House Training Yorkies
Potty training Yorkshire Terriers is easy if you use the schedule-based method! Just be careful to manage your expectations since Yorkshire Terrier training 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.
Well, your Yorkie needs the same courtesy. Don’t stop to make coffee or check the newspaper - take your Yorkshire Terrier out as soon as you’re up and moving. He’s been holding it all night, so don’t make this difficult.
This morning potty break should be short. Next, allow your Yorkshire Terrier to eat breakfast as you’re getting dressed and ready for the day. Next, take your Yorkie out for a potty break once you’ve had your breakfast and are ready to go out for the day.
The thinking here is that if the Yorkie had some time to eat and for the food settle, it will be ready for potty before going into the crate or the room where you keep him during the day. And keep in mind that if you have a puppy, you will need to schedule a mid-morning and mid-afternoon break as well.
If you’re at work all day, you need to arrange for a family member or friend to handle those breaks for you. Ensure that whoever does this follows the routine you have created precisely. Ideally, the potty breaks should be short, about 5 to 10 minutes, and should not be confused with play time. You want the Yorkshire Terrier to understand and know the difference between potty and play.
Keep the same routine for dinnertime. Let your Yorkshire Terrier out for a potty break as soon as you return home from work or school. Set a time to feed the Yorkshire Terrier and don’t get more than thirty minutes off 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 Yorkie training the next day, and the following day, and so on.
Keep notes on the times and schedule for Yorkshire Terrier potty training. You can even create a simple checklist of the Yorkie’s schedule and post it on the refrigerator. This will keep your whole family on track and will also help you figure out your Yorkie’s potty pattern.
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. Instead of the old training methods that punish a Yorkshire Terrier for making a mess in the house, you take the more effective positive approach to show him approval for getting the job done during a scheduled potty break.
Keep in mind that Yorkies love to please their master! If they make a mistake in the house, try not to be too upset with them. And if it’s your fault and you miss the schedule, just clean it up and get your dog back on track without scolding him. If you stick to this schedule-based method and combine it with positive reinforcement and praise, you’ll find that housetraining Yorkshire Terriers is a snap!