The Yorkshire Terrier is a miniature dog that looks like a toy. At the same time, the dog is energetic, active, and almost never sits still. Many owners do not believe that they need to be trained, trained and exercised. Due to lack of education, Yorkshire terriers grow up disobedient, uncontrollable and make life difficult for themselves and their owner. To avoid unmotivated behavior of the Yerk, you need to start training him as early as possible, taking into account the characteristics of the breed and the individuality of each dog.
Features of raising a Yorkshire Terrier
Like most terriers, the Yorkshire's character is not entirely simple. Although they are loyal to their owner, they can behave inappropriately. When they are not trained, the erk tries to become the “leader of the pack” and shows aggression towards surrounding animals and people.
At the same time, Yorkies are smart, cunning, curious, playful and affectionate towards children. Only correct and regular training, perseverance, and systematic training make it possible to raise a puppy into a wonderful friend and companion. Raising and training Yorkies is not difficult, but you should take into account the physical capabilities, character and gender of each.
Girls
Yorkie girls are more good-natured, affectionate and obedient than boys. At the same time, they are brave, but cautious. Females become more attached to their owner and are easier to educate and train. However, there are also girls with quarrelsome characters and disgusting behavior. Most often, such a Yorkshire terrier was raised incorrectly and the puppy’s character was not corrected in a timely manner. The most problematic time in a bitch's life is estrus and pregnancy. At this moment, you need to treat her with care, but not allow “liberties” in behavior.
Boys
Raising Yorkie males is more difficult. They are distinguished by great mobility and playfulness. Behavior is largely determined by nature. Therefore, they mark the territory for which they can choose an apartment, its walls and furniture. The owner’s task is to raise the Yorkie so that he does this not in the house, but on the street, in the yard. Yorkshire Terrier boys are more independent, cocky and stubborn. It is necessary to cultivate in them discipline and restraint, an understanding of what can be done and what absolutely cannot be done.
Team "Fu"
Baby Yorkies are big fans of chewing everything. This passion for sharpening teeth leads to both damage to your property and “damage” to the dog itself. Therefore, learning the “Fu” command is necessary even for such little ones.
When the baby is in the next process of eating your sock, say “Fu” in a commanding tone. A light flick on the impudent nose is not prohibited. At the same time, voice the command again. Repeat the steps every time you see your personal belongings in your pet's mouth.
Are Yorkies trainable?
Raising a dog normally is not difficult. Even a small Yorkshire Terrier understands perfectly well what is required of him. The owner must become a leader for his pet, despite the fact that the puppy always strives for dominance. The training process is carried out in a playful way. Yorkies do not like monotony and coercion. Education is carried out constantly, from the first day the dog appears in a new home, patiently teaching it its name, order, place, rules of behavior in the apartment and on the street.
Why do you need to train Yorkies?
Raising and training a Yorkshire Terrier helps to avoid the creation of unwanted situations. Gradually, the puppy understands how to behave and ceases to be uncontrollable. You can expect everything from an ill-mannered Yorkie - barking at others, aggression. They can pick up food from the ground, bite, and jump on their owners’ beds and tables. The dog is capable of running away, getting hit by a car and getting injured. Education, training and teaching basic commands help make a dog's behavior predictable and his life safe.
At what age should you start training and raising a puppy?
Already at the age of one month it is necessary to raise a Yorkshire Terrier. Most often, the breeder teaches him the first skills, since puppies are sold no earlier than two months.
Training is carried out according to plan:
- At the age of 1-2 months, they are accustomed to a nickname, a toilet, and the commands “Come to me!” and “Place!”
- At 3 months, raising a puppy consists of developing the skill of wearing a collar, walking on a leash, and following the commands “Sit!”, “No!”.
- At 4-5 months they practice the commands “Near!” and “Lie down!”
- At 6-8 months, they repeat previously acquired skills and carry out the orders “Bring it!”, “Fu!”, “Give me a paw!”
- From 8 months to a year, the Yorkshire Terrier is actively socialized and reinforced what has been learned.
York is a leader by nature
How to train a Yorkshire Terrier correctly? So that the dog does not grow into a “real” leader, uncontrollable and aggressive. Holding a small lump in his hands like this, the owner may not even realize what surprise might come to him when the puppy grows up.
In addition to the fact that the Yorkie has an innate sense of leadership of the pack, he is also a very affectionate dog, capable of giving a lot of love and tenderness to his owner. Such qualities are not alien to him - courage, curiosity, friendliness to everyone.
