Yorkies need more frequent bathroom breaks than larger dogs because of their small bladder size
Yorkshire Terriers have bladders the size of a marble. A Yorkie puppy under 12 weeks old cannot physically hold urine for more than two hours, and even adult Yorkies (over one year) typically need to go out every four to six hours. This is not a behavior problem—it is anatomy. If you treat potty training a Yorkie the same way you would a Labrador, you will fail, and the dog will not be at fault.
The core strategy is frequent outdoor access paired with when ready reward. You take your Yorkie out on a predictable schedule, wait for the bathroom to happen outside, and reward it the moment it finishes. Yorkies are small enough to carry to the door, which removes the excuse of "I couldn't get there in time." This breed also responds well to routine and praise, so consistency matters more than punishment.
Most Yorkies can be reliably housetrained by six months old if you follow a schedule. Some take longer. Yorkies are also prone to marking (spraying small amounts) even after they are housetrained, especially males—this is separate from potty training and requires different management.
Key Takeaways
- Yorkie puppies under 12 weeks need outdoor bathroom breaks every two hours, and adult Yorkies need them every four to six hours, because their bladder is very small.
- Take your Yorkie to the same outdoor spot each time, wait for the bathroom to happen, and reward when ready with praise or a small treat—never punish accidents indoors.
- Confine your Yorkie to a small space (crate, pen, or single room) when you cannot watch them, because dogs naturally avoid soiling where they sleep.
- Expect the process to take three to six months for reliable daytime control, and nighttime dryness may not come until eight months or later.
- Marking (spraying small amounts) is different from potty training and happens even in housetrained dogs; neutering or spaying reduces but does not eliminate it.
Set up a bathroom schedule based on your Yorkie's age and routine
Write down when your Yorkie eats, drinks, sleeps, and plays. Bathroom needs follow these events predictably. Puppies under 16 weeks typically need to go out within 15 to 30 minutes after eating, when ready after waking from a nap, and after playtime. Adult Yorkies are more flexible but still benefit from a set schedule.
A typical puppy schedule looks like this: first thing in the morning, after breakfast (15 to 30 minutes later), mid-morning, after lunch, mid-afternoon, after dinner, and before bedtime. That is six to eight trips outdoors per day for a young puppy. If you work full-time, a dog walker or pet sitter who can visit midday makes a real difference—leaving a puppy alone for eight hours will set training back weeks.
Adult Yorkies (over one year) can usually manage four trips: morning, midday, evening, and bedtime. Adjust based on what you observe. If your Yorkie has an accident two hours after the last outdoor break, you need to go out more often.
Choose a designated outdoor spot and stay there until the bathroom happens
Pick one small area of your yard or a specific spot on the sidewalk. Take your Yorkie there on a leash every scheduled time. Do not play, do not walk around, do not distract them. Stand still and wait. This can take five minutes or twenty minutes, depending on the dog and the time of day.
The reason for the same spot is scent. Dogs recognize their own urine and feces by smell and are drawn to go in places they have gone before. Reusing the same spot creates a bathroom cue. If you rotate spots, you remove that signal and make training slower.
When your Yorkie finishes, praise when ready and enthusiastically—"Good potty!"—and give a small treat (a single piece of kibble counts). The reward must come within two seconds of the bathroom finishing, or the dog will not connect the praise to the action. Then you can play or walk if you want. The bathroom is the event being rewarded, not the time outdoors.
Confine your Yorkie when you cannot supervise them directly
Dogs have a natural instinct not to soil where they sleep. Use this by keeping your Yorkie in a small, confined space when you cannot watch them. A crate, a small pen, or a single small room works. The space should be large enough for the dog to stand, turn around, and lie down, but not so large that they can potty in one corner and sleep in another.
For a Yorkie, a 24-inch crate is usually appropriate. If the crate is too large, the dog will use one end as a bathroom and the other as a bed, defeating the purpose. If you use a pen or room, block off part of it with a barrier or furniture so the usable space is small.
When you let your Yorkie out of the confined space, take them when ready to the outdoor bathroom spot. Do not let them wander the house first. The moment they are released, their bladder is usually full, and you want that bathroom to happen outside.
