I took in a Yorkie. She does good when I'm around, but tends to have accidents when I leave the room. What's your suggestion?

Question

Here is the history. I've had Yorkie's in the past and they are the very sensitive, loyal, and loveable dogs. As a breed, I don't feel they are the most brilliant, but smart enough if you work with them to catch on to basic tasks and potty training. A couple of months ago, I was in a store and overheard a man talking about a breeding kennel that had a little Yorkie that would not breed and they were getting rid of her. I could tell by the way he talked that she needed a home immediately. I walked up to him and asked for the dog. He dropped the dog off. She was blind in one eye, matted terribly, and stunk so bad you couldn't stand it. From this, I knew her living conditions were awful. Poor thing didn't even know what grass was when I got her. She's a 2 years old and weighs a mere 3 lbs.

    Basically, she never leaves my side. We've crate trained her (she stays in this at night and we have a small 4 x 4 penned area around her doggy door leading to the outside potty area. Both dogs stay in the penned area when we are away for short periods. She's done pretty good (some accidents). My mini Schnauzer is her mate and they get along well.

    Here is the issue: I work from home and I'm trying to allow her more freedom by letting her have the run of my bedroom while I work. We'll eventually allow her access to the rest of the house. In my bedroom, she can get to her doggy door and outside. If I'm in the room, she will go outside and potty. It seems the only time she uses my carpet, is if I leave the room for a drink, etc and shut her in my bedroom (close the door). She doesn't necessarily try to follow me to the other room....I think it's the closed door she doesn't like, but until I can trust her completely.....I can't allow her the run of the house. What's your suggestion?

    I have scolded her for accidents, and learned real quickly not to do that because she regresses and stays hidden in her crate. Now it's a simple "No" when she pees and I carry her outside to her designated potty area. I've also carried the soiled tissue outside and shown it to her. Not sure that helped.

    I could put a leash on both of us and have her take every step I take, but then I'm a prisoner. I want her trained...not me. Ha!

    Thanks,
Kathy

Accepted Answer

I think you answered your own question, until you can trust her then she can't have the run of the house (or even the run of a room).

You don't mention how long you've had her but it sounds like she's showing her anxiety by being left behind with the closed door. Dogs like security and structure and leaving her loose with no guidance and supervision she is worried. Too many people get in a big hurry to give dogs freedom they don't yet deserve.

Here's the groundwork program we use whenever we get a new dog. Scolding her won't do anything unless YOU CATCH her in the act. It will only diminish the relationship between the two of you. I would disagree with you about keeping her leashed. This is the next step in teaching a dog our rules, they are either in a crate or on a leash attached to us, sometimes for months.

I'd also recommend Pack Structure for the Family Pet and our house training eBook.

I would recommend learning to use our SEARCH function, which is located in the top left corner of every page of the website. If you type in your key words or question it will find you articles, Q & A's, free streaming video and links to threads on our discussion forum.

Cindy