Start potty training as soon as your Yorkie arrives home

Yorkies can begin learning where to go to the bathroom as early as 8 weeks old, though they cannot physically hold it for long. A young puppy needs to go out after waking up, after eating, after playing, and before bed — often 8 to 10 times a day. The smaller the puppy, the smaller the bladder, so expect accidents indoors for the first several weeks no matter how consistent you are. Success depends on catching your puppy in the act of needing to go, taking them outside when ready, and rewarding them when they go in the right place.

Yorkies are small enough to carry to the door, which makes the process faster than with larger breeds. The trade-off is that their small size means they can hide accidents in corners or under furniture, so you will need to watch them closely and clean soiled spots thoroughly to remove the scent that draws them back.

Key Takeaways

  • Take your Yorkie outside after waking, eating, playing, and before bed — at least 8 to 10 times daily for puppies under 4 months old.
  • Reward with praise or a small treat the moment your puppy finishes going outside, before you come back in.
  • Confine your puppy to a small space like a crate or pen when you cannot watch them, since Yorkies naturally avoid soiling where they sleep.
  • Clean accidents with an enzymatic cleaner to remove the scent, or your puppy will return to the same spot.
  • Most Yorkies are reliably housetrained by 4 to 6 months old if you maintain a consistent schedule and never punish accidents.

Establish a fixed schedule for outdoor breaks

The most reliable way to housetrain a Yorkie is to take them out on a schedule you can repeat every day. Write down the times you take your puppy outside and note whether they went to the bathroom. After a week or two, you will see a pattern — your puppy will likely need to go within 15 to 30 minutes after eating, and within an hour after waking or playing hard.

Once you know the pattern, set alarms on your phone to remind you when the next break is due. This removes the guesswork and prevents you from forgetting a scheduled trip. Yorkies thrive on routine, so feeding at the same time each day also makes their bathroom schedule more predictable.

As your puppy gets older, the time between breaks will lengthen. A 3-month-old can typically hold it for 3 to 4 hours; a 4-month-old for 4 to 5 hours. By 6 months, many Yorkies can wait 6 hours between breaks, though puppies this young still benefit from at least 4 outdoor trips daily.

Use a crate or pen to prevent accidents when you are not watching

Puppies naturally avoid soiling the space where they sleep and eat. A crate or small pen forces your Yorkie to hold it until you let them out, which trains their bladder control faster than leaving them loose in the house. Choose a crate just large enough for your puppy to stand, turn around, and lie down — if it is too big, they will use one corner as a bathroom and sleep in another.

Never use the crate as punishment. Your puppy should see it as a safe den, not a jail. Leave the door open during the day so they can nap inside on their own. When you cannot watch them — while you shower, cook, or work — put them in the crate with a toy. Take them out when ready when you are free again and head straight outside.

A pen is useful if you need more space than a crate allows. Line one side with puppy pads and the other with a bed or toys. Your Yorkie will naturally use the padded area for bathroom breaks and the other side for sleeping, which teaches them to separate the two activities.

Reward when ready when your puppy goes outside

The moment your Yorkie finishes urinating or defecating outside, say "good girl" or "good boy" in a happy voice and give a small treat. The reward must come within seconds, while your puppy still connects the action to the praise. If you wait until you are back inside, your puppy will not understand what they did right.

Use treats your Yorkie loves but does not get otherwise — small pieces of chicken, cheese, or a commercial training treat work well. Keep a few pieces in your pocket before you go outside so you have them ready. After a few weeks of consistent rewards, many Yorkies will go to the door and signal that they need to go out, because they have learned that going outside leads to praise and treats.

Avoid scolding or punishing accidents indoors. Yorkies do not understand punishment after the fact, and yelling will only teach them to hide when they need to go. If you catch them in the act, calmly pick them up, take them outside, and reward if they finish there. That is the only correction needed.

