How to Properly Train Your Yorkie

Yorkies are small dogs with big personalities. A lot of small dog owners think that training isn't as important because, even if their dog acts out, it still can't do much damage. However, a properly trained dog is a happy and healthy dog – and you'll be much happier that way too. Training your Yorkie means that you'll get to enjoy walks in the park, cuddles, and creating a meaningful bond with your dog. It can sometimes seem a bit daunting when you first start out, however, there are a few steps you can take to ensure you're training your new pet the right way.

1. Breed Characteristics

Of course, every dog has its individual personality. However, learning about general breed characteristics can help you determine what to focus on when you first start out the training sessions. Yorkies have a bit of a reputation for themselves – they can sometimes be aggressive, especially towards other dogs. Does that mean every Yorkie is aggressive? No, of course not. That said, it does mean that there's a possibility that your dog might develop aggression if not properly trained. Other characteristics to keep in mind when it comes to Yorkies include how they can be stubborn, curious, and sharp. While smart dogs tend to understand commands better, they also know how to get their own way if they're not properly trained.

2. Basic Commands

Sit, stay, no, stop, come. These are the five basic commands your dog needs to start learning from the start. Of course, if your Yorkie is still just a puppy, make sure that your training sessions don't last for longer than 15 minutes at a time. Just like small children, puppies don't have a wide span of attention, and insisting on long training sessions will only make everyone involved in it feel frustrated. The reason it's a good idea to teach your Yorkie these basic commands is because they're the foundation for more advanced training. Apart from that, once your dog reaches a stage where he'll listen to them at least 9 out of 10 times, you can feel more confident that you'll have better control when going on walks, or playing at the dog park.

3. Establishing Authority

The thing about Yorkies is that they can be pretty scrappy. This means that – if an owner doesn't exercise authority over them, or establish dominance early on – they might start to feel like the leader of the pack. Dogs will never listen to other dogs in this sense (well, unless it's another dog asserting dominance), and thinking they're the top dog can lead to other problems. This is why it's important to establish authority early on, even if your Yorkie isn't showing any signs of aggression yet. By establishing authority over them, you'll be setting up a good foundation for future training sessions. More than that though, most dogs don't actually want to be in charge. Putting them in that position could cause them unnecessary stress and even anxiety – and that can sometimes lead to unwanted behavior as well. Besides working on developing a bond with your dog, and putting time and effort into training them, you also need to recognize potentially unsafe situations and handle them before they become a problem. That way, you'll not only enforce boundaries for proper behavior, but your dog will also learn to lean on you if it ever feels endangered, instead of trying to deal with it on its own.

4. Socialization And Training

Socialization is the process of exposing your dog to people, other pets, and different environments. This is an important part of training since it helps them become used to new experiences without getting too overwhelmed or anxious about them. You should start doing this as early as possible, or in other words, once your dog gets all the necessary shots. Socialization should be done one step at a time. For example, if your dog didn't have much interaction with other dogs, you probably don't want your first step to being bringing him to a busy dog park. Instead, try setting up playdates with just one or two other dogs, and slowly move on from there. The same goes for introducing any other kind of new experience.

5. Desensitization

Similar to socialization, desensitization means you're exposing your dog to different people, dogs, other pets, items, and sounds. However, instead of exposing them to new things, you're putting them in a highly controlled situation where they'll face something that instigates negative behavior in them. Whether that's fear, frustration, aggression, or separation anxiety, taking small and controlled steps to desensitize your dog to these things will help them get used to them without being overwhelmed. This is an important part of training if your dog does have any issues that might be triggered by new experiences or stimuli. You can then slowly expose them to the exact same situation in a completely different way, which really helps build up their courage and reinforces positive behavior patterns.

Yorkies are generally on the more intelligent side, but they're also tiny dogs that can easily feel threatened or intimidated. Because of this, it's important to train them well and socialize them early on in order to make sure everyone feels safe and happy at the dog park. The best way to do that is by teaching your Yorkie basic obedience, establishing authority early on, and exposing them to new experiences in a controlled environment. This way, your dog will learn to respect you and feel safe around others too.