To All Yorkshire Terrier Owners: Are You Guilty Of Anthropomorphism?

For years Hollywood has portrayed motion-picture canines as animals whose motivations are based on human perceptions and values. Lassie saves a rabbit from death, for example, or Benji solves a crime, or Rin Tin Tin protects the fort from outlaws. These animal films are very entertaining, and the canine actors are extremely well trained, but they tend to give the viewer a distorted, unrealistic picture of a Yorkshire Terrier’s ability to think and reason.

This misrepresentation of canine behavior is the do wnfall of many yorkie owners and their unfortunate pets. A person who has never taken a dog training course or read a good training manual containing information on canine behavior very often expects from his or her dog things that canines are unable to do. Such a person may teach even those behaviors that the dog is capable of carrying out in a confusing and haphazard manner. Many poor dogs are then unjustly labeled, spiteful, stupid, stubborn, and sometimes just plain bad. The proper label is ignorant, and it belongs to the owner, not the dog. Whenever you try to evaluate canine behaviors through a human point of view, you will misinterpret them.

All but the very worst anthropomorphic yorkie owners can be helped if they make a valid effort to understand their dogs. It is not a crime to be anthropomorphic, but it should be a crime if you own a dog and make no effort to understand him. Some aspects of anthropomorphism are harmless to the dog - and can even be enjoyable. For example, giving your dog a special dinner on his birthday or filling a Christmas stocking with dog toys and treats is not detrimental; What dog owners should learn about anthropomorphism should directly concern the dog’s training, especially when it comes to good timing and fair corrections. For example, owners often correct their dog based on a “guilty look” on the dog’s face, assuming he “knows” he was wrong. The dog doesn’t know, any more than he knows it is his birthday or Christmas.

Here is another good example of anthropomorphism. Many dog owners - especially owners of younger dogs - experience a chewing problem at some point. Many calls come in on a regular basis from frustrated owners who say that their dogs chew furniture, rugs, shoes, and the like when left alone in the house. They say that they have tried everything. “He knows he has done wrong,” they say. When asked what they have done to correct the dog, they say, “I holler at him and show him what he chewed. I tell him he is bad, and I smack him with the newspaper.”

This procedure is usually repeated many times while the Yorkshire Terrier continues to destroy the house. Eventually the time arrives when the owner comes home and the dog runs and hides. Some dogs may even stand and shiver with a terribly “guilty look” on their face. Then, periodically, the owner will come home and not find a mess. The owner will be happy and will praise and pet the dog. The dog will respond to the happy sound and good-feeling rubs with a wagging tail and a happy appearance.

This cheerful behavior, unfortunately, reinforces in the owner’s mind that the dog knows that avoiding chewing is “right” and that chewing up the house is “wrong.” “He’s just a bad dog,” the owner thinks or “He’s really spiteful. He wants to get even with me for leaving him home.” These statements are all based strictly on human emotions and a human perspective. Owners such as these are being anthropocentric. They view everything in terms of human experience and human values.

Tips You Need To Know When Searching For An Honest Yorkshire Terrier Breeder

Once you have located several Yorkshire Terrier breeders who produce the breed you desire, we recommend that you visit all of them before deciding on a puppy. Compare their facilities, and beware of the hard sell. Do not be pressured into buying a puppy because the breeder says there are three other prospective buyers on their way over. Also, do not buy a puppy simply because the breeder isn’t planning to produce another litter any time soon.

Pay attention to first impressions. Which of the breeders is open, informative, and friendly? Which are closed-mouthed and cautious? A good breeder will be honest and will want to place the puppy in the best home possible. Breeders should also want to know about you. Are you responsible enough to own a dog? Do you have a house with a fenced yard, or do you live in a studio apartment? Do you own other pets? A good breeder will want to ensure the welfare of his or her dog, for the animal’s sake and for the future success of the breed.

