Yorkies vs. Housetraining: Secrets to Success

Does your Yorkshire terrier pee wherever they please? You’re not alone! Yorkies, widely adored for their striking appearance and lively personality, come with one notorious challenge: housetraining. It’s a well-known struggle even among seasoned dog owners.

But here’s a nugget of hope — while housetraining a Yorkie requires patience and a touch of strategy, it’s far from impossible. If you’ve been battling this canine conundrum, read on to uncover why these little joys can be such a challenge and discover essential tips that’ll transform your furry little pee monster into a housetraining marvel!

What Makes Yorkshire Terriers Hard to House Train?

Yorkshire terriers, with their trademark tiny frames, often weigh between 4 to 7 pounds. But their charming mini frames hold a surprising secret: a very small bladder that fills up faster than you can say ‘accident.’

For Yorkies, this means bathroom breaks need to happen every couple of hours, especially during puppyhood. Tiny bladders aside, these fluffballs also lack early bladder control, turning housetraining into a complex dance of rushing to and fro with training pads.

As if that wasn’t enough, Yorkies naturally require more time to adjust to proper bathroom behaviors. This slow learning curve can be discouraging for even the most optimistic pet parent. However, constant patience and positive reinforcement are the keys to victory.

Consider scattering training pads across your home as a practical safeguard and a guiding tool for these little explorers in the beginning. As your pup gets used to using a pad, you can cut the number of training pads to just a few around the house, where your dog most often hangs out.

Avoid allowing frustration to seep in. Keep praising your Yorkie for every successful ‘mission’ and remember: persistence today leads to a housetrained champion tomorrow. The question isn’t if but when your steadfast commitment will pay off!

Top Tips for Yorkie Housetraining Success

Ready to tackle the housetraining game? Let’s dive into some essential tips that will help you and your Yorkie ace this challenge with grace!

One of the best tips for house training a Yorkie terrier is to use training pads in the house. Doing so will allow your Yorkshire puppy to develop habits and create a routine when house training.

Another practical piece of advice is to replace old training pads with new ones after your dog spoils them. Some pet owners will allow their dogs to use the bathroom multiple times on one training pad, but this often increases the likelihood of an accident because the scent may deter your dog from urinating on the already-wet training pad. 

However, a little pee or poo on the pad will help a pup just learning the process to know where to go.

Bad weather or nighttime? Strategies like peeing on command (pro tip: use a word consistently, paired with their favorite treat) and pee pads for especially frosty nights ensure comfort and reliability. Don’t fret if progress seems slow; remember that sometimes a little more persistence is all it takes to bring success!

Introduce Positive Reinforcement by Rewarding Your Yorkie

Many dog trainers recommend incorporating a clicking device when house training your dog. They will learn to associate the sound it makes with the act of going to the bathroom, which makes training your Yorkshire terrier that much easier!

Personally. I don’t like using a clicker, though I know some people swear by them. I always fear losing the clicker, and then what? I suppose you could make a loud clicking noise with your mouth, instead of relying on a clicker.

I prefer to use a word or short phrase consistently. We use “go potty”. Everyone in my family uses that phrase so that we are all on the same page.

I always take them out first thing in the morning and right before bed. But also, after eating, and then a few more times throughout the day.

Dogs respond very well to positive reinforcements, so you can even go the extra mile and reward your Yorkie with a treat after successfully using the bathroom in the right place.

Whether you are still house training your puppy to urinate on training pads or your Yorkie is now ready to have potty breaks outside, a reward is an excellent idea.

Giving your Yorkshire terriers a dog treat after exhibiting good behavior will encourage them to keep up the excellent work! Make it a tiny one, though, to avoid any unwanted weight gain.

You can’t control your Yorkie terrier’s bladder, so don’t beat yourself up if your Yorkshire terrier does have an occasional accident indoors. Potty training a Yorkie isn’t always easy. Just make sure your dog is always allowed outside multiple times per day!