| you look down at your Yorkie puppy peacefully | | | | of the old-school methods of negative reinforcement. |
| sleeping in its little bed, it's hard to think that in just two | | | | Yorkshire Terrier puppies are taught to walk politely on |
| to three months it may grow up. And although its | | | | the leash. They learn the basic commands of sit, stay, |
| behaviors may be cute at the moment, stuff like | | | | lie down, and come. In addition to these simple |
| jumping up and putting his front paws you, this will be | | | | instructions, other useful techniques are learned by |
| far less enjoyable when your dog is all grown up. | | | | puppies such as how to relax, give and take their paw, |
| Don’t think that just because a Yorkshire | | | | and polite greeting. All of this is reinforced with positive |
| Terrier is so little in size, it can’t be annoying if | | | | acts (food, praise, etc) for desired behaviors. |
| untrained! Far from it! | | | | Yorkie Owners Are More Involved With Training |
| Your best bet is to start training your Yorkie puppy | | | | Another interesting aspect of raising Yorkie over the |
| from day one so that he can learn proper manners as | | | | last couple of years is that more and more dog |
| he grows into an adult. Puppies that are not trained in | | | | owners have taken it upon themselves to train their |
| this manner end up learning all of the wrong stuff and | | | | puppies. Folks don’t offload this task to a |
| their owners wonder why they cannot seem to get | | | | stranger but instead participate in it themselves, which |
| their dogs to behave as they age. | | | | is a very good trend. |
| Many years ago, when dog training methods used | | | | This is partly due to the fact that so many dog training |
| more punishment, such as using harsh methods to train | | | | publications and manuals have been written. Modern |
| puppies, dog trainers typically required all puppy | | | | dog training programs are based more and more on |
| trainees to be a minimum of six months old. The | | | | scientific principles and psychological studies of animal |
| reason was partly due to the fact that such physical | | | | behavior and temperament. For example, Yorkie |
| correction protocols used could not be done with dogs | | | | owners have learned highly effective, positive |
| that were too small or too young. | | | | reinforcement training programs such as clicker training |
| What is ironic about dog training in the old days is that | | | | and luring. We at are working on a home training |
| by the time most Yorkie puppies are six months old | | | | course based on these positive methods. |
| they are big enough and mentally stubborn enough to | | | | Clicker training involves the use of a small mechanism |
| ignore commands and are altogether tough to train. In | | | | that makes a clicking sound when pressed. When a |
| a nutshell, that meant you’d be starting with a | | | | Yorkshire Terrier hears the sound it will associate the |
| dog that already had its mind made up! | | | | click with whatever reward you give him. This tells the |
| Evolution To Better Training Methods | | | | animal that something good is coming and he should |
| Over the last 20 years or so, the dog training | | | | repeat whatever behavior or action you have been |
| profession has embraced more friendly and loving | | | | teaching him. You can make a click with your mouth, |
| training tactics for their puppy clients. Most trainers | | | | so no equipment is required. |
| now start training Yorkie puppies that are as young as | | | | Luring training is simply using food such as a dog treat, |
| 8 to 10 weeks old. They are typically enrolled in | | | | or even a toy, to induce the dog to display a specific |
| socialization classes and puppy kindergarten, called | | | | behavior in order to follow the lure in hopes of getting |
| “Puppy One” at our local dog training | | | | the reward. I call it an “ethical bribe” and |
| facility. | | | | it is one of the single most effective motivations for |
| Positive training is now the preferred method instead | | | | training your Yorkie! |