Stubborn Yorkiepoo

Question
I have a 5 month old Yorkiepoo who is being very stubborn with training.  He has never really been crate trained except for going to bed at night.  He has always stayed in a small confined area such at the laundry room or in the kitchen.  I was able to be home with him during the summer time and he was getting the hang of potty training with some accidents here and there.  Now that I have to work, he drives in the car an hour with me to my parents house and then stays in the laundry room.  He is able to go 8 hours without any accidents.  I pick him up and we drive home.  The thing is is that I feed him early in the morning, when I get to my parents around 3:30 and then dinner around 6:00.  I don't leave his food or water out after that.  I don't understand why he is able to hold it all day but then at night he sits at the door to go outside about every 20 minutes.  At first I thought he wanted to play but when I do take him out, he ends up going pee.  Is this a behavior problem or am I doing something wrong?  Also, is it normal for him to still be nipping and biting at almost 6 months?

Answer
Hi there,

8 Hours is a really really long time to expect him to hold it, even as a mature dog.  5 hours is the longest I would expect him to be able to hold it comforatably.  Most dogs can hold it longer at night when they are sleeping.  Perhaps he has turned it around and is sleeping most of the day and can hold it then.  But is more awake at night, and needs to go more often.  How often do you need to 'go' during the day?  Dogs are the same.  Making them hold it for long periods can lead to mental and physical issues.

If you can't have someone take him out every so often in the day, then give him pee pads or something so he can relieve himself while you are gone.  I imagine when he gets more relief in the daytime he will start to go through the night with no issues.

So no its not a behaviour problem, just a management one.  

As for the biting and nipping, have you trained him how you wish him to interact with people?  It is normal for dogs to nip and bite thier whole lives (its perfectly regular dog behaviour) unless they have been taught another way to interact with people.

~Kerri