Selecting Your Perfect Yorkie where to begin:
Selecting the perfect Yorkie is a very important decision, thus we have tried to remove some of the guess work and provide you with in-depth information on puppies, our procedures, and general qualities you should want in a new Yorkshire Terrier. Please do your research. Our site is the perfect place to begin as we cover a variety of information, all based on daily work with our yorkies. How to Choose the Right Puppy and Breeder is a great place to begin. If you are unable to find what you need, please do not hesitate to contact us with specific questions. We are always happy to "talk yorkie."
How to Choose a Breeder and Puppy
I'm ready to buy a puppy, now what?
To begin the process of purchasing or to be placed on our waiting list, you must first complete and submit our New Puppy Application. Once submitted, we will contact you with additional information. Next, choose your puppy or upcoming litter from the Puppy Page. If at any point you have a question, please do not hesitate to contact us as we will be happy to guide you through our application process. As each puppy is unique, we do try to convey personality as well any unique characteristics. Please contact us with specific questions as well as requests for additional pictures and video.
New Yorkie Puppy Care Guide:
Many of the items below are included in your puppy pack, and are noted. Otherwise, you will need to purchase these items.
1. Flea / Heartworm Preventative: I have administered your puppy’s Advantage Multi. Feel free to change the type of parasite prevention to any other brand upon the recommendation of your veterinarian. So any brand that is dual function is great. By dual function, we mean a product that controls flea / tick and internal parasites.
2. Food / Snacks: I have included a small package of the Diamond Naturals: small breed puppy formula or Eukanuaba Puppy. However, if you are unable to find this food, mix the food you do purchase with our food half and half until you have used all of the food I have sent. There are several Eukanuaba coupons in the puppy pack as well. We use Cheerios as snacks; I’ve included a few to start you off.
3. Vaccination Information: Your yorkie puppy has received at least two vaccinations. He/She has been vaccinated for the following: attenuated strains of canine distemper (CD) virus, canine adenovirus-2 (CAV-2), canine parvovirus (CPV), hepatitis and canine parainfluenza (CPI) virus propagated on an established canine cell line. In the back of your folder, you will find a print out of your puppy’s health info. You will also receive an email containing this information. You must take the paper copy to your vet as it contains all of the information your vet needs to record such as vaccinations, microchip number, final health check and fecal results. Please present this at your initial appointment, have your vet / vet’s secretary to call me if any information is confusing. Please do not allow your vet to revaccinate without a Titer Test as I am a firm believer that over vaccinations is a very bad idea. Many vets do not accept breeder vaccination charts for various reasons. Your vet can call with any concerns and questions as to my protocol.
4. Microchip Information: Your yorkie has already been micro-chipped; and requires no action at this time. Simply take note of the number and ask your vet to make sure it is correct. I do check of course, but sometimes numbers can be confused.
5. Shampoo: I have included a packet or small bottle; basically it is a tear free shampoo. Any tear free shampoo will work, although those formulated specially for puppies would be great.
6. Misc: I have included several miscellaneous items such as toys, blankets, ect.. Basically, it just depends on what is available when your yorkie is ready to go home. I do try to give as many goodies as possible.
The Supplies You Need prior to arrival:
Before you bring your yorkie home, be sure you have the following supplies:
1. Small bag of Puppy food: We recommend Diamond Naturals Small Breed Puppy Food, Eukanuaba, or Royal Canin to get your new yorkie off to a good start. (Follow the formal on the bag; however, remember that all puppies are unique. Just make sure he/she is eating and staying active) we use cheerios for treats.
2. Tube of Nutra Cal for Puppies (purchased at a vet’s office) to be administered in doses of 2cc per day after breakfast and right before you go to bed at night for at least 3 months. This is a high calorie supplement to head off hypoglycemia and give your yorkie lots of energy as it grows. Bring to the Airport if your yorkie is arriving via air. She may be a bit sluggish when you get her as traveling does take a toll on a yorkie. Generally, puppies do fine; however, there is always some risk involved. The nutra cal will help if she is becoming lethargic. Administer the total amount as soon as you take her out of her crate. If she is lethargic at all, administer it immediately. Hypoglycemia is often deadly if the yorkie’s seizures and it always complicates other issues. If your yorkie is struggling with any time of pathogen from internal parasites to kennel cough, hypoglycemia will complicate it.
3. Bowls: Small stainless steel, non-tip food and water bowls.
4. ID Tag: Identification tags with your Yorkie’s name and your phone number. You will need both an xtra small harness or smaller and a retractable nylon 6-foot leash. Your yorkie will come micro-chipped, but I advise you not to advertise that fact. I advise that these tags not be placed on the collar.
