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.

The return of Molly

Rockford Register-Star - On Sept. 30, our little yorkie, Molly, decided to take a stroll away from our home. It was a beautiful day and, as I was busy working in the yard, I did not see her leave. For five days she was gone. We put up bulletins on telephone poles, notified Go

Lexington Herald-Leader - Mom is a AKC Male yorkie For Sale - 10/18/2006 03:49 AM EDT AKC male yorkie for sale. He is about 6lbs. He is working on being housebroken. If interested email AKC Chihuahua puppy For Sale - 10/18/2006 03:13 AM EDT I have an AKC Go

Aberdeen News - Lili is my little angel yorkie pup with a great personality and cute dolly face.she weighs 2.0 lbs HEALTHY UP TO DATE BABY BULL FOR FREE HOMES. - 10/21/2006 03:05 AM GMT here comes janice a healthy up to date baby with very good temperaments Go

An After Hours Special: Cuisine and Couture Go to the Dogs (And So Does a Circle Line Cruise) 

The Circle Line vessel that left Manhattan’s Pier 83 at noon September 10, 2006 may have looked like an ordinary tour boat, but for this trip, at least, it was the Good Ship Lollipup. Continued…

How To Stop Your Yorkshire Terrier’s Possessive Aggression

Possessive aggression is centered around a Yorkshire Terrier’s food, toys, treats, or any article that the dog may have stolen from you and this aggression should not be handled primarily with compulsion (negative reinforcement). It should be handled with positive conditioning.

The Scenario: A yorkie starts to growl when his owner approaches him while chewing his pig’s ear. You can correct this behavior when you are prepared to teach the dog to act in a less defensive manner around his pig’s ear. The technique requires you to first offer the dog his pig’s ear, then walk away. Get out one of your dog’s favorite treats, making it the best it can be, so it is much more appealing than the pig’s ear. Throw or drop the food directly in front of the dog and walk away. If the dog growls, however, as you approach him, walk away and leave no food. If the dog growled, you went too close to him and you should throw the treat from a distance, so as not to elicit any aggression from the dog.

You may decrease the space between you and the Yorkshire Terrier gradually. This process usually takes several weeks of slowly building the dog’s trust so that he understands you are approaching him to give, and not to take away from him. Generally, these sessions should be very short, but frequent. The treat is fabulous, but each repetition should only give the dog a small amount of food so as to keep him interested in learning how to earn greater rewards. Five or six repetitions per session with about four training sessions daily will generally do.

It is wise not to leave anything for the dog to “own” while you are training him. That includes toys, chews, beds, empty food bowls, and pigs’ ears. Provide the treats when you are practicing your approach conditioning. We will move along to the point where we drop the treats between his legs or have him directly take the food from your hand. We will proceed to the point where you can take his pig’s ear, give him a treat, and then return his pig’s ear to him to chew.

In this way you can functionally teach your Terrier to look forward to your approach when he has an object, and if necessary allow you to take the object with no anxiety or aggression from him. This will work only if you follow the procedure and do it slowly. After you have achieved success, continue this process intermittently forever. Also, note that a dog that knows how to drop something out of his mouth on command tends toward less possessive aggression.

It is critical that all members of your family participate in this program in order for the Yorkshire Terrier to generalize his correct behavior. Always be aware that this possessive aggression may arise again if an unforeseen incident provokes defensive actions on the part of your dog. Your dog’s aggression is an action that occurs in hopes that the target of his aggression will exhibit avoidance behaviors and walk or run away, therefore allowing him to fulfill his defensive drive.

Ferson School ceremony honors 8-year-old hero 

ST. CHARLES — It’s usually pretty bad news for any kid when Mom and Dad drop in at school unannounced. And it’s scary even for adults to think of them interrupting class with the principal in tow.
Source: www.suburbanchicagonews.com

How To Select The Best Yorkshire Terrier Puppy Out Of A Litter

Once you have chosen a Yorkshire Terrier breeder, it is time to pick out the puppy from the available litter. A good rule of thumb is to avoid extremes. Disqualify any puppies that are excessively submissive or fearful, and avoid puppies that are extremely dominant or bullying.

Fierce food or toy guarding, exaggerated barking or biting, submissive urination, and extreme apathy are all bad signs in young yorkie puppies. Curiosity, however, is good, as are playfulness and confidence. Above all, do not let the puppy pick you. The big fat one that charges at you and monopolizes your attention may win your heart, but it is very likely the most dominant, and it will be a handful.

Decide which sex puppy you prefer. Males tend to be larger and more dominant, curious, and courageous. They are better workers and are not as moody. They do not come into season and are cheaper to alter. They are also more likely to fight and roam. Females are normally smaller, less dominant and defiant, and more sensitive and moody. They normally come into heat twice a year, but they are less likely to fight and to roam.

Do not choose two yorkie puppies from the same litter. Litter-mates bond very closely to each other, making it much more difficult for the owner to establish leadership. If you want two dogs, properly raise one puppy first, and then consider another, perhaps two or three years later. The older dog will serve as a role model for the puppy, making your job that much easier.

Observe the litter without interacting with it. How do the puppies look? Are there some large puppies and one or two runts? Do you see any glaring structural problems in any of them? Is there any loose stool or vomit present? Are some puppies very lethargic? If the breeder has classified some of the litter as show quality and the rest as pet quality, ask why. Also inquire as to the number of males and females. If there are only one or two puppies of the gender you desire, you will not have as much of a range of temperaments to choose from. Avoid picking a puppy that is the sole survivor in the litter; it will have missed the early crucial social interaction that goes on in a normal litter.

Next, enter the kennel and interact with the litter. How do they react to your presence? Do some run away and hide, bark and charge, or show playful curiosity? This last reaction is the most desirable. Next, examine each one and look for any overt physical problems. Look for eye or nose discharge, bloodshot eyes, mange, overly dry skin or coat, and fleas. Is the puppy’s belly bloated? This might indicate worms, a condition that most Yorkshire Terrier puppies have and must be treated for. Look in their mouths to make sure that the gums are a healthy pink and not whitish gray. During this procedure, take note of how the puppies react to being handled. Do they fight and bite? Struggle and then submit? Show great fear?

Scared of dogs? 

There’s shock at the death of a five-month-old baby who was mauled by two dogs in a pub where her parents worked.
Source: www.bbc.co.uk

A big heart for Petite Paws 
A 7-year-old Yorkshire terrier named Phoebe had so many fleas when Fran Ranger met her that blood caked her head and face. Phoebe, whose owners no longer could are for her, is just one of the many animals now ensconced in loving foster homes throughout the Midwest.
Source: www.nwitimes.com

Misc Yorkie Posts

We’ll post misc info about Yorkies here as we find it!