In raising a puppy, you need to adhere to the golden mean, that is, the task is to preserve and embellish the good traits, and minimize the ability to lead as much as possible. The important principle here is consistency in actions.
You need to get used to commands gradually, to do this, be patient, you will succeed! To maintain your leadership and not injure the dog, you can, for example, feed it first from his bowl, and only then sit down at the table. This way you will eliminate the possibility of begging under the table without humiliating the dog’s dignity.
The sooner the owner begins to train his Yorkshire Terrier, the stronger the foundation of the relationship between pet and owner will be. And training, as stages of education, is very important.
If puppy training is not started at an early age, Yorkshire Terriers may act out, lunge at people, fight, chase cars, and bark loudly for almost no reason. Or rather, she has reasons, because she is the leader, and the owner in this case becomes the dog’s secondary companion.
Rules for training at home
When raising and training a Yorkshire Terrier, you should adhere to several rules:
- Yorkie training begins as early as possible.
- To teach a puppy new things, move from simple to complex.
- At the initial stage, it is better to train the Yorkshire Terrier at home so that the dog is not distracted by anything during training.
- During one training period, you need to teach the Erka to carry out a single command.
- In the process of education they show persistence in order to achieve results.
- When addressing a yorik, they always call him by his name.
- The tone of communication should be calm and friendly.
- For training, choose a moment when both the owner and the Yorkshire Terrier are in a good mood.
Basic recommendations
When starting to raise, and, later, train a Yorkie, you need to be guided by the following recommendations:
- It is necessary to adhere to the principle of consistency. First teach your pet simpler commands, and then move on to more complex ones.
- Any address to the puppy and any command must be supported by a nickname at the beginning of training.
- Commands must be spoken in a calm voice. Exceptions are prohibiting commands “No!” and “Fu!”, which should be pronounced with a threatening intonation.
- It is unacceptable to distort the names of commands during training, for example, saying “Stop!” or “Sit down!” instead of “Stop!”
- You cannot raise a dog only with the help of prohibitions and punishments or, conversely, only with the use of encouragement. These methods should be combined with each other and used as needed.
- During training, you should not undeservedly punish your pet or yell at it too much. This will lead to the fact that the Yorkie will lose all desire to learn.
- When walking with your pet, you should not allow him to follow commands given by strangers.
If a dog refuses to follow commands, the owner must force it to do what is required.
Duration of classes
Long-term exercise is tiring for Yorkshire Terriers. They get tired quickly, lose interest and attention. Start with 5 minutes, gradually increasing the time of training and education to 15 minutes. To consolidate the acquired skills, training is repeated several times a day. Between classes they take a break, during which they play with Erik or take him outside for a walk.
Three to four months
During this period of the Yorkshire Terrier’s life, begin to teach him the commands “Near” and “Lie down”. Don't forget to repeat lessons learned so that your dog doesn't forget them.
Lessons should be short so that the pet does not get tired - five to ten minutes is enough. After all, due to overexertion, he may refuse training.
You can repeat the command several times a day to ensure complete consolidation. For example, first at home, then while walking in a quiet environment, and then in more crowded places. Thus, by making the task more difficult, you will teach your dog to obey you, regardless of other factors - city noise, the presence of strangers, etc.
Training a Yorkie puppy: where to start?
For training to bear fruit, the owner of the Yorkshire Terrier must know what result he is striving for. Before you teach your puppy basic commands, you need to raise him correctly. Yorshiki must be clean, not jump on the owner’s chest even for joy, not spoil shoes, furniture and other items, and follow a daily routine. During the upbringing, the child is taught a nickname, a toilet at home and on the street, his place, correct behavior when walking and in public transport, and communication with people and animals.
Remembering your nickname
Education is more successful if you teach Erik to respond to his nickname as early as possible. This is done immediately after he arrives in his new home. Choose a short, sonorous name and pronounce it in a gentle tone at any opportunity. As soon as the puppy responds to the call and approaches, he is praised and treated with a treat. There should be only one nickname, it should not be modified or pronounced in different ways, otherwise the dog will get confused and forget his name. In order not to develop a negative attitude towards his name in the Yorkshire Terrier, dog handlers do not recommend calling it when scolded for an offense.
Tray and diaper training
Raising a Yorkshire Terrier is incomplete without toilet training. While the puppy is small, he can go to the tray, on a diaper or newspaper. The floor in the room is covered with them. At first, the Yorkie goes about his business wherever he needs to. Gradually, the number of diapers and newspapers is reduced, eventually leaving only one in the place where the toilet will be.