5. Crate / Xpen: A travel crate that's airline approved and will accommodate your Yorkie’s adult size. (You only need one crate) This crate will serve as your Yorkie’s new "den" at home, when traveling or riding to the veterinarian's office. His scent in the crate will provide comfort and a sense of security during these stressful times. If your yorkie is being shipped, he / she will arrive in a hard crate. It will be the crate the yorkie has been started in (kennel training) so do bear in mind it will have some “wear.” This is only provided if the yorkie is being shipped, but we are always happy to pick up a crate for you. Don’t hesitate to ask. Xpens are great if you must confine your yorkie in a small area, especially if you are training on paper.
6. Enzyme Based stain remover: Accidental soiling will happen and you will need to make sure all traces are gone. I recommend Nature’s Miracle available at pet’s mart. This is an enzyme cleaner which does a great job on pet stains and scents.
7. Brushes / combs: 1 fine tooth comb. Daily combing is important to keep coat in shape and only takes a few minutes.
8. Hygiene Items: Dog shampoo (tearless), toothbrush and paste. I generally use a “kids” size toothbrush as it is easier to use and softer than “dog” toothbrushes. Baby wipes come in handy for all sorts of things from cleaning feet to wiping up around the eyes. Nail clippers are a must, but regular human clippers work fine.
9. Toys: High-quality, safe chew toys ease teething. Also, plush toys with squeaky parts are great. Yorkies also love to play ball, so extra small tennis balls work well.
10. Flea, tick and parasite controls: We recommend Advantage-Multi available from your vet or online.
Helpful Hints
• Use stainless steel, non-tip food bowls, which won't break or absorb odors.
• Toys with parts that squeak or whistle can be dangerous if swallowed. Make sure they cannot be pulled out. Hard button eyes can also be swallowed.
• For a comfortable collar fit, allow for two-fingers of space between the collar and your dog's neck; consider using an adjustable collar. Making a Home Safe To make your home safe for your new yorkie, eliminate potential hazards around the house and pay attention to the following items: ** Make sure ALL electrical cords are out of reach**
• Keep breakable objects out of reach.
• Deny access to electrical cords by hiding or covering them; make outlets safe with plastic outlet plugs.
• Safely store household chemicals.
• Keep the following house and garden plants out of reach: poinsettias, azaleas, rhododendrons, dumb cane, Japanese yew, oleander and English ivy among others.
• In the garage, be sure engine lubricants and other poisonous chemicals (especially antifreeze) are safely stored.
• If you own a pool or hot tub, make sure it is not accessible.
• There are several foods off limits to Yorkies, research this well. We advise you keep the kitchen off limits as well as the bathroom. Remember, if you drop it, your yorkie will eat it…. Medicines can be deadly.
The First Days at Home
The ideal time to bring home a new yorkie is when the house is quiet. Discourage friends from stopping by and don't allow overnight guests. Be aware that your yorkie will probably be somewhat depressed and may have loose stool. It is generally normal. However, if loose stool persists for more than a couple of day or contains any blood / mucus, vet care is needed. Generally puppies have little appetite the first few days, but you must make sure he/she is eating and drinking. If concerned supplement every day with Nutra-cal in the am and pm. Establish a daily routine and follow these steps:
Step 1: Before bringing him in the house, take him to the area in your yard that will serve as his "bathroom" and spend a few minutes there. If he goes, praise him. If not, proceed into the house but be sure to take him to this spot each time he needs to use the bathroom.
Step 2: Take him to the room that accommodates his crate—this restricted area will serve as his new "den" for several days. Put bedding and chew toys in the crate, leave the door open and line the area outside of the crate with newspaper, in case of an accident. Let him investigate the crate and the room. If he chews or urinates on his bedding, permanently remove it from the crate.
Step 3: Observe and interact with your yorkie while he's acclimating to his new den. This will help forge a sense of pack and establish you as the pack leader.
Special yorkie Concerns:
Even if your Yorkshire Terrier is 15 weeks old, she is still an infant: treat him/her with patience, constant supervision and a gentle touch. The way you interact with your yorkie at this age is critical to his socialization.
Use these tips:
* Don't bring home a yorkie prior to vacation, we will always hold onto your yorkie if your vacation is near. He needs to be acclimated to your normal, daily routine without any interruptions for at least a few weeks if not more.
* Supervise your yorkie at all times and interact with him regularly.
* Be alert for signs (sniffing and circling) that he has to go to the bathroom, take him outside immediately.
* A young yorkie has no bladder control and will need to urinate immediately after eating, drinking, sleeping or playing. At night, he will need to relieve himself at least once.
* Don't punish an accident. Never push his nose in the waste, although verbal scolding is ok. He won't understand, and may learn to go to the bathroom when you're out of sight.
