straight in from outside & pottied". Well you didn't leave them out long enough. Puppies get out there and get excited and want to play for awhile until they learn what they are suspose to be doing. Remember consistency and patience is the key to successful potty training. Under no circumstances should you spank the puppy or rub their nose in the mess. That will just create a bigger problem. Just don't get discouraged. Who cares if it takes months as long as the end results are what you want. A happy dog and a happy owner.

If you are training a Yorkie or Brussels Griffon be sure to go to my breed info page also as breeds vary in their differences, some take more training than others for potty training and you need to be aware of that.
The main thing that anyone should do if still having a problem potty training is to start them in obedience school. You will form an unbelievable bond with your dog and the potty training seems to straighten itself out with the training they are getting at the class. I can not emphasize obedience training enough.


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