Granted, small dogs like Yorkshire Terriers can only make small messes. But you’ll pay the same carpet cleaning costs to do the room with urine stains whether it’s made by a Yorkie or a Doberman. Small dogs need the same Yorkie training basics as any dog.

You have to remember that their size might work against them in that their tiny bladders won’t hold as much (or for as long) if you’re late coming home for their potty break.

Living in an apartment or home without a big yard is no problem for the Yorkshire Terrier. These pets only need a small space to do their business which means that a flowerbed can work wonders.

Some people make fun of little dogs in their knit sweaters, but it’s more than just a fashion statement. During the winter months in cold climates, the change from heated indoors to freezing outdoors is very harsh on a Yorkshire Terrier’s body.

The cold can be very distracting for a dog that needs to use the potty and could make them want to run back inside. As soon as they make it back into the warmth of your home the urge to go will come right back and the pup will likely go on the floor. This transition is made much easier when the dog has a nice warm sweater on for extreme cold weather.

Some Yorkshire Terriers will not budge off their hind legs until they see the sweater in your hands. Your Yorkshire Terrier may totally refuse to go outdoors in rain or cold, even with a sweater on.

There are ways to plan around this. You may want to lay down some paper in a box and keep it in the garage as a backup potty plan during bad weather. This should only be used for short amounts of time so that your dog still knows it needs to use the potty in the yard.

If your dog usually goes outdoors or you walk him through parks frequently, always keep an eye on him. Look out for tall grass and bushes. You dog may want to sniff a certain spot and could potentially end up being bit by a snake.

Yorkie owners need to remember to be courteous to their neighbors. Just because your dog’s feces is small does not mean your neighbor will not mind if it is laying in their yard. Clean up after your dog!

This is especially good measure since dog poop can be easily stepped on and dragged into the home. Most of the time you won’t notice until it’s too late and your carpet is dirtied up. Your neighbors will not appreciate this so be responsible and clean up messes promptly.

Housetraining works just the same for large dogs as it does for small ones like Yorkies. You can start with crate training and work to establish a routine for potty breaks. Many little dogs are spoiled because they constantly sit in their owner’s lap. This is where your positive reinforcement, praise and affection can come in handy.

Get your FREE videos on potty training Yorkie plus audio lessons and Yorkie health advice from the Yorkie trainers of Ultimate-Yorkie.com.

Filed under: Dog Training

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