Certain breeds such as Yorkshire Terriers may need a little extra TLC when it comes time to housebreak them. House training puppies can be tough work, but well worth the time and effort invested. With the smaller breeds sometimes it takes a wee bit longer to develop perfect potty habits.

You should begin by first determining if the potty spot will be located inside the home or outside. People who live in condos and apartments tend to favor Yorkies since they don’t need much space. You might find that your Yorkie prefers an indoor potty if he is resistant to going outside during cold weather. Another consideration to remember is that these dogs have small bladders, so they can only hold so much! if you are regularly out of the house each day for more than a few hours, you cannot expect your dog to be able to control his bladder for extended periods of time. In this case, choose a discreet area of your home for the puppy training pads. Otherwise, any small strip of grass should do the trick, as long as you use that same spot all the time.

Starting and ending the walk with an opportunity to go potty is the best approach until you begin to understand your little one?s potty schedule. Going to the same location is important to help your Yorkie associate that location as the potty area and if he can smell urine, that sends a signal that this is the place to go. Being a good neighbor is important, so always carry litter bags so you can scoop the poop. It’s fine if your Yorkie happens to go while you are out on the walk, this is not considered an “accident” since it didn’t happen on the floor or other unwanted area.

Sometimes dogs avoid going outside in bad weather and then will have an accident in a discreet location indoors. A sweater is a great way to address that situation and make going out in poor weather more tolerable. If this is the case, you might want to think about an indoor alternative for these situations.

Don’t be afraid to heap lots of praise and affection on your puppy in order to help him learn proper potty habits quickly. Verbal praise should be given immediately and enthusiastically after they are done with their business. A favored treat such as a small piece of cooked chicken or dried liver offered as a reward may give him just the incentive needed!

Anywhere from a week to a month house training a dog is common, and for Yorkies it could be a little longer, so have patience with your little one! Learn how to train a puppy properly and you will be rewarded with a wonderful relationship between you and your Yorkshire Terrier.