Thinking of adopting a Yorkie or do you already have one? Training a Yorkie is going to be challenging, but it doesn’t have to be difficult. Yorkshire Terriers are an incredible breed of dog that possess fantastic personalities and adorable looks.
While owning a Yorkie is easy, the most challenging part is training it efficiently. Training a Yorkie is going to be as difficult as training a child. This is because Yorkies are incredibly smart and, at the same time, frustratingly stubborn.
You won’t be able to rush and you certainly can’t lose your patience because if you do it will take a lot longer to train your Yorkie. That said, they are also very eager to learn and can be very good students if treated properly.
Training a Yorkie
Training a Yorkie will vary from user to user, mainly because all Yorkies are different. They have their own characteristics and you as a coach need to understand their specific personality traits and characteristics in order to better train them.
First be the alpha
A good place to start training a Yorkie is by showing him that you are the authority. Some Yorkies have a dominant personality, so it is essential that you convey to your dog that you are the one in control. Displaying your dominance is useful when you are in the process of training the Yorkie.
You must set strict and clear limits on what the dog can do and what it cannot do under any circumstances. Be consistent with your limits, otherwise your dog will get confused. Also, always keep training sessions short as they have short attention spans.
Make your Yorkie respect you. When a dog respects you, he listens to you regardless of the situation.
Make sure to reward good behavior
Yorkies respond best to training when they are showered with positivity and rewards. So don’t hesitate to reward them every time they do something nice. You can give him a treat or even positive words and gestures that make him happy.
For example, you can ask your puppy to sit in one place and then command him to “stay put.” If you walk away and the puppy is still sitting there, give him a reward for obeying your orders.
Socializing a Yorkie is a must
While some Yorkies are very friendly and outgoing, others may be a bit more suspicious of their masters and everything in general. Therefore, if you do not want your dog to become excessively suspicious and aggressive towards strangers, you should take him out more often. Let him socialize and get acquainted with strange sights and sounds.
Train them not to bark
Some Yorkies will bark excessively at the slightest noise. To train them not to bark, you must stop them every time they bark for no valid reason. This will teach the dog when it is okay to bark and when it is not.
Training at home should be a priority
As a dog owner, the last thing you want to come home to is puddles and lots of steam. There are many ways to potty train Yorkie. If your puppy is the outgoing type, you can take him out for potty training. However, keep in mind that you need to take him to the exact same spot every time until he realizes that this is the place to poop. You can also place a special dog litter box inside your home and train him to use it when nature calls.
Be positive, patient and consistent
The most important thing about training a Yorkie is to be positive, patient, and consistent. They can be stubborn and it can be quite difficult to teach them to go to the bathroom and stop them from barking. But sticking to a strict home workout schedule and being consistent with it can work wonders. Follow the steps I just mentioned and you will have a well-behaved Yorkie in no time.