Housetraining Yorkshire Terriers — Complete Guide to Potty Training Your Yorkie

Housetraining (or potty training) a Yorkshire Terrier can feel like an uphill battle. You take them outside, they do nothing, and then five minutes later they’re squatting on your rug. Sound familiar? You’re not alone — and the good news is that Yorkies are absolutely trainable. It just takes the right approach, consistency, and a little patience.

This guide covers everything you need to successfully house train your Yorkie, from basic crate training to troubleshooting common setbacks.

Are Yorkies Harder to Potty Train?

It’s a common belief that Yorkshire Terriers are harder to potty train than other breeds, but this isn’t really the case. Yorkies don’t require any special training methods — what they do need is consistency and patience. Like any small breed, they have smaller bladders and faster metabolisms, meaning they need more frequent opportunities to go outside than larger breeds. A Yorkie puppy may need to go out every 1-2 hours during the day.

Additionally, Yorkies are intelligent and can be stubborn. They learn quickly — but they also test boundaries. The key is to make potty training a consistent, positive routine rather than a battle of wills.

As Tami from Omaha put it:

“I have had my yorkie since Halloween and still have not gotten anywhere with potty training. She does go outside when I take her out but still pees wherever she is standing at the time?”

If that sounds like your situation, keep reading. There is a solution.

The Three Essentials: Patience, Consistency, Understanding

The early stages of puppy training will need the utmost patience, plenty of understanding and a high level of consistency in order to make the training a success.

Yorkshire Terriers will be most content when pleasing you. They love praise and attention and will do practically anything you ask as long as they understand. Housetraining a Yorkie is a lot like trying to teach a baby its first words — at first you probably won’t get a result, but after a few more goes and a bit of patience, it clicks.

Step 1: Set Up a Schedule

A consistent schedule is the single most effective tool for potty training. Puppies tend to need the toilet more often than mature dogs, so teaching them the ropes early is essential. Take your Yorkie outside:

• First thing in the morning — immediately after waking
• After every meal — 15-20 minutes after eating
• After playtime — excitement stimulates the bladder
• After naps — always take them out when they wake
• Before bedtime — the last call of the night
• Once during the night — puppies under 4 months may need a middle-of-night break

Take your Yorkie to the same spot every time. The familiar scent will encourage them to go. Use a command word like “potty”, “go”, or “wee-wee” consistently. With enough repetition, they’ll learn what it means.

Step 2: Use a Dog Crate

Dog crates are becoming a very popular tool in the housetraining process. Dogs naturally avoid soiling where they sleep, so a properly sized crate uses their instincts to help with training.

Crate tips for Yorkies:

• The crate should be just big enough for your Yorkie to stand up, turn around, and lie down — if too large, they may use one corner as a bathroom
• Never use the crate as punishment — it should be their safe space
• Don’t leave a puppy in the crate for more than 2-3 hours during the day
• Always take them out immediately after crate time
• Make the crate comfortable with a bed and some chews

Dog crates should be used as a means of getting away, not as a sin bin. Your Yorkie will find their crate very comfortable with a bed and some toys to play with.

Step 3: Reward Good Behaviour

Rewarding good behaviour is vital. I cannot stress this enough. Using the idea of rewarding your dog with treats, praise, or play time is without a doubt the most effective and enjoyable way of training them.

Find out what your Yorkie enjoys most. For most dogs, food is the most desirable reward, but for others, social contact, verbal praise, or physical praise like a belly rub works just as well. When your Yorkie goes potty in the right spot, celebrate like they just won an award.

If you catch your Yorkie having an accident inside, interrupt them with a firm “no” or a clap, then immediately take them outside. Never rub their nose in it or punish them after the fact — they won’t understand why you’re angry and it will damage their trust.

Step 4: Supervision and Designated Areas

Until your Yorkie is reliably house trained, don’t give them free run of the house. Constant supervision is essential. Use baby gates, close doors, or keep them on a leash attached to you. The moment you can’t watch them, they go in the crate.

Some owners prefer to have a designated indoor area (like newspapers on a tiled floor) as a backup. A designated indoor spot can reduce anxiety about accidents and give you peace of mind during the early stages. If you want to transition from indoor to outdoor later, gradually move the spot closer to the door each day.

