Training your Yorkie can be both a fun and rewarding experience. These small, energetic dogs are highly intelligent, but they also have a stubborn streak. Using positive reinforcement and a little patience, you can teach them essential commands while strengthening your bond. Let’s break down the process for housebreaking and some of the basic commands like "sit," "stay," and "come."
Housebreaking Your Yorkie
Housebreaking is often the first step in training your Yorkie. Yorkies can be more challenging to potty train than larger breeds due to their small size and sometimes picky habits. However, consistency and patience are key.
Establish a Schedule: Take your Yorkie outside at the same times every day—first thing in the morning, after meals, and before bed are common times. By sticking to a consistent routine, your Yorkie will begin to understand when and where to go potty.
Use Positive Reinforcement: When your Yorkie successfully uses the bathroom outside, immediately reward them with praise, treats, or a favorite toy. This will help them associate going outside with something positive. Avoid punishment for accidents indoors, as this can create confusion and fear.
Crate Training: Crate training can be highly effective for housebreaking. Dogs naturally avoid soiling their sleeping areas, so using a crate (appropriately sized, not too big or too small) can help teach your Yorkie bladder control.
Teaching Basic Commands
Once your Yorkie understands the basics of housebreaking, you can start introducing basic obedience commands. These commands are essential for your dog's safety and ensure that they understand how to behave in different environments.
Sit: Start by holding a treat close to your Yorkie’s nose. Slowly move your hand upward, causing their head to follow the treat and their bottom to lower. Once they're sitting, say the word "sit," and give them the treat. Practice this several times a day, and eventually, they will sit on command without needing the treat.
Stay: Once your Yorkie understands "sit," you can introduce "stay." Have them sit, then show them the palm of your hand as you say "stay." Take a step back. If they remain in place, reward them immediately. Start with small steps and gradually increase the distance and duration they stay in place. Consistency is crucial, so practice daily.
Come: Teaching "come" is important for your Yorkie's safety, especially when you're outside. Start indoors in a safe, enclosed space. Get down to their level and say "come" in a positive tone while gently pulling them toward you with a leash. When they come to you, reward them with treats and praise. Once they master it indoors, you can begin practicing in more distracting environments.
Positive Reinforcement
Yorkies respond best to positive reinforcement methods. This includes using treats, toys, or verbal praise to reward good behavior. Avoid punishment-based training methods as Yorkies can be sensitive, and negative reinforcement can cause them to become anxious or fearful. Instead, focus on reinforcing the behaviors you want, and be patient as they learn.
Keep Sessions Short: Yorkies, like most dogs, have short attention spans. Training sessions should be 5-10 minutes long and filled with fun. Ending on a positive note keeps your dog motivated to learn next time.
Be Consistent: Make sure everyone in your household is using the same commands and rewards. Consistency will prevent confusion for your Yorkie, ensuring they learn faster and more effectively.
Advanced Training
Once your Yorkie has mastered the basics, you can start introducing more advanced commands or tricks like "roll over," "fetch," or "heel." Training your Yorkie can be a lifelong process, but the foundation you build through basic commands will make future training easier and more enjoyable.
Final Thoughts
Training your Yorkie can be both a bonding experience and a way to ensure your dog is well-mannered in various situations. Whether you’re focusing on housebreaking, teaching commands like "sit" or "stay," or even moving into advanced tricks, the key is patience, consistency, and lots of positive reinforcement. Yorkies are eager to please, and with the right training methods, you’ll have a well-behaved companion who’s happy to learn.
Written with love by Heather, proud owner of Setareh Yorkies. 🐾💖
For more adorable Yorkie updates, tips, and everything in between, visit us at Setareh Yorkies and be sure to follow our Yorkie adventures on Instagram @setarehyorkies. We can't wait to connect with you and share our love for these sweet pups!
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