* Praise your yorkie every time he goes to the bathroom outside.
* Feed your yorkie a formula designed for puppies. Like a baby, he needs nutritious, highly digestible food. Your yorkie must eat every day! Meeting Resident Pets Keep resident pets separated from your new Yorkshire Terrier for a few days. After your new yorkie is used to his new den area, put an expandable pet gate in the doorway or put your yorkie in his crate. Give your resident pet access to the area. Let pets smell and touch each other through the crate or pet gate. Do this several times over the next few days. After that, give the resident pet access to the den area with your new yorkie out of his crate. Supervise their meeting and go back to through-the-gate/crate meetings if trouble arises.
Feeding Your Yorkshire Terrier
Proper nutrition for your Yorkshire Terrier is the key to helping him live a long, healthy life. The energy requirements of a Yorkshire Terrier can be nearly twice that of an adult dog, and a yorkie may not have the stomach capacity to eat enough food to meet his needs unless the food is specifically formulated to do so. It is imperative that your Yorkshire Terrier is fed a proper diet consisting of an excellent quality yorkie food. DO NOT USE A FOOD CONTAINING CORN as one of the 1st 5 ingredients… Puppies experience their most rapid period of growth during the first six months of life. Use only a puppy formula for the 1st year. Overfeeding and weight gain can actually contribute to developmental bone problems. This makes managing food intake very important. Research has shown that puppies are at increased risk for developmental bone problems if they are overfed.
Yorkshire Terrier Nutrition: Small-breed puppies have unique needs due to their small mouths, small stomachs and their growth spurt to adult size in a short period of time. That's why it's important to pack a lot of nutrition and energy into a small amount of food. Feeding Instructions Your new dog's first meals at home are very important. We are providing a few days of food for him / her. Please continue feeding this food until you run out. If you want to change his diet to another premium food, gradually move him from the old food to the new formula. Avoid intestinal upsets by using the following steps: **Changing food can be very upsetting to your Yorkie’s digestive system. Watch for lack of interest in the new food, weight loss, and diarrhea or constipation. If these occur, consult your vet immediately.
Mixing New Food:
Day 1 - 3: Fill your dog's bowl with 75% of his old food and 25% of the new formula. Give your yorkie 2cc of Nura Cal
Day 4 - 6: Mix the old food and the new premium formula in a 50/50 ratio.
Day 7 – 10: Feed your dog a mixture that's 75% new premium formula and 25% old formula.
Day 11: Feed 100% of the new premium formula.
Feeding Tips Use the following guidelines to feed your new yorkie properly:
• To determine each serving size, start with the daily amount recommended by the feeding guidelines on the pet food label and divide that number by the number of times a day (usually 3 times) you plan to feed your yorkie.
• Serve the food at room temperature and remove the bowl within 30 minutes after he's done eating unless you are unable to feed 3 x per day. Prior to leaving, put a half serving of food in his food bowl to sustain him while you are gone throughout the day.
• After four months, you can feed a yorkie twice daily on a regular schedule.
• Always provide your dog with clean, fresh water.
• Do Not feed table food / People food…. I only recommend a few types of treats…. Cheerios Cereal being our favorite. A Yorkie reaches adult weight between 6 and 12 months. You can probably begin feeding adult dog food at 10 months although I make recommendations individually as the yorkie matures. Please do not hesitate to contact us. Remember, we are a life line for you and your yorkie throughout his / her lifetime. Never be afraid to call no matter the time or day. Your dog may not welcome the change at first, but don’t worry. Follow the exact same directions for changing the food discussed above.
Grooming Basics
No matter what your mother said, it's not just what's on the inside that counts--not, at least, when it comes to Yorkie care. Your dog's health and happiness also are dependent upon a well-care-for exterior--coat, ears, mouth and nails. It is imperative to start early with regular grooming, dental care, and nail clipping. trust me. Even as a trainer, I have a 5 month old Yorkshire Terrier that is just a toot when it comes to any of these things. You can give your Yorkie routine every-day care at home. And remember, we are just a phone call away, so never be afraid to call with a question or quick lesson. Also, don’t be afraid of the clippers, with some practice, you’ll be a pro in no time. It is always easier for me to explain grooming in person if possible, so give me a call for a session on grooming.