Clean accidents thoroughly to remove the scent

If your puppy has an accident indoors, the smell will draw them back to that spot. Use an enzymatic cleaner — one made specifically for pet urine — rather than regular household cleaners. Enzymatic cleaners break down the urine compounds that dogs can smell long after the spot looks dry. Spray the area generously, let it sit for the time the product recommends (usually 10 to 15 minutes), and then blot it up.

Common enzymatic cleaners include Nature's Miracle, Rocco & Roxie, and Rockin' Green. These are sold at most pet supply stores and online. Avoid ammonia-based cleaners, because ammonia smells like urine to dogs and can actually encourage them to go in the same spot again.

If your Yorkie has a favorite accident spot, block access to it for a few weeks while you are housetraining. Once your puppy is reliably going outside for at least two weeks, you can open the area back up.

Recognize signs your puppy needs to go out

Most Yorkies show the same signals before they need to go to the bathroom. Common signs include sniffing the floor, circling, whining, scratching at the door, or suddenly leaving the room. Some puppies will sit by the door or stare at you. Watch your individual puppy for the first week and note what they do before an accident happens — that is their signal.

Once you know the signal, you can take your puppy out before they have an accident. This speeds up training because your puppy learns that the signal gets them outside, where they can go and earn a reward. Over time, many Yorkies will use the signal deliberately to ask for a bathroom break.

If your puppy does not show an obvious signal, stick to the schedule. Taking them out after meals, naps, and play sessions will catch most needs before they become accidents.

Transition from puppy pads to outdoor-only bathroom breaks

Some owners use puppy pads indoors during the early weeks, especially if they live in an apartment or cannot get outside frequently. If you use pads, place them in the same spot every day and reward your puppy for using them. Once your puppy is reliably using the pads, gradually move the pad closer to the door over several days, then outside. Eventually, remove the pad entirely.

The risk of puppy pads is that your Yorkie may learn that it is acceptable to go to the bathroom indoors, which can slow the transition to outdoor-only breaks. If you use pads, commit to phasing them out by the time your puppy is 4 to 5 months old. After that age, continuing to use pads often confuses the training.

If you cannot use pads or do not want to, skip them entirely and stick to the outdoor schedule. Many owners find this faster in the long run, even though it requires more trips outside in the first few weeks.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to housetrain a Yorkie?

Most Yorkies are reliably housetrained by 4 to 6 months old if you follow a consistent schedule and reward outdoor bathroom breaks. Some take longer, especially if the schedule is inconsistent or if the puppy came from a home where accidents were not cleaned properly. A few Yorkies may have occasional accidents until 8 months old, which is still normal.

What should I do if my Yorkie has an accident in the crate?

If your puppy goes to the bathroom in the crate, the crate is too large or your puppy is spending too much time in it. Reduce the crate size with a divider, or take your puppy out more frequently. Never punish them — instead, clean the crate with enzymatic cleaner and adjust your schedule so they have more outdoor breaks.

Can I housetrain a Yorkie without taking them outside constantly?

Young puppies have small bladders and cannot hold it for long, so frequent outdoor breaks are necessary for the first 3 to 4 months. If you cannot manage 8 to 10 trips daily, use a crate and puppy pads to reduce accidents indoors. Once your puppy is 4 to 5 months old, you can reduce trips to 4 to 6 per day.

Is it normal for a housetrained Yorkie to have accidents?

Occasional accidents happen, especially if your routine changes or your Yorkie is stressed. If a previously housetrained puppy suddenly has frequent accidents, take them to a veterinarian to rule out a urinary tract infection. If the vet finds no medical issue, return to a stricter schedule and reward outdoor breaks again.

Should I use a bell on the door to teach my Yorkie to signal?

Some owners hang a bell on the door and ring it each time they take their puppy outside, then reward the puppy for going. Over time, the puppy may learn to nose the bell to ask for a break. This works for some Yorkies but not all. If your puppy naturally signals by whining or scratching, reward that instead — it is simpler and just as effective.