Handle accidents without punishment or emotion
Your Yorkie will have accidents. Puppies especially will have many. Punishment—yelling, rubbing the nose in it, or any form of correction—teaches the dog to fear you and to hide when they need to go. It does not teach them where the bathroom should happen.
When you find an accident, clean it thoroughly with an enzymatic cleaner (one made for pet urine, like Nature's Miracle or Rocco & Roxie). Regular cleaners do not break down the urine compounds, so the dog will smell their own scent and be drawn to go in that spot again. Enzyme cleaners break down those compounds so the smell is gone to both human and dog noses.
If you catch your Yorkie in the act of having an accident indoors, calmly pick them up, take them outside to the designated spot, and wait. If they finish outside, reward. If they do not, just bring them back in. Do not scold. The goal is to teach the dog that outside is where the bathroom happens, not to make them afraid of you.
Recognize the difference between potty training and marking
Once your Yorkie is reliably housetrained, you may still see small wet spots in the house. This is marking, not a potty training failure. Marking is when a dog sprays a small amount of urine to claim territory or communicate with other dogs. It is different from a full bladder release and happens even in housetrained dogs.
Marking is more common in male Yorkies and in dogs that live with other dogs or smell other dogs outside. Neutering or spaying reduces marking significantly but does not always stop it. If your Yorkie is marking, the solution is not more potty training—it is management (more frequent outdoor access, blocking access to marked spots, or in some cases, medication prescribed by a veterinarian).
You can tell the difference by watching: a housetrained dog will squat or lift their leg and release a full stream or puddle. A marking dog will lift their leg (or squat) and release just a few drops, often on vertical surfaces like furniture legs or walls. Marking is a separate behavior from potty training.
Nighttime dryness comes later and may require separate management
Daytime potty training and nighttime dryness are not the same thing. A Yorkie can be reliably housetrained during the day but still wet the bed at night. This is normal and not a sign of failure. Nighttime dryness depends on the dog's ability to hold urine for eight or more hours, which requires physical maturity and a larger bladder capacity.
Most Yorkies achieve nighttime dryness between six and twelve months old, but some take longer. Until then, use a waterproof pad under the crate or bed, or use puppy pads in a designated area. Do not punish nighttime accidents—the puppy is not doing it on purpose.
If your Yorkie is over one year old and still having regular nighttime accidents, talk to your veterinarian. Urinary tract infections, diabetes, and other medical conditions can cause nighttime wetting. Once medical issues are ruled out, you can manage it with more frequent evening bathroom breaks, limiting water intake a few hours before bed, or using a waterproof crate liner.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to potty train a Yorkie?
Most Yorkies show reliable daytime control by four to six months old if you follow a consistent schedule. Some take longer. Nighttime dryness often does not come until eight to twelve months. Consistency matters more than speed—a Yorkie trained slowly and steadily is more reliable than one rushed through the process.
Can I use puppy pads to potty train a Yorkie?
Puppy pads can confuse training because they teach the dog that it is acceptable to go to the bathroom indoors. If you use them, place them in a designated area and treat them like an outdoor spot—reward the dog for using them, then gradually move them closer to the door and eventually outside. Many trainers skip pads entirely and go straight to outdoor training, which is faster.
What if my Yorkie has an accident right after coming inside?
This usually means your Yorkie did not fully empty their bladder outside. Stay outside longer next time, or return to the outdoor spot a few minutes after coming in. Some Yorkies need two trips in quick succession to fully go. It is not a training failure—it is a timing adjustment.
Should I use a crate for potty training?
A crate is one of the most effective tools for potty training because dogs naturally avoid soiling their sleeping space. A properly sized crate (snug but not cramped) teaches bladder control. However, a crate should never be used for punishment, and a puppy should not be crated for longer than they can physically hold their bladder—usually one hour per month of age, up to about eight hours maximum for adults.
Is my male Yorkie marking or having a potty training accident?
A marking dog lifts their leg and releases a few drops, often on vertical surfaces. A dog with a full bladder squats or lifts their leg and releases a larger amount. If your housetrained Yorkie is leaving small spots on furniture or walls, it is marking, not a potty training issue. Neutering reduces marking; more frequent outdoor access and blocking access to marked spots manage it.