Regular brushing helps eliminate tangles and mats and helps your dog get accustomed to being handled. It also gives you the opportunity to check for ticks and fleas, lesions, lumps and changes in his skin and coat. Plus, if your yorkie is not comfortable with grooming, he’ll really give you or your groomer lots of problems. Pet-supply stores and catalogs sell a wide array of brushes for different coats and conditions. We are always glad to help with selection, etc. Bath time Thoroughly brush first. Place your dog in a tub or a basin with a nonskid surface. Hold your dog's collar firmly and slowly pour several pitchers of lukewarm water over his body, being careful to leave the head dry. Think of it like sink bathing your kiddos. They need a gentle hand and a constant eye. You CANNOT leave a dog unattended in the bath or on the grooming table. Soap your dog's body with a TEARLESS dog shampoo, then massage the soap into a lather, talking to your dog and praising him as you work. When his body is lathered, move to his head, being careful to keep shampoo out of his eyes, ears and mouth. Rinse and dry your dog's head, then rinse his body. When the water runs clear, Please rinse one more time just to be sure. Thoroughly dry your dog with towels. If your dog has healthy skin, you can dry him further with a hair dryer set on low or warm temperature. Ears must be dry inside as well, Yeast infections are a nasty business for Yorkies and tend to develop when the inside of the ears are not fully dried. Small Yorkshire Terriers need a bath at least every two or three weeks, except in the winter when twice a month probably will do. Larger Yorkshire Terriers need bathing a bit more often. Of course, always wash when he is dirty or smells, regardless of when it was last bathed. My dogs always look for the biggest pile of yuck to roll around in, yours will do the same. Always bathe after this type of thing as those yuck spots can be harboring deadly bacteria.
Proper foot care will keep your doggie dancing and help prevent unnecessary pain and infection later on. Most dogs don't like to have their feet handled, so go slowly--one paw at a time--and make foot handling a part of playtime. Remove mats of hair from between the toes and pads of dogs with hairy feet; if ignored, the mats can become as hard as rocks. Then, using scissors, trim the hair between the pads and between the toes so it is level with the dog's foot. Regular exercise on a hard surface may keep a dog's nails worn down. However, most Yorkshire Terriers will need to have their nails clipped every few weeks. If the nails are allowed to grow, they may curl inward into the skin and cause a painful infection. Use nail clippers designed specifically for dogs. One type, known as the guillotine style, has a round opening for the dog's nail and a blade that slides across to clip the nail. Another type works like a pair of scissors. This type puts less pressure on the nail and is more comfortable for the dog. Make sure the blades are sharp. Trim only the "hook" end of the nail. Clipping a nail to short can be painful and may cause bleeding. Frequent trimming of a small amount of nail always is better than waiting until the nail is long. Never trim into the quick -- the live portion of the nail. If the nail bleeds, apply pressure with a napkin and apply a dot of bleed stop.
Ear care generally is the easiest grooming task. Unless your dog has ear problems, ear cleaning needs to be done only every few weeks--at bath time is best. Clean the outermost area of your Yorkie’s ears with a cotton ball or cotton swab dampened with water or baby oil. To clean further inside the ears and soften and remove wax, use an ear- cleaning solution. Warm the bottle of solution between your palms, then squirt the prescribed amount into your dog's ear canal. Gently massage the base of his ear. Remove any dirt or wax with a dry cotton ball. Again, be mindful to dry the ear well…
Yorkshire Terriers: Socialization/Adjustment
Like children, puppies need a variety of positive experiences in order to become confident, well adjusted adults. As part of their upbringing, puppies should learn to get along with other dogs, children, and other people, and to accept the many strange sights, sounds, and experiences that are part of everyday life.)
Stages of Development:
We use a biosensory program to jump start the training process and improve trainability and development. Puppies pass through several developmental phases. Initial "dog socialization" begins in the litter. At seven to eight weeks, puppies start to become more independent and ready to explore their environment. Around eight to ten weeks, your Yorkshire Terrier will probably enter a fear period. During this period, you will notice that your yorkie sticks close to me when you visit and is easily frightened. Understand this stage does not indicate your dogs overall personality. We take the entire 15 week developmental stage to observe behavior. One visit will not provide an overall indication of personality. Please allow us to help with your selection if personality is important. That said, we are not pushy about this and will only advise if asked. Once the fear period passes, at around ten weeks of age, your yorkie will enter the juvenile phase. He will be more inquisitive and more wide ranging in his explorations. We really introduce the puppies to new experiences during this time! Please let us know early if your yorkie will be often exposed to travel, children, other pets, ect as we use this information to specifically prepare YOUR Yorkshire Terrier to your situation.
The juvenile period will last until your yorkie becomes a young adult. Watch your yorkie carefully, though; some pups go through a second fear period around their fourth or fifth month. When socializing your yorkie, you must keep his health needs in mind. Until your dog's vaccinations are complete, he is at risk of catching Parvo, a widespread and deadly disease. All puppies leave with at least two rounds of vacs unless the yorkie is being shipped. We use a vac schedule of 16 weeks for puppies being shipped and a vac schedule of 22 weeks if the yorkie is sold locally. You should be extremely careful not to put your Yorkshire Terrier puppy down in public places until his shots are complete. Consult your veterinarian for advice about what else may pose a health risk for your yorkie.
