Sunday, October 4, 2009

Learn To Efficiently House Train A Rebellious Little Yorkie!

By Alicia Ainsley Summers

Certain breeds such as Yorkshire Terriers may need a little extra TLC when it comes time to housebreak them. House training puppies can be tough work, but well worth the time and effort invested. With the smaller breeds sometimes it takes a wee bit longer to develop perfect potty habits.

You should begin by first determining if the potty spot will be located inside the home or outside. People who live in condos and apartments tend to favor Yorkies since they don't need much space. You might find that your Yorkie prefers an indoor potty if he is resistant to going outside during cold weather. Another consideration to remember is that these dogs have small bladders, so they can only hold so much! if you are regularly out of the house each day for more than a few hours, you cannot expect your dog to be able to control his bladder for extended periods of time. In this case, choose a discreet area of your home for the puppy training pads. Otherwise, any small strip of grass should do the trick, as long as you use that same spot all the time.

Daily walks are a great way to get into a regular potty routine, as the exercise helps things "get moving" so always offer an opportunity at the beginning and ending of each walk to use the toilet. The scent of urine is an indication to your dog that this is the potty spot, and by using the same area this builds a strong habit. Keep your neighborhood clean by always taking litter bags (baggies work just fine) to clean up any little messes left behind. It's fine if your Yorkie happens to go while you are out on the walk, this is not considered an "accident" since it didn't happen on the floor or other unwanted area.

Sometimes dogs avoid going outside in bad weather and then will have an accident in a discreet location indoors. A sweater is a great way to address that situation and make going out in poor weather more tolerable. If this is the case, you might want to think about an indoor alternative for these situations.

Enthusiastic praise, affection and treats will speed up your dog's understanding of proper toilet techniques and help build good habits. When your pup has done his business, offer him lots of verbal praise and affection. Do not be afraid to offer a delicious treat as a training incentive!

Anywhere from a week to a month house training a dog is common, and for Yorkies it could be a little longer, so have patience with your little one! Learn how to train a puppy properly and you will be rewarded with a wonderful relationship between you and your Yorkshire Terrier.

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