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My wife has a little Yorkie. He’s eighteen months old and his name is Monty. We got him as a puppy last year and he wasn’t a barker, which was great as Yorkies certainly can be somewhat yappy.

However, just a few months ago things changed – if he heard any noise outside, he started barking. We live in a very quiet street and any external traffic is usually audible. Certainly, it’s not all bad. For example, if someone attempts to enter your house then a little advance warning is very definitely welcome. Annoyingly, Monty kept barking for some time after the “threat” disappeared. It started to get annoying pretty rapidly.

Luckily for us, one of my wife’s friends had encountered a similar problem with her own dog and was able to advise how she had remedied her problem. Acting upon her advice, my wife decided to treat the problem before we all went insane – or Monty met with an premature end. She got a bottle of mineral water – the type with the “sports” type cap. Whenever Monty started barking at some external threat, real or imagined, she splashed a small amount of water on him, said that he was naughty and shook the bottle in his face. She didn’t raise her voice to him. He was firmly but quietly ticked off.

As it transpired, she only had to actually splash him two or three times at most. After that she just shook an empty bottle at him and squeezed it so that it made a crumpling noise. That was more than enough for Monty. It took only three days to produce a noticable reduction in his barking. After a week of this conditioning Monty’s barking problem was fully cured.

The added bonus was that Monty’s therapy was not only extremely effective, but also selective. External noises no longer trigger a prolonged barking session – but if anyone comes to the front door, or the doorbell rings, he still barks. I’m quite confident that my wife could eliminate this barking if she wanted, by using precisely the same technique – but we don’t mind it, especially bearing in mind that he doesn’t keep up the barking after the initial stimulus has been investigated.

So, if your dog is a problem barker, you might want to try the water bottle treatment. It’s not unkind to the dog and it appears to be effective and fast acting. There are other ways to stop your dog barking of course, but this one is well worth a try in the first instance.

 

Yorkie Dogs Video

The Yorkshire Terrier makes a wonderful companion for most people, as they are loyal, friendly and amusing to be around.

General Appearance and Description

Yorkies are popular with people who enjoy being able to take their dogs with them everywhere.

It’s believed that the Yorkshire Terrier was originally a much bigger animal than the tiny dog that’s so popular today. Likely there was a bit of selective breeding that went on and the dog gradually become smaller and smaller through the years. The first Yorkie who looked like the dog we know today was introduced at a dog show in 1870.

The Yorkie has a long, fine silky coat that is very straight and falls straight down from the spine on each side. Yorkie puppies are usually tan and black, while adult dogs are mostly steel blue on the tail and body and tan everywhere else.

Most owners who are not showing their Yorkies will keep the hair long and shaggy, but if the dog is being shown, his hair will be clipped shorter and given more form and structure.

The hair on the top of the head gets very long, so most owners will pull it back into a distinctive ponytail on the top of the head, while others will clip the top hairs so they stay out of the dog’s face.

Yorkshire Terrier breeders will tell you that there’s no true Teacup Yorkshire Terrier. All Yorkshire Terriers are small and the teacup is not an official designation at all.

Basic Temperament

Yorkie dogs are entertaining for many reasons but one favorite character trait of many owners is the dog’s obliviousness to his size. He thinks he’s a bigger dog and will enjoy any adventure that a larger dog might enjoy.

Always energetic, the Yorkie is brave, extremely loyal to his owner and clever. He’s intelligent and a willing companion on any adventure.

Because he’s somewhat dismissive of his tiny size, the Yorkie will be willing to take on any challenge, and sees himself as a watchdog. He generally does a fine job of it, but his size ensures that he’s not a terribly good match for whatever walks through the front door.

Like most small dogs, the Yorkie needs clear leadership. You must lead the Yorkie with a firm but gentle hand.

If you establish that you are the leader of the pack, the Yorkie will submit to that, but if you don’t, he will exhibit troubling behavior problems like jealousy, aggression, barking, snapping and separation anxiety.

Care Required

All that fur means that some grooming is essential. The Yorkie’s coat needs to be combed or brushed at least weekly. If you keep the long hair on the top of the head tied back, you should replace the elastic or ribbon weekly.

The Yorkie develops plaque easily on his teeth, so they should be cleaned regularly.

