Here’s a question which was entered as a comment on another one of my posts — I’m moving it over here where more people can see it. Answering specific training questions is always a challenge without the opportunity for a real conversation.

Cyn said:

Last week I became the proud owner of a yorkie/shi-tzu mix. He’s wonderful. The weather has been frigid and too windy for the nine week old, two pounder to go outside for potty, so I’ve been using pads. The pads work great for shi-shi, but when it is time for him to make number 2, he refuses to go on the pads or newspaper. He actually shakes and we can keep at this for over half an hour but he still won’t go on the paper or the pads, he goes on the floor in corners. HELP.

Can you put the pads or paper in his favorite potty corner, or in all the corners? Not for ever, but to get him to make the association and then later to put the pads elsewhere, or to get rid of them entirely if you want him to do his stuff outside when it warms up.

I would get some Nature’s Miracle or other enzymatic cleaner to use for any accidents in the house… these take away the odor and thus make him less likely to come back to the same spot.

For more details, see my page on housetraining puppies and dogs.
I would also create arrangements whereby the amount of time he is free in your house without your attention on him is at an absolute minimum. I’m a huge fan of crate training for the time you can’t be watching him, and the link takes you to my long page on it. However you do it, and with a tiny guy like him you could use various things you have around at first, if he can’t get to the corners without you right there too, he can’t use them!

Those half hours do sound kind of grueling for everyone. Try to get away from them, one way or another, even if it means reading a book in the bathroom and ignoring him while he considers his options.

Good luck, and I’m glad he’s wonderful!