Getting Along With Other Dogs:
Yorkies have a language of their own. Using body posture, facial expressions, and vocalization, they communicate fear, anger, aggression, submission, playfulness, and more. A Yorkshire Terrier puppy who grows up among other dogs will learn canine language and be able to communicate effectively. A yorkie raised in isolation may misinterpret cues from other dogs, or inadvertently send signals that may anger another animal. Please be aware, a 2lb Yorkie will aggressively posture with dogs many times its size. It takes one bite and the “other” dog is not at fault. You are responsible for the signals your yorkie sends. Understand, dogs communicate by posturing so it is best to keep your dog on a leash when unfamiliar dogs are present. Also, I have had Yorkie females who will fight to the death when in season. Please be aware females will fight and you cannot be afraid to get in there and pull them apart. Also, like children, puppies need to learn appropriate social behavior. When puppies play, an overly enthusiastic nip will result in a yelp from another yorkie. Persistent jumping on "mom" may result in a growl or snap of rebuke. In these ways, puppies learn the limits of play behavior. You will have to take on the roll of “mom” in teaching your yorkie proper conduct. A good way to give your Yorkshire Terrier puppy these important learning experiences is through "puppy socialization classes." Look under Dog Trainers in your phone book, or ask your local dog club or veterinarian for recommendations. We also supply further dog socialization for our buyers. Although, our puppies generally receive 15 weeks of socialization, so most of that process is complete upon pick up of your yorkie. You may also be able to get together with other new dog owners to form a yorkie play group. During socialization, puppies should be allowed free play time.
Puppies should be supervised to make sure play doesn't become overly aggressive, especially if there's a big size difference among the dogs. Yorkshire Terrier puppy socialization with other dogs begins in the litter, and should continue (if possible) throughout the yorkie and juvenile growth stages. A well socialized yorkie will probably mature into a dog that can be trusted to meet and play with other dogs. If you find your yorkie becoming overly aggressive or overly afraid during play sessions, you should seek help from a professional dog trainer to make sure the behavior is corrected before it becomes a problem. Getting Along With Other Pets: For many dogs, interaction with other types of pets can be much more of a problem than dealing with other dogs. This is especially true with small animals that run away (behavior which can trigger "prey instincts" in the dog). It's best to not take a chance on allowing dogs of any breed to play with small animals such as hamsters or rabbits. All of our puppies are raised with kittens as we have a farm and seem to perpetually have a litter of kittens….In fact, I think I have supplied all of the farmers in our area with cats for their barns…. Anyway, we do try to expose the puppies on a regular basis to the kittens since this seems to help with the predatorial instinct Yorkies have. Remember, Yorkies were bred as “Mousers,” so they will find mice and moles or anything else that scurries about and catch them…. Cats and larger pets are usually less at risk. If you have these pets in your home, your Yorkie should be introduced to them at an early age. Supervise the animals when they are together, and use praise or treats to reward your Yorkshire Terrier puppy for good behavior. (Don't forget to make the experience pleasant for the other pet as well.) DUCK / water fowl FECAL MATTER is highly TOXIC to yorkie.
Getting Along With People:
Since dogs must live in a human world, it's important for them to deal well with people. Early, positive exposure to lots of strangers, with praise or rewards for good behavior, will help your yorkie grow up to become a well-behaved dog. Invite friends to your home to meet and play with your yorkie. Ask adults to crouch down and avoid sudden movements when meeting your yorkie... from the pup's point of view, a human is HUGE. If you don't have young children of your own, invite friends' or neighbors' children. We also routinely expose our yorkies to both younger and older children. (Be sure to instruct children in how to handle the yorkie, and always supervise play!) Puppies that are not raised around children can develop aggressive behavior toward children when they grow older. Small children, who tend to run around and make high-pitched squealing noises, frighten yorkies or prompt yorkies to growl and nip at them. As soon as your Yorkie’s shots are complete, begin taking him to public places such as parks, where he can meet lots of friendly people. Also, make a point of introducing your dog to people of different ages and races, people in uniforms, and so on; dogs may become very wary when confronted with people who seem "unusual" in any way. It's important to remember that you are teaching your Yorkshire Terrier puppy to be comfortable with people, and to behave himself around them. Behavior that seems cute in a yorkie, such as nipping and jumping, is no longer cute when the dog is an adult! Whatever you don't want your dog to do as an adult, he should not be allowed to do as a puppy. Teach the yorkie the behavior you want, and discourage the behavior you don't want. Gently but firmly correct unwanted behavior right from the start, and you'll have a well-behaved adult dog. Your well-socialized dog can still be a good watchdog. Your dog is smart enough to distinguish between people who you welcome into your home, and people who should not be there. Your Yorkshire Terrier puppy will also be keen to noises before you hear them generally altering you if properly taught. I have two girls that will alter with a nudge and never make a sound. Barking is not the only way dogs communicate.