If, during training, Erik made a puddle in the wrong place, you should not shout at him or poke his nose. This kind of “education” has the opposite effect. The puppy begins to hide in secluded places and go to the toilet there.
When trouble occurs, you need to blot the puddle with a diaper, put the cloth in the tray and take the Yorkshire Terrier there. The process of education and training to maintain cleanliness is long and requires perseverance and patience.
Toilet training outdoors
After vaccination and quarantine are completed, the Yorkshire Terrier puppy begins to be taken for a walk. At this time, he is trained to use the toilet outside, which is quite difficult to do. The baby is already accustomed to the tray, so he endures it and runs home to the container or diaper.
The dog is taken out for a walk immediately after feeding or sleeping at night. They take with them the diaper that she has already worn. They give it a sniff and lay it on the ground. If she relieves herself, she is praised. At first you will have to walk up to 7 times a day. After the Yorkie becomes an adult, two or three walks per day are enough.
Accustoming to a place in the apartment
The Yorkshire Terrier should have its own place in the house where it sleeps, rests and eats. To teach a Yorkie to order, he is first transferred to a bedding as soon as he falls asleep, not allowing him to remain on the sofa, bed or chair. The puppy is given a lot of toys so that he does not chew everything around him. Even if the dog has ruined something, you should not shout or get angry at him; further education will help correct the baby’s behavior.
Correct behavior on the street
Many owners of Yorkshire Terriers often carry their pets in their arms on the street and in public places. Despite this, they need to be taught to behave correctly, be able to walk on a leash, and stop when ordered by the owner. Raising Yorkies should be aimed at learning the rules of behavior - do not bark at others, do not run away from the owner, do not pick up food from the ground. Socialization is carried out gradually - first in the house, then at the dog park, and later in public places.
Teaching your baby a nickname
The most basic thing is to teach the puppy to respond to the chosen nickname. In order not to complicate life for both of you, choose a short and sonorous name for your pet. Call your puppy by name whenever possible. Pay attention to intonation. Harsh and harsh treatment is not acceptable. The baby should obey you, and not be afraid. In order not to confuse the dog, you should not correct the nickname with affectionate and diminutive variants. When playing, pet the puppy and also call him by name.
At the first positive results (you called the puppy and he came), do not forget to praise and reward the pet with treats. Go into another room and call the puppy again. If he runs up, praise him.
All family members can participate in training. You can sit in a circle and call your baby one by one. To ensure positive dynamics, don’t skimp on affection and treats. Some breeders are against joint training, believing that a dog should have one owner. I won't argue. Everyone has the right to choose how to raise their dog.
Yorkie puppies quickly begin to respond to their name. 1-2 days is enough. When the first lesson is learned, you can move on to more complex commands.
What commands should you teach your Yorkshire Terrier?
Raising, training and teaching commands of a Yorkshire Terrier must be built in a game format that is interesting for the pet. We should not forget about encouragement in the form of treats and affectionate words. The tone of communication should be calm and friendly. At the same time, commands are given to Yorkshire terriers clearly and loudly. They are not repeated several times, no unnecessary words are added, and they are pronounced in the same form. If the dog follows the order, he is rewarded.
To properly raise a puppy, it is worth enrolling in training courses. Experienced dog handlers will not only give advice on home education, but also teach the main commands.
"Sit!"
The training of obedience in Yorshiks begins with the command “Sit!” The dog must be taught to do this for up to three months, since it must be able to wait in place until it is allowed to move on.
To practice the command “Sit!” operate according to the following scheme:
- Call the pet by name.
- They say “Sit!” and press on the sacrum while holding the treat above your head.
- They hold him in this position and then give him a treat.
- Repeat several times.
"Lie!"
After the Yorshik learns the command “Sit!”, proceed to the next one – “Lie down!”. Developing this skill allows you to calmly examine the dog, cut it or carry out hygiene measures. The training is simple. First, the dog is given the command “Sit!”, after which he is shown a treat in his hand and lowered to the floor. At the same time they say: “Lie down!” As soon as the Yorkie lies down, they give him a treat and praise him. You can help the dog by pressing on the back.
"Place!"
From the first day a Yorkshire Terrier arrives in the house, they are taught the command “Place!” Developing the habit of order begins with getting to know the dog’s resting place. The bed should be cozy and comfortable; you can put your puppy’s toys there.
