Yorkies need more frequent potty breaks than larger dogs because of their small bladder size
Yorkshire Terriers have bladders the size of a walnut. A Yorkie puppy can typically hold urine for only one hour per month of age—so a three-month-old can manage about three hours, a four-month-old about four hours. Adult Yorkies can usually go six to eight hours, but many owners find their Yorkies do better with breaks every four to six hours. This is not a behavioral problem; it is anatomy. Expecting a Yorkie to wait ten hours is like expecting a human to hold it for three days.
Because Yorkies are small, many owners skip outdoor potty training and go straight to indoor solutions like pee pads or litter boxes. That works if you commit to it fully. The problem comes when owners try to do both at once—taking the dog out sometimes, using pads other times—because the dog never learns a single reliable routine. Pick one method and stick with it for at least eight weeks before switching.
Key Takeaways
- Yorkie puppies need potty breaks every one to three hours during the day, plus once during the night until they are four to six months old.
- Take your Yorkie to the same outdoor spot each time, wait quietly for ten to fifteen minutes, and reward when ready with praise and a small treat the moment they finish.
- Confine your Yorkie to a small space (crate, pen, or single room) when you cannot watch them, because dogs naturally avoid soiling their sleeping area.
- Accidents happen—never punish after the fact, because the dog will not understand what they did wrong and will only learn to hide.
- Indoor pee pads or litter boxes work for Yorkies but require the same consistency as outdoor training and may take longer to phase out.
Set up a potty schedule and stick to it exactly
Write down the times your Yorkie eats, drinks, naps, and plays. Yorkies almost always need to go within fifteen to thirty minutes after eating, within five minutes after waking from a nap, and after active play. Take your puppy out first thing in the morning, before bedtime, and at regular intervals throughout the day. A three-month-old should go out at minimum every two hours during waking time. A six-month-old can stretch to three or four hours. An adult Yorkie should go out at least four times daily.
Set phone reminders if you need them. The schedule matters more than the specific times—your Yorkie's body will learn to expect a potty break at 7 a.m., noon, 3 p.m., and 6 p.m., for example. When the time comes, take your dog to the same door, use the same route, and go to the same spot outdoors. This repetition teaches the dog that "potty time" is a specific event, not random.
Use confinement to prevent accidents when you are not watching
A dog will not soil the space where they sleep if they can help it. This instinct is your strongest tool. When you cannot actively supervise your Yorkie—when you are cooking, on a call, or in another room—confine them to a small space. A wire crate sized for a small dog, a puppy pen, or a gated bathroom works. The space should be big 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.
Do not use confinement as punishment. Your Yorkie should see the crate as a safe den, not a jail. Leave the door open when you are home and present, so the dog learns it is a good place. When you do confine them, they will hold their bladder and bowels until you let them out—at which point you when ready take them to the potty spot. This creates a reliable cycle: confined time, then potty time, then supervised playtime, then back to confinement.
Take your Yorkie to the potty spot and wait for results
Put your Yorkie on a leash and walk to the designated outdoor spot. Stand still and wait. Do not play, do not chat on your phone, do not wander around the yard. Your job is to be boring and present. Wait for ten to fifteen minutes. Most Yorkies will go within this window if they actually need to.
The moment your Yorkie finishes, mark the behavior with a word like "yes" or "good," then when ready give a small, high-value treat—a piece of chicken, a tiny cheese cube, or a training treat. The reward must come within one second of the behavior, or the dog will not connect it to the potty. Praise enthusiastically. Then you can play or walk around if you want. The dog learns: I go potty in this spot, I get a reward, and then good things happen.
If your Yorkie does not go after fifteen minutes, take them back inside, confine them for thirty minutes, then try again. Do not let them play or have water until they have gone potty. This is not punishment—it is just the schedule. Eventually they will go, and you will reward it.
Clean accidents thoroughly so the dog does not return to the same spot
Dogs have a much stronger sense of smell than humans. If your Yorkie has an accident on the carpet and you clean it with regular soap and water, the dog can still smell urine in that spot and will return there to go again. Use an enzymatic cleaner—products like Nature's Miracle or Rocco & Roxie break down the urine at a chemical level so the smell is truly gone.
