How to Potty Train a 10-Month-Old Yorkie Puppy

Potty training is difficult with any dog but it can be especially trying with tiny breeds such as Yorkies. While smaller dogs mature faster, they still have much smaller bladders and cannot "hold it" for as long as some of their larger dog friends. If you are at the end of your rope with your Yorkie puppy, you can try "crate training" to give yourself a bit of help.

Instructions

    • 1

      Purchase a small dog crate. This crate should be just large enough for your Yorkie to stand and lie down in without much extra room.

    • 2

      Place a small treat in the crate and encourage your Yorkie to explore it with the doors open.

    • 3

      Close the crate door after your Yorkie is comfortable getting in and out of the crate. At first you should close the door for a few minutes at a time, without leaving the room.

    • 4

      Add time to your crate closings until the Yorkie is comfortable staying in the crate while you leave the room. Dogs will not potty where they sleep, so your puppy will naturally try to hold it as long as he possibly while in the crate.

    • 5

      Take your puppy outside immediately after opening the crate, and then reward him with a treat and praise for going potty outside.

    • 6

      Ignore little accidents. If you catch your Yorkie urinating or defecating in the house, scoop him up and let him finish outside. If you don't catch him, clean up the mess and scold yourself for not paying better attention.

    • 7

      Keep the Yorkie in his crate while you sleep and whenever you need to leave the house. You should never leave a dog in a crate for more than eight hours, and remember that your Yorkie simply may not be able to hold it that long.