Observe the general appearance of the facility. Is it clean and well maintained? Do the animals appear to be healthy? Is the breeder’s home neat and orderly or messy and chaotic? You wouldn’t buy groceries in a filthy store infested with vermin, so why tolerate these conditions when shopping for a dog?

Check the area where the Yorkshire Terrier puppies are housed. It should be clean, warm, and comfortable. Water, bedding, and perhaps a few chew toys should be available. If this area is littered with excrement, the puppies may have become used to these conditions and may not understand that the sleeping area is not also a place to eliminate. Housebreaking these puppies could be difficult.

The friendliest dogs are usually those that have been handled by humans from the time they were only a few days old. Successful breeders understand this and will have regular handling sessions with the puppies every day. Many bring the puppies into their home each day to acclimate them to this environment. Avoid those breeders who keep their puppies isolated from people.

No breeder should allow a puppy to leave the litter before it is seven weeks of age. Proper socialization within the litter is ensured during this important period. puppies that leave too soon often become dog-aggressive and antisocial. Breeders who are willing to let their puppies go too early are not doing their job properly. Avoid them.

Proper record-keeping is an essential part of the breeding process. Breeders should have the pedigrees of all of their available dogs and should provide you with the accurate date of birth as well as all vaccination records. The breeder must also give you a blue AKC registration application for your puppy. You will fill this out and mail it to the American Kennel Club; the AKC will then send you your Yorkshire Terrier puppy’s registration certificate. A sales contract should be provided as well. Read this document carefully; some contracts specify co-ownership between you and the breeder, and some require you to alter the pet within a certain period.

Tips For The Yorkshire Terrier Owner Who Is Loosing Their Eyesight (Part 2)

If you have no one who can take you and your Yorkshire Terrier to the veterinarian, find out if there is someone in your vicinity who provides taxi service for your veterinary trips. A pet-sitter or pet care professional also may have such a service. Check the Yellow Pages of your phone directory under Pets or Pet-sitters. Inquire at local pet stores if none are listed in the telephone directory.

Some veterinarians make house calls, so, if transportation is a problem for you, find a veterinarian who will come to your home.

If you must give your yorkie medication, ask for it in pill form so that you don’t have to measure dosages in a dropper. Place one hand over your dog’s head and open his mouth with your thumb and forefinger. Pop the pill in his mouth with your other hand.

If the medicine comes in a capsule and must be divided, open the capsule and pour the white powder onto a dark tile or board, for contrast, that you’ve placed on your kitchen counter. Divide the powder into parts with a razor blade. Sprinkle the portion over your dog’s food and mix it in.

To tell if your dog is sick, pay attention to his activity level and touch his nose. A dry nose along with diminished activity may indicate that your dog isn’t feeling well.

If blindness or vision problems prevent you from functioning, investigate obtaining a guide dog. A guide dog may be your link to the world and help you live a full and normal life.

To clean up your dog’s wastes, keep him on leash. If your Yorkshire Terrier stops, run your hand down his back. If his back is curved and he is hunched over, you know that he is moving his bowels. Stand still and, based on where your dog is standing, follow along his back toward the tail to determine where the deposit is. Insert your hand in a plastic bag, pick up the wastes, and pull them inside the bag. Tie the bag and throw it in the trash.

To keep your dog from causing you to trip, teach him to go to a special place when he is not with you. Show your dog the place and give a command. Keep the command consistent and repeat the process until your dog knows to go to his special place when you say the command. Praise your dog each time he follows directions. Put one or two of your dog’s special chew toys in the place to make the spot more appealing.

Tips For The Yorkshire Terrier Owner Who Is Loosing Their Eyesight (Part 1)

Losing one’s sight either permanently or temporarily or even having it decreased due to cataracts or other causes can cause you to rethink how to manage everyday care of your Yorkshire Terrier.

