How to House Train Yorkie Puppies

Yorkies (Yorkshire terriers) are one of the hardest breeds of dogs to house train. Perhaps it is because they are stubborn or simply cannot be bothered to do so, but for whatever their reasons, these pint-sized pups seem to take longer than other breeds to become completely housebroken. Some folks who own Yorkies actually give up and allow their tiny dogs to use areas in the house for elimination. However, this does not have to be the case. Yorkies are intelligent and can learn obedience skills like other breeds of dogs, but you must be persistent in your teaching methods.

Things You'll Need

  • Crate
  • Treats
  • Enzymatic cleaner
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place your Yorkie puppy in a crate when you are away from home, sleeping or otherwise unable to provide supervision. Purchase a crate that is only big enough for your Yorkie to stand up and turn around in. For a Yorkie puppy, this is a rather small crate. If you need to purchase a crate that will fit your Yorkie as an adult, block off the excess areas with blankets or a crate divider. The puppy will not want to eliminate where it has to lie down, and if it has enough room to get away from its mess, crate training will not be effective.

    • 2

      Create a potty routine with your Yorkie puppy. Knowing exactly when it can eliminate will help a Yorkie puppy know how long it has to hold its bladder or bowels before it can eliminate. Take your Yorkie puppy outside before and after it sleeps and eats, after it plays, immediately upon removal from the crate and whenever it displays signs that it has to "go." After a while, your Yorkie will understand that at certain times during the day, it can relieve itself in the appropriate places.

    • 3

      Take your Yorkie puppy outside through the same door, and to the same area, each time. Yorkies are extremely intelligent and will get the hint that when they go through your door they will be expected to do something. If after 10 or 15 minutes your Yorkie puppy doesn't go potty, put it back inside the crate for a few minutes, then go outside to the same spot through the same door again.

    • 4

      Give your Yorkie puppy a treat and praise when it eliminates in the appropriate areas. Yorkies respond well to encouragement, positive reinforcement and repetition, states Dog-Obedience-Training-Review.com. Providing treats to your puppy when it obeys your potty command will teach it that when it goes in this certain spot, it is given a tasty treat. Be sure the treat is tiny, as Yorkie mouths and throats are very small.

    • 5

      Clean any accidents in the home with an enzymatic cleaner. Your Yorkie puppy will make mistakes and it may take several months of training before it stops doing so. However, instead of punishing the dog, simply take it outside to its spot and clean up the accident with a product that is designed to remove dog urine and feces stains. Regular household cleaners do not completely remove the smell--even though you may not be able to smell it, your Yorkie likely still can, and detecting the scent will only encourage the pup to eliminate there again.