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Posts Tagged ‘yorkshire terriers’

My wife has a little Yorkie. He’s a year and a half old and is called 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. If an intruder tries to enter your property for example, then a little advance warning is a good thing. Unfortunately, Monty kept on barking for quite some time after the “threat” disappeared. It became annoying rather quickly.

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. Based upon her advice, my wife decided that she was going to fix the problem before we all went mad – or Monty met with an untimely end. The approach she adopted was to get a bottle of mineral water – one of those 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 told off firmly but quietly.

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 good enough for Monty. There was a marked reduction in his barking after just three days. After a week of this treatment the barking was pretty much a thing of the past.

The added bonus was that Monty’s therapy was not only extremely effective, but also selective. Noises from outside no longer initiate a prolonged bout of barking – but if anyone comes to the door, or if the doorbell rings, he still barks. I’m pretty sure that my wife could stop this barking as well, using exactly the same technique – but we don’t think it’s such a bad thing, especially when you consider that he doesn’t go on barking once the initial stimulus has been checked out to his satisfaction.

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 Dog 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 some selective breeding that went on and the dog gradually become smaller over 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 shown, his hair will be clipped shorter and given more 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 is 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 the teeth, so they should be cleaned regularly.

Good for allergy sufferers, the Yorkie sheds little.

When looking at know more about Yorkie dogs, read and learn as much as you can because this is truly a incredible 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 of a walk than he’s currently 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 lives, they do run the risk of several health problems.

Most Yorkies suffer poor digestion and the owner should avoid giving too many special treats. Yorkshire Terriers should 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 others 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

Further information about the Yorkshire Terrier can be found here.

Yorkies are renowned the world over for their athletic yet compact frames. Yorkies have 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. They are an intelligent dog breed, but they can also be a little stubborn. Yorkshire Terriers lifespan usually falls between 13-17 years! Don’t let their tiny stature fool you as they have the heart of a Lion.

Yorkshire Terriers are one of the most loveable dogs you could ever wish to own. They have an upbeat and energetic nature to handle but it doesn’t stop them from being a marvellous companion. Yorkshire Terriers are such an adorable dogbreed; they are small cute and loveable, and can easily become a part of your family.

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 during training. They are highly intelligent dogs and easily learn to recognize many different commands.

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.

Being very picky eaters, Yorkshire terriers won’t accept a lot of foods if they don’t like them or if they’re mixed with other foods. They are a relatively small dog with a small appetite but it is important to keep them to a two times a day feeding schedule. 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.

Yorkshire Terriers are sometimes prone to tooth problems, even early tooth decay. You will find that grooming instructions usually include help and advice on how to look after your Terriers teeth. While the dog itself is small, grooming can be a big job. 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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