Dealing With New Experiences:
Everyday experiences can be very frightening for your Yorkie. A pan dropped in the kitchen, a vacuum cleaner, or a ride in the car can become traumatic events that the dog will try to avoid forever after. To prevent this, introduce your dog to as many new experiences as you can think of. Use rewards and encouragement to make the experiences positive, so your dog doesn't develop fears. (Remember to keep new experiences very non-threatening, and avoid startling the yorkie) For example, to accustom your yorkie to a vacuum cleaner, first allow him to explore and sniff it without turning it on. Praise him or reward him as he explores. Then, when your yorkie is a comfortable distance away, you may start up your vacuum cleaner, stand near it, and call your yorkie. If he approaches, encourage him and praise him, or give him a reward. Gradually encourage the yorkie to come closer to the vacuum. Repeat this experience several times, with lots of praise and rewards, and your Yorkshire Terrier puppy will soon have no fear of the vacuum. Never allow your children to tease your Yorkshire Terrier puppy with vacuums, brooms, etc. To get your yorkie used to riding in a car, first get in the car with him and play with him, or give him a reward. On the next "outing," drive a few yards while someone holds your yorkie and praises him. Work up to drives of a few minutes; keep them short so your yorkie won't get sick. Afterwards, play with your yorkie so he associates the car ride with a pleasant experience. Let me digress here for just one moment on this subject…. Most deaths in small dogs who are allowed to ride in cars are cause by either being slammed in a door or being accidentally run over. If you are going to allow your Yorkshire Terrier puppy to ride, as we do, always always always secure your dog prior to cranking the car or shutting doors. Also, crate your dog prior to leaving if she is not taking the trip to insure he doesn’t scurry out without being seen. Hurting your pet with negligence is incredibly devastating, so do be careful. If you have children, please make sure they are aware of the dangers that lurk in the driveway (for them a well, btw). Other experiences to work on with your Yorkie include getting into his crate or kennel, walking on a leash, walking on different surfaces (such as tile, carpet, gravel, sand, grass, and snow), climbing steps, and hearing the doorbell and telephone ring. You can use the same approach to accustom your yorkie to experiences that might otherwise be ordeals for both of you! Try the reward approach when brushing your yorkie, giving him a bath, and clipping his nails. You should also teach your yorkie to let you handle his paws, his ears, his tail, and even open his mouth without a struggle. (Remember, start with very short sessions and use praise, play, or rewards to keep the experience fun.) This basic groundwork with your Yorkshire Terrier puppy will make life much easier when your vet needs to examine him! Keep new experiences upbeat and positive, and your dog will soon be a confident and happy companion. Please Contact us for Recommended Readings and further information on training…. Tips for Housetraining Puppies Housetraining As with most things in life, there are hard ways and there are easy ways to get things done. Rubbing a Yorkie’s nose in a mess is an inappropriate way to housetrain. This method DOES NOT teach anything. The dog has no idea what you are doing. Trust me, I grew up in the business and have seen things done “the old way.” Didn’t work then and doesn’t work now…. I will not sell a dog if I even get a hint the potential buyers doesn’t understand the problem with this kind of negative reinforcement. Using ample amounts of supervision and positive reinforcement is the easy way. Yorkies can be hard to potty train, Every potential Yorkshire Terrier puppy owner needs to know that. NEVER, NEVER believe “15 week old puppies trained to paper or yorkie pads” That is absolutely impossible… It may take several months for a small breed to be completely trained as their bladder is the size of a small lima bean. Almost 100% of the time, breeders who say puppies are paper broken by 15 weeks or using a pet door are grossly over exaggerating and setting you up for unreal expectations……. I’ve been working with these dogs for many years…. I actively train my puppies every day, even using biosensor training from the first few days of life. I have NEVER had a Yorkshire Terrier puppy trained by 15 weeks!
Starting Off On the Right Track:
The first course of action in housetraining is to promote the desired behavior. You need to:
• Designate an appropriate elimination area outdoors (same place every time) • Frequently guide your dog there to do his business and give him your command (time to potty, etc)
• Heartily praise him when he goes By occasionally giving a food reward immediately after your dog finishes, you can encourage him to eliminate in the desired area. The odor left from previous visits to that area will quickly mark it as the place for the pup to do his business. Timing Is Important! A 15-week old should be taken outdoors every one to three hours. Older puppies can generally wait longer between outings. Most puppies should be taken out:
• After waking in the morning
• After naps
• After meals
• After playing or training
• After being left alone
• Immediately before being put to bed
• At least one time during the night Feeding Schedules Most puppies will eliminate within an hour after eating. Once you take control of your Yorkie’s feeding schedule, you will have some control over when he needs to eliminate.