Spray the enzymatic cleaner on the spot, let it sit for the time the product recommends (usually ten to fifteen minutes), then blot it up. Do not scrub hard or use heat, because heat can set the stain. If the accident soaked into the carpet, you may need to soak the area with the cleaner and let it sit longer. For hardwood or tile, the same product works—just do not let liquid sit on wood for too long.
Never punish your Yorkie for an accident, even if you catch them in the act. Punishment teaches the dog to hide and go potty in closets or under furniture. If you see an accident happening, calmly pick up your Yorkie, take them outside to the potty spot, and wait. If they finish outside, reward. If the accident already happened, just clean it and move on. The dog will not understand a scolding after the fact.
Decide whether to use indoor pee pads or outdoor training
Some Yorkie owners train their dogs to use pee pads indoors instead of going outside. This works if you commit fully. Set up a pee pad in a designated corner, take your Yorkie to it on the same schedule you would use for outdoor training, and reward when they use it. Over time, you can gradually move the pad toward the door, then outside, then remove it.
The downside is that pee pads can confuse a dog about where it is acceptable to go. If you use a pad sometimes and expect outdoor potty other times, your Yorkie may not understand the difference and will go on any soft surface—rugs, blankets, clothing. Litter boxes designed for small dogs work similarly and may feel more natural to a Yorkie, but again, consistency is everything.
If you choose indoor training, expect it to take longer than outdoor training—often twelve to sixteen weeks instead of eight to twelve—because the dog is learning to go in the house rather than learning that outside is the only place. Many owners find outdoor training faster, even though it requires more frequent trips outside.
Recognize when your Yorkie is ready to go longer between breaks
Around four to six months old, most Yorkie puppies can hold their bladder for longer stretches. You will notice your puppy is not having accidents during the night, or is staying dry during a four-hour stretch without a problem. That is your signal to gradually extend the time between potty breaks by fifteen to thirty minutes. Do this slowly—do not jump from three-hour breaks to six-hour breaks overnight.
Some Yorkies are reliably housetrained by six months; others take eight to twelve months. Smaller dogs and toy breeds often take longer than larger dogs. If your Yorkie is still having frequent accidents at six months, do not assume they are stubborn—they may straightforward need more time, or you may need to return to a tighter schedule. Consistency and patience matter more than speed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it usually take to potty train a Yorkie?
Most Yorkies show reliable houstraining between eight and sixteen weeks of consistent training. Some take longer. The timeline depends on your consistency, the dog's age when you start, and whether you are training for outdoor or indoor potty. Puppies under twelve weeks almost always have accidents; that is normal development, not failure.
Can I use puppy pads and outdoor training at the same time?
It is possible but confusing for the dog. If you use pads, the dog learns that going indoors is acceptable. If you also expect outdoor-only potty, the dog does not understand the rule. Pick one method and stick with it for at least eight weeks. After your Yorkie is reliably trained one way, you can transition to the other if you want.
What should I do if my Yorkie has an accident in front of me?
Stay calm and do not scold. Calmly pick up your Yorkie, take them outside to the potty spot, and wait. If they finish outside, reward when ready. If they do not, just clean the indoor accident with enzymatic cleaner. Punishment teaches the dog to hide and go in closets or under furniture, not to go outside.
Why is my adult Yorkie still having accidents?
Adult Yorkies may have accidents because the schedule changed, they are not getting enough potty breaks, or there is a medical issue like a urinary tract infection. Take your dog to a veterinarian to rule out health problems. If the vet clears them, return to a tighter schedule with more frequent breaks and more consistent rewards.
Do male and female Yorkies train differently?
Not significantly. Both can be trained outdoors or indoors using the same methods. Some owners find that neutered or spayed dogs train slightly faster because hormonal changes are not affecting their bladder control, but the difference is small. Consistency matters far more than the dog's sex.