A yorkie, especially if he is a guide dog for the blind, will be your constant companion, but providing care for him may take some extra effort. Following are some tips for people with vision problems from people who have vision problems themselves. Some of the tips will help you if you’ve completely lost your vision, but others require that you have a minimum amount of vision and can discern shapes or contrasts.

To help know where your Yorkshire Terrier is, put bells on his collar so that you can hear him when he walks around your home. If you have more than one dog, use different-sounding bells.

To help you locate your dog, put his rabies tag and metal license next to each other on his collar so they jingle when he walks.

Those of you that have vision problems know that your other senses learn to pick up the slack under such circumstances, so telling your dogs apart if you have more than one may be as simple as touching them and feeling their coats or sizes. If your dogs are the same size or their hair has a similar or identical feel, the process may be more difficult. To help differentiate the two dogs, put different types of collars on them. Use different combinations, such as a collar with a metal buckle and one with a plastic buckle or one collar made from elastic and the other one made from plastic to help you tell them apart.

If you have a neighbor, relative, or friend who takes you grocery shopping or does it for you, peel the label from the food your dog likes and give it to the shopper so that he or she buys the correct variety or brand.

Feeding your dogs a variety of flavors helps maintain their interest in their food. Put a rubber band around the cans of one flavor and not the other to be able to tell by feeling the presence of rubber bands which one you are feeding him. If you need more than two options, put two or three rubber bands on the different flavors.

To measure quantities of food for your Yorkshire Terrier, keep the appropriate-sized measuring cup in the bag of food so you always will feed the correct amount.

Place a tray with half-inch sides, such as a cookie sheet or pizza tray, along a wall where you are less likely to accidentally step on it. When you feed your dog, place his food and water on the tray. Anything that spills from his bowl will fall onto the tray. To clean it, simply lift the entire tray and dump the fallen bits into the garbage disposal or trash can.

Timing: One Of The Most Important Aspects Of Yorkshire Terrier Training

Timing is probably the most important factor in how fast your Yorkshire Terrier learns something. What we mean by timing is this: Let’s say that your dog put his nose on the hot oven door. A few moments later he walked into the family room, looked at the TV, and then felt the burning sensation on his nose. He would associate the burning sensation with the TV. Because of the lapse in time, he would never in a million years associate the experience of his burned nose with the oven door.

Timing is vital when teaching your yorkie puppy the rules around your house, such as not to chew the rug. For example, say you walk into the living room five minutes after the puppy has finished chewing the rug. You find him sleeping in the corner and drag him over to the rug. You point to the rug and scold him. Your correction is too late. Your pup will never figure out that the disagreeable experience he is having now has anything to do with what he did five minutes before.

Correcting a dog more than a few seconds after he does a behavior is too late. He will no longer associate your correction with his previous deed. Of course, if you come into the room even many hours later ranting like a maniac, your dog is going to cower and act apprehensive. Do not misinterpret apprehension for “guilt”. To help your dog learn rapidly and efficiently, it is up to you to develop good timing.

So what is good timing? Good timing is correcting or praising your dog as he is thinking about doing a behavior. That’s the best way to get a dog to associate your correction or praise with the behavior you are trying to influence. You do not have to be a dog mind-reader to know what your dog is thinking. Canines are open, honest creatures. Everything they are about to do is written all over their faces.

The ability to anticipate a Yorkshire Terrier’s next move is called “reading the dog.” It’s not as hard as it may sound. The more time you spend with your dog, the better you will become at “reading” him. Imagine this scenario: You are expecting company and put out a plate of cheese and crackers on the coffee table. Your dog looks at the cheese and takes a few steps toward the table. Now is the time to tell him “Naaaa!” Chances are good that he was thinking about taking the cheese. Well-timed corrections will teach your pet to avoid stealing food.

The next best time to correct your dog is just as he is doing the unwanted behavior. Using our example, this means a tough “Naaaa!” just as the dog’s mouth is reaching for the cheese. The worst time to correct is ten seconds after the dog has done the unwanted behavior. Yelling at the Yorkshire Terrier when you discover an empty cheese plate will not effectively teach him to avoid stealing the cheese in the first place.

