Potty Training Your Yorkie - Yorkie House Training

Step #1: Designate the bathroom area

This is the easy part. But wherever you choose, you should be the one to bring your pup to this location rather than just opening the door and letting it loose. Not only will there be nothing for your puppy to learn, it’s also potentially quite dangerous out there for such a small and adventurous pup.

You’ll want to find an area that, whatever the weather, is going to be fully accessible and no fewer than 10 feet away from any areas you will want to be using yourself. This is the last kind of present you want to be brought to any family get-togethers, or near any food.

Step #2: Make sure your Yorkie is supervised

Bruno, Charlie, Tiny Courtesy of Leslie Wilson

Perhaps the greatest contributor to a failed housebreaking is when owners get lax with supervision. Everything’s fine, you go answer the phone and before you know it, there’s a nice gift on the rug waiting for you. It is not enough just to glance over from time to time to make sure everything is ok. You need to be on hand at all times, ready to pick up your pup at the first sign of a motion, and carry them over to their designated area. This is an area of potty training a Yorkie that’s easy to forget.

Should you not be able to keep your eyes trained to them 24/7 (you probably need to eat sometime), there’s one of two things you should be doing.

For those times where the dog can’t be by your side, an appropriately sized playpen is the best way to keep the pup where you want them. The IRS 4-panel pet playpen is a good choice because it gives your Yorkie room to play and it confines any accidents to one area. Giving your Yorkie an entire room shut off by a gate is not recommended. Unless properly puppy proofed, this can be dangerous in more ways than one. You can expect any items in the room to be thoroughly chewed. Also, your Yorkie will see to it that all of its bathroom habits will be spread all the room.

If you are able to keep them by your side, keep them tethered with a short, lightweight leash, no longer than 6 to 9 feet. It’s essential, however, that you use a harness, not a collar. Since they’re still young and fragile a collar can potentially cause a neck injury. Yorkies are very prone to a collapsed trachea, even as an adult. Choose a soft harness that won’t tug against their throat like this Pupteck no-pull harness.

Step #3: Set up an enclosure or containment area

Choose a good spot in the room that is still within distance of the family. We don’t want the family’s newest member feeling lonely. If you’re placing the pen onto carpet or hardwood, you may want to lay down something protective to make the base.

Within the pen you’ll want the following: a nice, comfy bed (we like this Deep Dish snuggler dog bed), food, water, potty pads (maybe kept in place using an empty litter box, to prevent them from being moved or chewed) and some toys like teether chews. The toys will encourage teething, and with any luck keep the furniture safe.

Step #4: Give praise for using the bathroom area

As has always been the case with us humans, the best way to get a dog to do anything is with ample praise and reward. After all, what else will keep them motivated to make an effort and do as you say? Always reward your Yorkie with a treat after going to the bathroom in the correct place. The treat should be small like these Wellness puppy bites because they should be getting many treats every day. And the next time you go out, place them again in the exact spot.

Make sure to be prompt when giving praise. If you do it immediately, verbally as well as with treats, this will be taken as a sign of doing the right thing and your Yorkie will keep in mind the lesson. If you wait too long to give praise, your puppy won’t associate the praise with their action.

Step #5: How to react to accidents

It’s important not to lose your temper or scold your Yorkie if they have an accident. In time, this could lead to a more fearful relationship. Instead, if you witness your Yorkie starting to relieve itself, intervene with a loud clap and a strong, firm “No.” Take the pup straight to the area you have designated for it and allow it to do its business. Accidents will happen, so you must stay patient and persistent.

If the deed has already been done and you happen upon it, consider what you may or may not have done to lead this to happen. Were you following the previously mentioned confinement and supervision methods? Scolding or yelling at your Yorkie will do absolutely no good, and will only lead to it becoming fearful of you.

As mentioned earlier, Yorkies have notoriously small bladders, especially as a puppy, so be prepared for accidents.