| According to figures released in January by the | | | | housebreak. They're hard enough to housebreak |
| American Kennel Club, the Yorkshire Terrier is the | | | | without adding an extra step. If you ignore this advice, |
| second most popular breed in the country, outranked | | | | you may wind up laying down paper for the next 15 |
| by the Labrador Retriever. "But being number two isn't | | | | years." |
| a Yorkie's natural disposition", says dog trainer Rick Bell. | | | | "Fourth, stay calm, assertive and consistent in |
| Bell says Yorkies can be "pint-size dictators" if a pet | | | | enforcing the rules you lay down. With Yorkies, you'll |
| owner allows it to rule the house. | | | | need to add a lot of patience, too. As a breed, they're |
| Bell suggests that Yorkie owners take a couple of | | | | spunky, stubborn and tenacious. Due to these |
| simple steps to let the little ball of fur understand who | | | | tendencies, avoiding tug-o'-war as a play activity would |
| is really the boss. "First of all, don't carry your Yorkie | | | | also be advisable. Why? Because you'll get bored |
| unless you're in an area where it is impossible for he or | | | | before the dog and quit the field. With that action, you'll |
| she to walk", says Bell. "If you treat your pup like a little | | | | teach him/her that they can get what they want by |
| prince or princess they'll develop a spoiled attitude". | | | | just being persistent. |
| "Second, walk your Yorkie every day, with you leading | | | | Bell says his last words of advice are important to |
| and him or her following. Walking is what canines do in | | | | remember, "They never follow lovable leaders and |
| the wild, all day long, and the leaders always lead. As | | | | they never follow fair leaders. They only follow |
| the saying goes for a dog sled team, be the leader, | | | | dominant leaders. If you want to avoid being the |
| the view is better." | | | | follower, then be dominant. |
| "Third, don't paper-train a Yorkie in order to | | | | |