How to Train a Yorkshire Terrier

Today I want to talk about how to train a Yorkshire Terrier (aka Yorkie). I’ve decided to tackle certain dog breeds and you will see many more how to train a dog posts that address certain dog breeds. The Yorkshire Terrier is a fantastic small dog with a lot of great qualities. In fact they have consistently made the list of top ten most popular dogs registered by American Kennel Club and currently hold second place.

A Note about Yorkshire Terriers in General

You’ll often hear dog breeders advertising Teacup, Mini, or Teenie Yorkies. Just keep in mind that essentially all these size variations are the same and when it comes to learning how to train a Yorkshire Terrier, size doesn’t matter. The only thing that I would watch out for is that extra small Yorkies may have or be more susceptible to more health issues. First of all, tiny dogs are easily injures but also seem to have more issues in terms of diarrhea and vomiting. They can also have problems with anesthetics. Many proffesiional dog trainers recommend Yorkshire Terriers in the range of 4 to 7 lbs.

Brief History of the Yorkshire Terrier

Before I get into training a Yorkshire Terrier, let’s talk a bit about this breed's profile. The Yorkshire Terrier was developed in England as mainly a small vermin hunter, a role in which they excelled at. In terms of the actual breed origins, it is unsure exactly which dogs were bred to create the Yorkie but it is believed that the Sky Terrier, Waterside Terrier, and Maltese among others helped create the Yorkshire Terrier.

Yorkshire Terrier Appearance

Although the Yokie is small dog, it is a terrier which means they have a big and often dominant personality. These dogs are athletic and muscular and despite their size, you need to learn how to train a Yorkshire Terrier to avoid problems with this breed as adults. Their eyes show a ton of expression and intelligence. Yorkies have a long silky coat but contrary to popular belief they shed very little. So other then the dog training aspect, this breed may be a good choice for individuals with allergies. Their coat does require some grooming and brushing to keep it shiny and healthy.

The Yorkshire Terrier Temperament

Yorkies are great dogs with awesome temperaments. Be forewarned however that this is a terrier breed which is extremely active and intelligent. If you are considering this dog as a companion then learning how to train a Yorkshire Terrier should be at the top of your list. Without proper dog training and socialization Yorkies can become aloof, suspicious and even snappy with other people and dogs. Socialize and train these dogs early and you will reap the benefits. Obviously, as a small dog, they don’t make great guard dogs but excel as watchdogs. If someone approaches, you will hear about it.

How to Groom a Yorkshire Terrier

The Yorkie’s coat is smooth and silky. Young puppies are born with a black and tan coat that is usually darker that what their coat will be when they are older. The single coat is easy to groom but does require some time and needs to be brushed on a regular basis. This breeds ears are erect but if you don’t trim the top of the ears every few weeks, then their ears will fall down as they get older from the weight of the hair. Some Yorkies need professional dog groomers to maintain their coat.

How to Train a Yorkshire Terrier

Training a Yorkshire Terrier is similar to training a dog of a different breed. One thing to keep in mind is that there are two main reasons why Yorkshire Terriers end up in shelters. The first is due to excessive barking (despite the Yorkie’s small size you’d be surprised how loud their bark can be) and the other is potty training the Yorkshire Terrier.

Yorkies want nothing more then to please their owners and do best in a training environment with plenty of encouragement, repetition and positive reinforcement. The one thing you’ll notice when training a Yorkshire Terrier is their rather quick response to obedience training. Learning how to train a Yorkshire Terrier to sit, stay, fetch and come and be done in a reasonable time frame. In terms of potty training or toilet training they can be a bit more stubborn and do require some patience and consistency.

How to Train a Yorkshire Terrier – Some More Tips

1. Understand your breed’s personality. This dog has a mind of it’s own and although they are quick to learn, if they decide to ignore you then you’re out of luck. Keep your training sessions fun to keep their attention on you. Stop the dog training session if your dog loses interest.

2. When training your Yorkshire Terrier try to keep distractions to a minimal. This means no other animals or people around and only focus on one command per training sessions. Later when your dog begins to learning some of the training commands, you can slowly introduce distractions during the training.

3. Positive reinforcement works best. When you are learning how to train a Yorkshire Terrier use lots of treats and toys. Verbal praise also works great with these dogs as they love the attention.

4. Learning how to potty train a Yorkshire Terrier dog can be a challenge. Start from the moment you get home. Take her outside shortly after eating and drinking and offer a ton of praise when they finish their business. Also remember not to punish your Yorkie if he makes a mistake. Remember… when training a dog, positive reinforcement works best.

5. The Yorkshire Terrier is a dog! I know this sounds funny but you’d be surprised how many people treat small dog breed more like babies than dogs. If you spoil and pamper them too much they will become more of a problem in the long run. If you understand that you need to learn how to train a Yorkshire Terrier just like you would any other larger dog, then you’re off to a great start.

How to Potty Train a Yorkshire Terrier

The key to potty training a Yorkshire Terrier is similar to training others breeds. First, don’t expect a perfect potty training routine. Remember that young puppies can only hold their bladder for an hour for every one month they are alive until they are about 6 to 8 months. So don’t expect no mistakes from the beginning. My personal recommendation for potty training a Yorkshire Terrier is crate training. In terms of the actual potty training you can read my article on how to potty train a small dog. I don’t want to rehash or the info but you will find a lot of great dog training tips and techniques.

If you are planning to use some newspaper or puppy pads when potty training a Yorkshire Terrier I suggest you place an object such as a large coffee can so you’re dog will eliminate in that area. This technique works especially well for male dogs that lift their leg to eliminate. The coffee can will serve a reference point for your dog.

I'd also like to notes that the articles found on this blog (ie. how to train a dog to sit, how to train a dog to come etc.) can be used to train a Yorkie so I encourage you to read them. Thank you for reading my rambling post about how to train a Yorkshire Terrier and stay tuned for some more great posts.

Berto