The teacup Yorkie weighs between 2 to 4 pounds. Housebreaking the teacup Yorkie can be difficult just because of the the dog's small size. When it urinates there is only a drop or two of urine, which makes it difficult to detect on surfaces unless you catch the tiny dog in the act. Many teacup Yorkies also suffer from bladder and bowel issues due to their small size, which makes housebreaking more difficult than with larger breeds.
Things You'll Need
- Leash collar
- Small dog crate
- Dog bed
- Dog treats
- Odor eliminator neutralizer
- Newspaper
- Flashlight
- Puppy pads
Instructions
Outdoor Housebreaking
Take the teacup Yorkie outside every 30 minutes during the day. The small size of the Yorkie's bladder makes it unable to hold urine for long periods. Stand beside the pup so you can see whether it urinates or defecates. When the puppy potties, promptly praise it and offer a tiny treat. Bring the teacup Yorkie outside after it eats or drinks. Take the puppy out to potty immediately after each meal and upon waking from a nap. Always take the teacup Yorkie out right before bed. During the night you will have to set your alarm clock to take the puppy out every couple of hours so it can relieve itself.
Place the dog in a tiny dog crate at night. Many owners are tempted to allow the teacup Yorkie to sleep with them, but there is no way to know if the Yorkie urinates on your bedding because of the small amount of urine it will produce.
Watch your teacup Yorkie closely. If you catch it eliminating in the house say "no" firmly. Pick the dog up and take it outside immediately. According to YorkiePup.com, a teacup Yorkie should never be allowed free run in the house until housebreaking is thoroughly achieved. The puppy should be confined to a bathroom, playpen or other small area and not allowed to soil other areas.
Indoor Housebreaking
Place newspaper or puppy pads on the floor in a room where you have chosen to housebreak your puppy. Line half the room in puppy pads or papers. Confine the puppy to the room and watch closely for it to soil the papers. Promptly remove the soiled papers or puppy pad. Maintain diligent training for a couple of days and then allow the puppy out of the room. Many breeders, such as those with YorkiePup.com, begin paper training puppies before they are ever sold to their new homes so it is an easy transition for the puppy.
Take the puppy into the room you have chosen for indoor housebreaking and sit with the puppy until it potties. Offer a treat and praise. Promptly pick up the soiled material and dispose of it. Always allow the puppy to have ample access to the newspapers or puppy pads right before bed and after every meal.
Talk with your veterinarian to determine the best time to begin taking the puppy outside to learn both outside housebreaking and inside housebreaking. People who live in large cities and must walk their teacup Yorkies on crowded city areas where other dogs have eliminated are often advised to wait until all vaccinations have been administered. As the puppy ages you can incorporate both paper training and outside housebreaking into the training sessions so the dog will understand that elimination on either the papers or outside is acceptable.