• Schedule your Yorkie’s meal times so that you will be available to let him out after eating.
• Avoid giving your yorkie a large meal just prior to confining him or he may have to eliminate when you are not around to take him out. Schedule feeding two to three times daily on a consistent schedule.
• Have food available for only 30 to 40 minutes, then remove it. (this is recommended, but may not be possible depending on your daily schedule. Puppies cannot go without food from morning until you come in from work. Please schedule accordingly.
• The last feeding of the day should be completed several hours before he is confined for the night. By controlling the feeding schedule, exercise sessions, confinement periods, and trips outdoors to the elimination area, your Yorkshire Terrier puppy will quickly develop a reliable schedule for eliminating. Expect Some Mistakes Left on his own, the untrained yorkie is very likely to make a mistake. Close supervision is a very important part of training. Do not consider your yorkie housetrained until he has gone at least four consecutive weeks without eliminating in the house. For older dogs, this period should be even longer.
Until properly trained:
• Your yorkie should constantly be within eyesight
• Baby gates can be helpful to control movement throughout the house and to aid supervision
• Keep them in the crate when unsupervised. When you are away from home, sleeping, or if you are just too busy to closely monitor your pet's activities (which are all ok, so don’t feel guilty), confine him to a small, safe area in the home. Nervous Wetting If your Yorkie squats and urinates when he greets you, he may have a problem called submissive urination. Dogs and puppies that urinate during greetings are very sensitive and should never be scolded when they do this, since punishment inevitably makes the problem worse. Most young puppies will grow out of this behavior if you are calm, quiet, and avoid reaching toward the head during greetings. Another helpful approach is to calmly ask your dog to sit for a very tasty treat each time someone greets him. Direct Him Away from Problem Areas Urine and fecal odor should be thoroughly removed to keep your dog from returning to areas of the home where he made a mess.
• Be sure to use a good commercial product like Nature’s miracle available at pet’s mart or online to control doggy odors and to discourage “those favorite spots” they tend to find under your bed. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for usage.
• If a carpeted area has been soaked with urine, be sure to saturate it with the clean up product and not merely spray the surface.
• Rooms in the home where your dog has had frequent mistakes should be closed off for several months. He should only be allowed to enter when accompanied by a family member. Don't Make Things Worse! It is a rare puppy that can be housetrained without making an occasional mess, so you need to be ready to handle the inevitable problems.
• Do not rely on harsh punishment to correct mistakes. This approach usually does not work, and may actually delay training.
• An appropriate correction consists of simply providing a moderate, startling distraction. You should only do this when you see your dog in the act of eliminating in the wrong place.
• A sharp noise, such as a loud "No" or a quick stomp on the floor, is all that is usually needed to stop the behavior. Just do not be too loud or your pet may learn to avoid eliminating in front of you, even outdoors. Practice Patience. Do not continue to scold or correct your dog after he has stopped soiling. When he stops, quickly take him outdoors so that he will finish in the appropriate area and be praised. Never rub your dog's nose in a mess. I’m saying this again incase you missed the first time. There is absolutely no way this will help training, and may actually make him afraid of you. This is one of the most important parts of our questioning process for new buyers. We don’t always come out and ask straight away, but we do get a read sense of buyers throughout the process.
Ill treatment happens the very most with regard to accidents. If you can’t handle them, puppies and kids are not for you. I’m not trying to be astute with this comment; however, I really have a problem with people blaming their pets or kids for poor potty training. It is all about your routine and consistency. The basic principles of housetraining and training are pretty simple, but a fair amount of patience is required. The most challenging part is always keeping an eye on your active dog or yorkie. If you maintain control, take your dog outdoors frequently, and consistently praise the desirable behavior, soon you should have a house trained Yorkies.
Crate training:
Training a Yorkshire Terrier puppy to be comfortable in a crate is a popular way to provide safe confinement during housetraining. The majority of puppies will rapidly accept crate confinement when you make the introduction fun. Since it is important to associate favorable things with the area where your is confined, it is a good idea to play with him there, or simply spend some time reading or watching television nearby as he relaxes with a favorite chew toy. If he is only in the area when you leave, it becomes a social isolation area that he eventually may resist entering. Our dogs love their crates. When the kids are getting on their nerves, they head straight to their crate to relax. We rarely have to close a crate door for confinement. Store his toys in his crate so he will enter on his own to play. You may even want to occasionally hide a treat in the crate as a nice surprise. Our crates are never associated with “punishment.” Without exception, our dogs and puppies can be sent to their crates with the door remaining open when told to “go to your room.” They know immediately that the behavior exhibited is inappropriate and must have a “time out” period. After a few minutes, we call them out and give them positive reinforcement. Sometimes they “peek” out to see if they are still in trouble. You should not use the crate for periods that exceed the length of time the pet can actually control the urge to urinate or defecate. If you are gone for long periods each day, you will need to provide a larger confinement area. You may want to consider using an exercise pen or small room. We use exercise pens from www.digitpet.com. We use the 36” black with walk through gate.
