My senior Yorkies pee and bark when left out. Should I crate them?

Question

I recently inherited my dad's 2 yorkies. I have had them a year this past Aug. They just turned 11 in Oct. All their lives they have been kept in a pack-n-play when no one was home; most times even when they weren't alone. I have been trying to give them freedom by leaving them out while I'm at work. They are house trained, but when alone, all they do is pee everywhere & the female barks/whines for hours. I turned on white noise & gave them a potty pad. I hate to put them back in the Basket..???

Jenna Beyer, DVM, MBA, cVMA · Accepted Answer

A pack-n-play is a form of crate, and if they are crate trained it shouldn't cause undue stress. Don't think of it as a cage. Many dogs are comfortable and crave the comfort of their crate, kennel, or pack-n-play! Also, they learn that they should potty in their crate and they need to hold it. They do not realize that is the rule when they are just out with free reign in the house. You will need to re-start their potty training to break the habit. Many older dogs don't know that peeing on a pee pad is any different than peeing elsewhere - so I don't recommend their use.

My senior Yorkies pee and bark when left out. Should I crate them?

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