To accustom the pet to the command, they bring it to its bedding and say: “Place!” If the dog comes, they give him a treat. Through repetition, they achieve the fulfillment of orders and cultivate unquestioning obedience.
"To me!"
To develop correct behavior on the street, the Yorkshire Terrier is taught the command “Come to me!” This skill is extremely important if the dog walks without a leash. The command is pronounced at the moment when he is called to eat. You need to train regularly so that the execution of orders becomes automatic. The puppy is shown a treat and said: “Come to me!” As soon as he runs up, they give him a treat and praise him.
You shouldn’t scold your Yorkie if he gets stubborn and doesn’t come right away. The pet is trained and educated until a positive result is achieved.
"Near!"
All owners of Yorkshire terriers who prefer to spend a lot of time outside with their dog must definitely teach it to carry out the “Near!” command. Develop obedience and train with the help of a leash. Saying “Near!”, they tighten the harness so that the dog walks near the owner’s leg. Over time they try to change the pace, and the Yorkshireman must adjust and adapt. To prevent the dog from getting injured during the process of raising and training, you should not pull the leash too hard.
"Ugh!"
Train your Yorkshire Terrier to follow the command “Fu!” very important. Training is done on the street. As soon as the dog sees the prohibited object and reaches for it, they pull the leash and pronounce the command. When the dog gets used to following orders while on a leash, try doing it without it. Training is considered successful, and the command is learned, if the dog responds to it the first time and without outside influence.
"It is forbidden!"
Command "No!" is similar to the order “Fu!”, but it is used anywhere when it is necessary to prohibit an unwanted action - barking, aggressive behavior. Raising obedience to the command “No!” Helps prevent common dangerous situations on the road and in public places.
When a Yorkshire Terrier does something forbidden, they tug on the leash or clap their hands and command: “You can’t!” They are trained to the point of complete obedience, since only in this case can the life of a small dog be maximally protected.
“Give me your paw!”
Although dog handlers consider the command “Give me your paw!” absolutely useless, breeders teach it during the training of their pet. A trained Yorkshire Terrier that follows this command will find it easier to wash its paws, trim its nails and trim the hair between its toes. If your Yorkie is smart, it's easy to teach him. To do this, you need to sit the dog down and, calling it by name, say: “Give me your paw!” At the same time, they show a treat in their palm and take its paw in their hand. After several repetitions and treats, the dog begins to carry out the order clearly and accurately.
“Bring it!”
The Yorkshire Terrier can be taught the command “Fetch!” This skill has no practical value, but as part of education, training leads to closer contact between the dog and the owner. The dog can bring newspapers, slippers and a toy. Training the skill is quite difficult; it is not easy for Yorkies to understand what they want from them. They educate and train during the game - they throw a toy, and then bring the dog and say: “Bring it!”
How to build the education process
If you want to raise a loyal and devoted friend, you will need to spend a lot of effort and patience. The training process should begin from an early age - the puppy should immediately be prohibited from doing those things that will not be allowed later. If the moment is missed, it will be almost impossible for you to explain to the dog why today you can’t do what was possible yesterday.
It is necessary to start training on time, otherwise certain difficulties will arise with this process in the future.
Before training your pet, let him get used to the new place and understand his name - teach him to immediately respond to it. The training process is carried out directly by the owner - while observing the following rules:
- Earn the puppy's complete trust;
- Be patient;
- Do not forget that classes should be regular;
- Punish and reward on time - if you miss the moment, the dog will not see the cause-and-effect relationship;
- Start with the simplest things, gradually complicating the tasks;
- Try to interest the dog;
- Take into account all the character traits of your student.
Training sessions must be regular
How to properly punish and reward a Yorkshire Terrier?
In order for the education of a Yorkie to produce results, a system of rewards and punishments is used. For correctly following orders, they praise him, give him a treat, and stroke his fur. Reward should follow immediately after the action or command performed.
It is difficult to educate without punishment. If a Yorkshire terrier behaves undesirably, they do not shout at him, much less hit him. For the dog to understand his mistake, it is enough to change the tone, make it tougher and more serious. When a Yorkie does not understand what they want from him, refusal to communicate is used as punishment.
Four to five months
Continue to practice the completed commands with your pet so that they can be carried out unquestioningly. You can also start visiting special dog training grounds to get some physical exercise. You can run with your dog a little, teaching him to jump over small barriers. But for now, avoid your puppy interacting with other dogs.