Watch for the signs that they need to go:

• Sniffing the floor
• Circling
• Whining or scratching at the door
• Suddenly leaving the room
• Getting restless during play

Step 5: Clean Accidents Properly

Yorkies have a keen sense of smell. If they can still smell where they’ve gone before, they’ll be drawn to go there again. Use an enzymatic cleaner specifically designed for pet stains — regular household cleaners won’t fully eliminate the scent. Avoid ammonia-based cleaners (they smell like urine to dogs) and steam cleaners (heat can set the stain).

Potty Training Schedule by Age

Age	Max Bladder Hold Time (Day)	Nighttime Breaks
8-10 weeks	1 hour	1-2 per night
10-12 weeks	1-2 hours	1 per night
3-4 months	2-3 hours	Maybe 1
4-6 months	3-4 hours	Usually sleeps through
6+ months	4-6 hours	Sleeps through
Adult (1+ year)	6-8 hours	Sleeps through

5 Common Potty Training Mistakes to Avoid

1. Giving Up Too Soon

Some Yorkies aren’t fully reliable until 6-8 months old because of their small bladders. Stick with the routine and be patient.

2. Inconsistent Schedule

If different family members handle potty time differently, or if feeding times vary, your Yorkie gets mixed signals. Consistency is everything.

3. Waiting Too Long Between Breaks

A Yorkie puppy can hold their bladder roughly one hour for every month of age. A 3-month-old needs a break every 3 hours maximum.

4. Punishing Accidents

Never rub your Yorkie’s nose in an accident or yell at them after the fact. It can create fear and make them hide to eliminate — which makes training much harder.

5. Free Access to Water Before Bed

Remove water about 1-2 hours before bedtime. This gives their bladder time to empty before the last potty break of the night.

Troubleshooting: When Nothing Seems to Be Working

Many Yorkie owners hit a wall. As one reader put it:

“I bought a beautiful miniature yorkie and the best house training tips? Nothing seems to be working!! I know it’s a slow process but am afraid I’m doing the wrong things!!”

If you’re in this situation, try these steps:

1. Go back to basics — Crate your Yorkie whenever you can’t supervise. Start the schedule fresh from day one.
2. Try bell training — Hang a bell on the door and teach your Yorkie to ring it when they need to go out. Yorkies are smart and pick this up quickly.
3. Check for a UTI — If your Yorkie is suddenly having accidents after being reliably trained, a urinary tract infection could be the cause. Visit your vet.
4. Consider puppy pads or grass patches — A hybrid approach can work well, especially for apartment dwellers or bad weather.
5. Be patient with yourself — Every Yorkie is different. Some pick it up in weeks, others take months. You haven’t failed.

Nighttime Potty Training

Every Yorkie is different when it comes to sleeping through the night. Some puppies will sleep straight through from the first week, while others will wake up 2-3 times needing to potty. To help settle into a nighttime routine:

• Remove water about an hour before bedtime
• Take them out for a final potty break right before you go to bed
• Consider litter training as a backup so they have a spot if they really need to go
• If they wake you at night, take them straight outside — no play, no fuss, just business and back to bed

Litter Training as a Backup

Litter training is a great alternative for Yorkie owners who don’t have easy access to a garden or live in apartments. We have dedicated guides on litter training for Yorkies and litter training puppies that cover this method in detail.

Housebreaking Older or Rescue Yorkies

Housebreaking isn’t just for puppies. Older dogs and rescue Yorkies can also struggle with accidents in the house. The same principles apply:

• Take them to the same spot each time — the scent will encourage them to go
• Clean accidents thoroughly with an enzymatic cleaner
• Don’t punish indoor accidents — it can create fear and make the problem worse
• If they always go in the same spot indoors, restrict access to that area
• Consider a dog crate used correctly as a training aid

With patience and consistency, even older Yorkies can learn new house rules. See our detailed guide on housebreaking an older Yorkie for more specific tips.

Key Takeaways

• Consistency and routine are more important than any single technique
• Yorkies need more frequent breaks than large breeds — plan for it
• Reward success enthusiastically; never punish accidents after the fact
• Use enzymatic cleaners to remove all traces of accidents
• Crate training leverages your Yorkie’s natural instincts
• Most Yorkies become reliably house trained by 6-8 months
• If you’re stuck, go back to basics and restart the schedule

Further Training Resources

6 Simple Rules for Training Yorkshire Terriers

Basic Dog Commands

Dog Chewing Problems

Leash Training Your Yorkie

5 Small Dog Training Mistakes

If you need a complete Yorkshire Terrier training guide, check out the ebook we have written specifically with Yorkies in mind!

Remember — Accidents do Happen! Stay consistent, stay positive, and you’ll get there.