Housetraining Yorkshire Terriers
Potty training Yorkshire Terriers is easy if you use the schedule-based method! Just be careful to manage your expectations since Yorkie housetraining will take from several weeks to a few months of consistent effort on your part until the training has "sunk in."
To help your Yorkshire Terrier know when it's the right time to go potty, simply stick to the routine consistently. Your Yorkie is like most people in that when they awake, they normally go to the bathroom right away.
It's no secret that your Yorkie will need the same thing! So do your dog a favor and don't dilly-dally...take your Yorkshire Terrier out as soon as you're up and moving. Just think that she has been holding it all night, and how you might feel if that were you!
Keep the first potty break short, and then bring him inside for breakfast. Let your Yorkshire Terrier eat breakfast while you're getting dressed and ready for the day. By the time you finish your coffee and breakfast, you can take the Yorkie out for a potty break.
If he's had some time to eat and let the food settle, he'll be ready for elimination before going into the crate or the room where he spends the day. With a puppy, you need to come back for a mid-day potty break and a mid-afternoon break if possible.
When you're at work, let another family member or neighbor handle those breaks for you. Just make sure everyone knows and follows the routine you use for breaks. Make the breaks short, about 5 to 10 minutes, and don't mix playtime with potty time. Your Yorkshire Terrier needs to clearly understand the difference and he will - if you're consistent.
Try to maintain the same housetraining schedule for dinner. So, take your Yorkshire Terrier out the minute you get back. Establish a schedule to feed the Yorkshire Terrier at the same time each day, and try to not go more than thirty minutes off your schedule.
Your goal is to feed your Yorkie early enough in the evening such that he has time for the food to digest and be ready for a potty break before going down for sleep. And you'll want to follow the same pattern and schedule for housetraining the next day, and the following day, and so on.
As you're housetraining your Yorkshire Terrier, keep notes of the times. You can even create a simple checklist to post on the refrigerator. Then anyone who feeds the Yorkie or takes him for potty breaks can make note of the time. This is helpful in noticing what the Yorkshire Terrier's natural elimination patterns are.
Be sure to give your Yorkie lots of positive praise and affection when he goes potty. Verbal praise and a small food treat work great. In the old days, dog trainers advised punishment when a dog went in the house...but this has been shown to be less effective than the positive reinforcement housetraining.
Since your Yorkshire Terrier wants you to love him, he will be willing to try his best to please you. Just don't make it difficult. If you're running late and miss his potty break, clean it up and get back on track without scolding him. Your Yorkie depends on you for many things, including staying on target for housetraining. He doesn't want to mess in his space - or in yours - so help him do the right thing by sticking to a schedule.
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