Begin to cultivate perseverance and perseverance in your Yorkshire Terrier - he should be able to restrain himself at the sight of food or natural food placed nearby.
How to stop biting and barking?
Sometimes Yorkies bite their owner's fingers or grab their legs while playing. As soon as this happened, the dog was strictly commanded “No!” and stop the game. If a dog shows aggression on the street towards passers-by, they are brought up more strictly - they take it by the scruff of the neck, press it to the ground and say: “You can’t!”
Yorkshires often annoy everyone around them with their unreasonable barking. To stop a dog from yapping for no reason, distract it with a toy, splash water on it, or clap your hands.
To prevent the Yorkie from barking when he is alone, training is carried out differently. The owner leaves the apartment and does not return until the dog calms down.
How to train an adult dog to behave outdoors?
It is much easier to accustom a small puppy to rules of behavior or commands. But it is also possible to train an adult dog. In order for your Yorkie to behave well outside, it is important to let him understand that only the owner controls the walk.
Often dogs begin to pull the owner to the side or run quickly.
To prevent this from happening, every time the dog starts to pull on the leash, you need to stop, that is, stop moving altogether..
There is no need to drag the dog towards you, just hold the leash tightly so that the dog cannot move. You need to walk at a calm, measured pace.
NOTE!
If the owner starts running, the dog will follow him and run even faster. At first, you shouldn’t take your dog for long walks - this way the dog will quickly get bored and tired.
Gradually, the walking time can be increased . In about a month, the Yorkie will understand how to behave on the street and there will be no problems with him.
How to stop chewing furniture and things?
In the process of raising a dog, it is necessary to wean it from gnawing everything that comes into its teeth. It is worth buying a Yorshik many different toys in the form of bones and balls. You can’t give old slippers or a T-shirt to be torn to pieces. If you catch your pet damaging things, you need to punish him immediately so that he understands why.
Usually after a year the Yorkshire Terrier stops chewing things. But this only happens if he was raised correctly.
Errors in parenting
Often, inexperienced dog breeders make serious mistakes when raising an Erka:
- They behave inconsistently and do not show proper persistence.
- They talk to the pet as if it were a person, instead of giving commands clearly and briefly.
- Classes are taking longer.
- They praise or punish not immediately after the act, but after some time.
- They do not take into account the individual characteristics of the puppy.
- Stop classes after completing the training course.
- They punish physically.
Most common mistakes
The main mistakes when raising a Yorkshire Terrier puppy:
- Under no circumstances should you shout at the dog, punish it, beat it, or treat it roughly;
- you cannot strive to teach all commands at the same time, especially complex ones that are not perceived by the animal;
- You can’t allow your Yorkie too much, the dog is small and very cute, but she’s not a toy, you can’t just play around with her and allow her everything. This will result in absolute disobedience;
- It is always worth achieving the execution of a given command. There should be no exceptions;
- also there should be no punishment after some time has passed after the commission of the offense. The animal simply will not understand this and will be afraid of the owner.
Yorkie training is best done on the playground.
Raising a Yorkie, both a girl and a boy, is quite simple. You just need to do everything step by step and don’t give up, don’t be fooled by your cute, pretty appearance. The dog is actually very smart and will remember all the commands, carry them out quickly, and they will become automatic. There is a chance that the baby Yorkie will become the smartest and most well-trained dog in the area. The owners will be proud of it and admired by neighbors and guests. The main thing is more attention, perseverance and patience.
How much do classes with a dog trainer cost?
Raising a Yorshik is difficult for a novice dog breeder. The best option is to seek help from an experienced dog handler. A professional will teach the puppy how to follow commands, and the owner how to properly interact with the pet. Individual and group lessons have a greater effect in education and training than home lessons. The cost of the course depends on the complexity of the training. On average, the price of one lesson is 1500-1700 rubles, the entire course is 7000-15000 rubles. If it is necessary to correct the dog’s behavior, you will have to pay about 2,500 rubles for one lesson.
Tips from a dog handler
A properly trained Yorkie is the key to peace in your home. Therefore, you should listen to a few tips from experienced dog handlers:
- In order for the dog to quickly remember its nickname, the name needs to be short, sonorous and pronounced clearly.
- Training lessons should be short but daily.
- Don't forget to reward your dog.
- If you don’t have enough time to raise your pet, you should definitely contact a specialist.
And remember that a dog is not a toy!
