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 potty training basics as any dog.
Size does however play an important factor when it comes to the size of a dog’s bladder - the smaller the dog, the smaller the bladder. Dogs with small bladders will need to use the potty more frequently and won’t be able to hold it in as long as big dogs.
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 Yorkshire Terrier goes outdoors in a yard or in the park, be alert as to where he’s walking. Keep your dog away from tall grass or bushes. While he’s busy trying to sniff out the right spot, he’s easy prey for snakes in tall grass.
Be sure to be courteous of your neighbors even if your dog has only made a small mess outside. Regardless of the size it is still dog poop that needs to be picked up promptly.
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 for Yorkshire Terriers is no different than it is for big dogs. You can start with crate training to help establish good behavior until a routine is set in place. Some little dogs are spoiled because they are so used to getting a lot of attention in the laps of their owners. Practice positive reinforcement so that your dog knows exactly what he needs to do to make you happy.
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