housebreaking a yorkie

Question
We have a 5 month old precious yorkie. We haven't had but one other inside dog which was also a yorkie. The first one we had, we only had her for about 11 months and she got hit by a car. We had just gotten her housebroken. We crate trained her and she would not soil her crate. This yorkie seems to be doing better as long as we are watching her. She will go to the door every time but she will just stand there and look at us. We have tried to get her to speak at the door but she won't. I have not been able to crate train her because she will soil her crate every time, even if she has only been in it for an hour or two. The problem that I have is that if we happen to not notice her at the door, she will use it (usually close to the door). Another problem is when we have to go somewhere, I will make sure she has emptied her bladder, then will leave her in the utility room while we are gone. How do I get her to get our attention instead of just sitting there looking at us and stop using it in the utility room? I know she can hold it because she holds it all night when she sleeps with us.

Answer
Hello Susan,

Does she have a little toy she likes to play with that squeaks?  If so, take and hang it by a small cord or yarn on the doorknob.  When you take her out to go potty stop at the door, squeak the toy and then proceed outside.  Do this each and every time you take her out.  If she sits at the door on her own, you squeak the toy and let her out.  With this exercise she will learn to do it herself.  You can then put a bell on the door as this is a bit louder to hear when you are out of the room.

Let me know how it works for you.
Susan Potts
info@spottsgrooming.com
www.spottsgrooming.com