Can A Yorkie Be Trained To Use A Litter Box?

As a veterinarian who has counseled thousands of dog owners about how to train their dog, one of the most frustrating issues is when a little dog resists being house trained. Yorkshire Terriers are no different and, indeed, I found it nearly impossible to train our Yorkie to only go outside.

One potential solution to this issue with any little dog (and especially Yorkies) is to teach them to go inside in a certain place – a litter box! That’s right! Litter boxes are not just for cats.

Why Would A Pet Owner Want To Litter Box Train Their Dog?

There are several reasons for this including:

• Safety – Where I live there are owls and hawks who have been known to attack little dogs from the sky. Coyotes are also a possible risk in my area.
• Method of House Training – this is just how you want to do it and there’s nothing wrong with that!
• Live In An Area Where There’s No Readily Available Places For Dogs To Conduct Their Business (think high-rise apartments or urban settings)
• Convenience – Dog (or human) just doesn’t want to go outside at all

Are Yorkies Difficult To Potty Train?

Yes. In talking with hundreds and hundreds of clients over the years in my clinic, one of the most common issues I heard with owners of really little dogs (and Yorkies were common) was the difficulty in training a little one to hold their business until it was time to go outside.

My own Yorkie was very difficult to train simply because she was a puppy mill dog that had lived in a cage her whole life. As she was just 4 lbs, I wasn’t going to make her go outside (it also terrified her) to potentially be at risk from predators. We used potty pads but would have loved to use a litter box.

What Litter Boxes Are Best For Yorkies?

There are a few things to keep in mind when training a Yorkie in a litter box. Are the sides too large for them to get inside? Will/can they actually jump in?

The second issue is those male dogs that are leg lifters. If you get a litter box with short sides, you leave open the possibility of urine ending up outside of the litter box. Try converting a box for a rabbit (put litter in the box instead of sand) for these situations.

The third issue is how easy is it to clean. Just like with cat litter boxes, if you don’t clean it regularly (every other day at least), you will regret your decision to try one.

Here are my choices when it comes to a Yorkie’s litter box:

What Type Of Litter Is Best For A Yorkie?

Litter should be absorbent for both liquids and smells. It also needs to be easy to clean and dust-free. Being dust-free is helpful for little dogs who may have easily irritated eyes.

Keep in mind that litter pellets are not just good for litter boxes. They are also good for turf-based solutions as well (see below).

How Can I Get My Little Yorkie To Use A Litter Box Inside?

Having patience and a consistent routine in the beginning is vital to getting your little Yorkie to use a litter box. Initially you would start the way you start house training a puppy.

Be mindful of times when your puppy may want to go to the bathroom:

• Waking up from overnight or a nap of longer than 10 minutes
• After eating at any time of the day
• After a vigorous play session
• After drinking a large amount of water

Those are when you should put the puppy in the litter box and use a command word to identify the litter box with a purpose for the dog. “Go Potty” or “Potty” is the most common words you’ll hear. Do what works for you.

Positively reward your dog when they do what you want – words are the best rewards, in my opinion. Eventually they should want to use the box because they just know that’s what is expected of them, not because they get a treat.

If you have started house-training with potty pads, simply put a potty pad inside the litter box for a while til your dog is perfect. Once you think they’ve got the idea, then cut the size of the puppy pad down to start exposing the litter. Make it smaller and smaller until you remove it entirely.

What Are Some Alternatives To A Litter Box?

Maybe you don’t like the look of most litter boxes or don’t like the idea of having to clean one. I completely understand. There are a few alternatives to still having your dog take care of their business in a way that’s cleaner and easier to pick up.

• Artificial Turf

This is also an option for those that have a balcony. Be mindful that the turf is meant to soak in the urine. The best types of turf are ones that have a tray underneath to collect everything.

• Pee Pads

This is the universal time-honored way that most people end up training their little dogs. I’ll admit that we did a lot of this with our little one. She was very short and liked to go

• Diapers/Belly Bands

I had a chihuahua that, for years, would use the backyard for 90% of his needs and just wanted to mark occasionally inside due to inter-dog competition. So we finally resorted to having him wear a belly band when he was inside.

They do make female diapers that will catch just about anything. Many times they are also used for a dog that is also in heat. One thing to understand, however, is that there exists some chance for skin irritation/infection on the belly skin that’s covered by the diaper. If your dog is wearing one 24/7, keep an eye out for this.

Conclusion

While litter boxes are an option for many owners wishing to keep their Yorkshier Terrier completely indoors and wanting an easy solution to mess clean-up, it’s not for everyone. It can be difficult to actually train your Yorkie to use a litter box if they are especially stubborn. Fortunately there are some alternatives that may be able to help.