How To Train Your Yorkshire Terrier To Focus On your Face When Commanded

Before you can proceed to any basic Yorkshire Terrier training, you must teach him to focus. It is a good idea to begin your initial training by taking your dog into a quiet and familiar environment where he will be least distracted, thereby obtaining the greatest level of focus. Focus is the single most important command to teach your dog. If your dog is looking away from you, he is listening to what he is looking at. Distractions are a large part of life, and you need to teach your dog to ignore them and pay attention to you.

More often than not, a new dog owner will ask why they cannot simply use their dog’s name in order to achieve focus. The answer is that on a daily basis, you will use your dog’s name for many different purposes. Worse yet, you will probably yell his name at him when he is doing something wrong - much the same way your parents yelled your name at you when you were a misbehaving kid. Your dog is not a child, and if you scream his name at him in a harsh manner, he is sure to stop responding positively to his name.

The term you will use to teach your Yorkshire Terrier focus will be a consistently positively reinforced term. He will first learn to look at you on command no matter what is going on around him. Next, he will come to you when you call instead of running away off to who knows where. Here are the beginning steps necessary to teach attention:

1. Begin training your yorkie when he has not had any personal contact with you for several hours. Mornings are great because you generally have had no contact with him overnight. A dog who has had minimal contact is more likely to want to give you his attention when the opportunity presents itself. Walk your dog before starting the session. Do not play with him or talk too much, just put him on a lead and walk him for elimination purposes. Afterward, take your dog back into the house so you may begin his training. Keep a leash on him so that you can retain an element of control.

2. We will be using food as a reward for this exercise. It is very important that you know what types of edible reinforce snacks will work on your dog. A hungry dog will be motivated by food, whereas a well-fed dog may show disinterest. Do not feed your dog his meal before training.

3. You will be teaching the yorkie to look at your face on command and a good reason for him to look at your face could be that there is great food falling out of your mouth. You could spit out little bits of cheese or hot dogs or cereal at your dog - whatever food works for him. If you have a small-breed dog or young puppy, you may get on your knees and show your dog a cracker hanging out of your mouth. When he notices the food, you can let him take a little bit from your mouth.

4. Typically commands such as “ready,” “look,” or “focus” are used. Any command you wish to use is fine, just be sure to be consistent with your terms. Your dog’s name should be used prior to giving the focus command. Making a little clicking sound from your mouth after your command will help to teach your dog to look at you.

So, the order of the procedure is: A) dog’s name. B) Command - ready. C) Clicking sound from mouth. D) Reward as your Yorkshire Terrier gives you attention. E) Release from steady command - okay or free.

How To Test A Shelter Yorkshire Terrier

It’s hard to know how an unfamiliar Yorkshire Terrier will react to your attempts to become his leader; if you catch a very self-protective dog off guard, he may bite. It doesn’t happen frequently, but don’t take the chance, and make your assessments in other ways instead. He’s going to be a little bit out of sorts when you first take him out of his cage. Give him some time to get used to you and to work out his excess energy. Don’t make loud noises or sudden moves; just let him sniff and greet you, and then take him somewhere where you can really get acquainted.

Never grab an unfamiliar yorkie; he may interpret this as a threatening gesture and respond by snapping. If you’ve brought your kids with you to the shelter, ask them not to touch the dog until he’s gotten accustomed to you and until you know that he is trustworthy.

Crouch down and pet him and play with him. Does he accept and enjoy your affection, or does he act suspicious of you or ignore you altogether? Does he trample and nip you, or does he avoid you? Look for a dog who plays and cuddles with you enthusiastically but not obnoxiously or fearfully. Take a walk around the room. Does he trot after you, or does he seem relieved to see you go? He should follow you happily without attacking your legs. If you have a toy, toss it for him. Does he show interest, or does he turn up him snout at your attempt at a game?