Taking Care of Your ’s Health and Finding a Veterinarian:
Just like you, your new Yorkshire Terrier puppy needs high-quality health care on a regular basis. If you are local, we generally suggest you use our vet since he is familiar with your specific yorkie. If you are not, ask a number of friends and your local humane society to recommend a veterinarian, then choose one with these factors in mind:
• Education and experience. Find out how long the veterinarian has been practicing and if he or she is a graduate of a well-regarded veterinary college.
• Specialty. In urban areas, it may be possible to find veterinarians who deal exclusively with the special problems of dogs and cats. • Location. This factor should not override the areas of education, experience and specialty, but should nevertheless be taken into consideration. A drive across town during a medical emergency can be frustrating and delay needed treatment. Spaying and Neutering Spaying or neutering your new Yorkshire Terrier puppy is the right thing to do if you're not planning on breeding. For most pet owners, the expense, time and expertise involved in breeding dogs responsibly is beyond their reach. Here are some advantages to having your yorkie spayed or neutered:
• For females, there is no mess to deal with during their 21-day heat cycles, which occur every six months—the heat cycle begins in females sometime after six months of age.
• Spaying a female before her first heat cycle will reduce the chance of mammary tumors or uterine diseases.
• Neutered males tend to be less aggressive than unneutered males.
• With a neutered male, the urge to mark territory may lessen.
• A neutered male is less likely to want to roam in search of potential mates. When to spay or neuter Dogs should be spayed or neutered by the time they are six months old. Both operations are performed under anesthesia and may require an overnight stay at the veterinarian's office. Recovery time is quick, with most dogs resuming normal activity in a few days. Spaying (for females) consists of an ovario-hysterectomy. Neutering involves the removal of the testicles. Chewing: Puppies and Dogs Chewing is a very normal behavior for puppies and dogs. They use their mouths for grasping food, gaining information about the environment, relieving boredom, and reducing tension. Chewing appears to be great fun. However, chewing could become a major problem when valued objects are damaged.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR YORKIE’S WORLD:
Puppies usually pass time or break the boredom by using their mouths, which may result in destructive behavior. Household destruction occurs because puppies are simply entertaining themselves. Sometimes we unwittingly contribute to a yorkie's problem by improper training. Puppies are unable to determine the difference between old shoes and new shoes, or between stuffed toys and the corner of a stuffed couch. Likewise, tug-of- war games can set the yorkie up to fail. A Yorkshire Terrier puppy entertained by tearing a towel is tempted to attack curtains fluttering in a breeze.
• Choose a variety of good quality, safe products. When your yorkie shows you what he likes, buy several more of the same type.
• Hollow rubber toys work well since biscuits can be wedged inside for your yorkie to pry out. This gives him a job to do and helps keep his focus away from your possessions.
• Another way of keeping your yorkie focused on putting his mouth on the toys is to teach him to play fetch.
• Never take proper chewing for granted. Take an active roll in rewarding desirable chewing with lots of encouragement and praise.
• Give your pet plenty of praise every time he chews on his toys. Occasionally give a small reward to strongly reinforce the behavior.
PROTECTING YOUR POSSESSIONS!
Until you can trust your yorkie, he must be under constant supervision or confined to a safe area. During times when he is with you, he might sneak off by himself to chew. Consider using a leash to keep him within eyesight. A crate, dog run, or safe room will keep him out of trouble when he cannot be watched. Rowdy will find every accessible sock in the house and pile them at the back door when we leave if he is not secured. Again, good example of spoiling you dogs. Everyone thinks it is cute except me since I have to pick them up, find the matches, etc.
Working with your Yorkshire Terrier puppy is enjoyable and worthwhile. You will develop a rewarding bond with your yorkie and an activity you can do together even after the dog is grown. An untrained dog can be a pest, a problem and a even a danger. A well-trained dog is a good friend and an asset to his family and community.
**This is a combination of our unique experiences with training and working with dogs over a lifetime as well as basic information provided by various sources. Please do not reproduce this without express written permission. Southeast Texas Yorkies All rights reserved Copyright 2008