Good for allergy sufferers, the Yorkie sheds little.

When looking at know more about Yorkshire terriers, read and learn as much as you can because this is truly a fascinating little dog.

Exercise Requirements

While he might not be able to walk too far, the Yorkie likes s a daily walk, as well as regular play (but you should never substitute play for the daily walk). If you don’t give your dog a daily walk, he will be more likely to display behavior problems.

If you notice that your dog is running around the house in a bit of a crazy fashion, that’s a sign that he needs more exercise than he’s getting.

When you do take him out, be cautious of the conditions outside. Yorkshire Terriers are very sensitive to cold and prefer warm areas, as in warm climates, or simply being indoors on a cold day.

The Yorkshire Terrier is truly a very special dog.

Training

The Yorkie is easy to train, but he can be stubborn, so be sure to establish yourself as the pack leader and give him clear boundaries when you’re training him. That will pay dividends when you try to train him.

Some Yorkie dogs can be hard to housetrain.

Height and Weight

The Yorkie will be about 6 to 7 inches tall and will weigh right around 7 pounds.

Health and Longevity

While most Yorkies live long healthy lives, they do run the risk of a few health problems.

Most Yorkies suffer poor digestion and the owner should avoid giving too many special treats. Yorkshire Terriers should also be given dry food only, because they run the risk of serious tooth decay and dry food keeps their teeth strong and sharp.

Yorkie dogs can also run the risk of bronchitis; fragile bones can easily lead to fractures.

Most Yorkies will live to be approximately 12 to 15 years old.

Suitability

If you have an apartment, the Yorkie is an excellent choice. They enjoy being indoors and will find their activity inside happily.

Because the Yorkie considers himself a companion pet, he enjoys senior citizens and people who will be happy to take him on adventures. If possible, he should not be placed in a house with young children who might be a little too rough with him.

Yorkies can make surprisingly adequate watchdogs.

More Information

More information about the Yorkshire Terrier can be found here.

Yorkshire Terriers are known for their compact and athletic builds. The Yorkie has a flat head with a dark nose and short muzzle. Their average weight is about 7-8 pounds and their height between 6 and 8 inches. Although Intelligent, the yorkshire terrier can be a stubborn character. A Yorkshire Terriers lifespan is usually in the range of 13-17 years! Don’t let their tiny stature fool you as they have the heart of a Lion.

Yorkshire Terriers are some of the most loveable dogs you will have the opportunity to own. They have an upbeat and energetic nature to handle but it doesn’t stop them from being a marvellous companion. Yorkshire Terriers soon become part of the family, being  a small, cute and adorable dogbreed probably has a lot to do with it.

Even though a Yorkshire Terrier can be quite stubborn they are easy to train if you go about it the right way. Keeping the training happy and fun is a great way to get through to Yorkies. Terriers in general have a streak of independence that is best countered using treats, toys, and a sense of fun and play during training. Being very intelligent they soon recognise different commands and are a joy to teach.

A family life is second nature to a Yorkshire Terrier, they are sociable and just love being the centre of attention. Terriers are extremely fun, energetic dogs that also love to lounge on your lap and they make excellent companions. Yorkies are a natural watchdog and they also seek and require a lot of attention. Mixing with other animals in the family is not usually a problem and they get on very well with cats and other dogs.

Yorkshire Terriers are picky eaters so trying to find the right food can be a challenge as they can be stubborn and refuse to eat mixed foods or anything not to their taste. They tend to be picky eaters with small appetites so keep your eye on them and try to stick to two hearty meals a day. Yorkie puppies should eat 3-4 times per day, but because of their small appetites they are susceptible to hypoglycaemia, which usually doesn’t last into adulthood.

Yorkies can be susceptible to problems with their teeth, in some cases early tooth decay. Grooming instructions for the Yorkie often include details on brushing the teeth and other tooth care. Don’t let the size of a Yorkie fool you, grooming them can be a bigger job than first appears. Yorkshire Terriers are also popular pets for people who have suffered from pet allergies, as their coat is virtually non-shedding.

If you are looking for a small dog that has tons of character to fit in to your family life then you need look no further than the cute, loveable and adorable companion that goes by the name of Yorkshire Terrier.

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