Keep petting, talking, and playing with him. If he growls or snaps at you or curls his lip, move on to another Yorkshire Terrier. Unless you’re an experienced dog trainer, you don’t want to mess with an aggressive dog. If he doesn’t appear dangerous but is nevertheless very rough or mouthy, he still may be too dominant for you.

If he slinks around and avoids looking at you, he’s probably a submissive dog who will need a lot of positive reinforcement. Some dogs may cower or shake when you try to pet them; many interpret this as a sign that the dog has been hit or beaten. However, adult dogs often shrink away from human hands simply because they were not properly socialized and have never gotten used to being touched and petted.

If a Yorkshire Terrier seems wary of your touch at first but begins to accept your affection after a few minutes, chances are that he’ll be able to come out of his nervousness pretty quickly with good training and lots of love. Bur if he remains nervous and terrified, it’s probably going to be a real challenge to turn him into a happy and comfortable pet, and he’s better left to someone who’s had lots of experience working with undersocialized or abused dogs. If he’s lethargic and draggy, there’s a good chance that poor health is to blame. Look elsewhere. You don’t want to adopt a dog who may be sick. Be on the lookout for a dog who’s cheerful, responsive, and confident.

Do you have fun playing with him and paying attention to him? Often, when owners who are having troubles with their adopted dogs, their biggest problem seems to be that they just don’t like their dogs very much. Do not adopt a dog if you’re not crazy about him! Spend as much time as you need to get to know as many dogs as you can; make more than one visit if necessary. But don’t forget that a yorkie who catches your eye one day may be adopted by someone else or even euthanized the next, so you’ll have to judge for yourself how long it’s safe to wait.

How To Teach Your New Yorkshire Terrier Puppy To Play-Bite Softly

One of the first Yorkshire Terrier training protocol you will want to initiate when you get a new puppy is to teach him to inhibit the force of his play-bites. It is not necessary to reprimand the pup, and certainly physical punishments are not called for. But it is essential to let your puppy know that bites can hurt. A simple “Ouch!” is usually sufficient. When the yorkie puppy backs off, take a short time-out to “lick your wounds,” instruct your pup to come, sit, and lie down to apologize and make up. Then resume playing.

If your puppy does not respond to your yelp by easing up or backing off, an effective technique is to call the yorkie puppy a “Bully!” and then leave the room and shut the door. Allow the pup a minute or two time-out to reflect on the association between his painful bite and the immediate departure of his favorite human chew-toy. Then return to make up. It is important to show that you still love your puppy, only that his painful bites are objectionable. Have your pup come and sit and then resume playing once more.

It is much better for you to walk away from the pup than to physically restrain him or remove him to his confinement area at a time when he is biting too hard. So make a habit of playing with your puppy in his long-term confinement area. This technique is remarkably effective with lead-headed dogs, since it is precisely the way puppies learn to inhibit the force of their bites when playing with each other. If one puppy bites another too hard, the dog who gets bitten yelps and playing is postponed while he licks his wounds. The biter soon learns that hard bites interrupt an otherwise enjoyable play session. He learns to bite more softly once play resumes.

The next step is to eliminate bite pressure entirely, even though the “bites” no longer hurt. While your puppy is chewing his human chew-toy, wait for a bite that is harder than the rest and respond as if it really hurt, even though it didn’t: “Ouch - Gennntly! That really hurt me, you bully!” Your puppy begins to think, “Good heavens! These humans are soooooo sensitive. I’ll have to be really careful when mouthing their delicate skin.” And that’s precisely what you want your Yorkshire Terrier pup to think: that he needs to be extremely careful and gentle when playing with people.

Your pup should learn not to hurt people well before he is three months old. Ideally, by the time he is four and a half months old (before he develops strong jaws and adult canine teeth) he should no longer be exerting any pressure when mouthing.