How do you get your Yorkie to get used to.... - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Bobbiowens · 12-01-2011, 05:51 AM

outfits? harnesses? bows? etc..

I was talking to a fellow small dog owner and she said to put it on, while you were at home (the harness anyway) and leave it on for the day...let her wear it for a few days, take it off while she sleeps at night. Outfits? Hmmmm, seems as though Sunny hates anything going over her head. its a struggle and a fight to put on a sock sweater that I made her...yep, saw the video and tried it. Any suggestions....will the battles die down after I do it a few times or do I just conceed and try something different? I know there are a ton of outfits out there that dont necessarily have to go over her head and maybe where the head opening is, is much bigger then say a sweater but....do I just tough it out and make her put the sweater on? after she gets it on she seems to be ok with it, its just getting it on that is a huge fight! LOL

Bobbi

kjc · 12-01-2011, 06:00 AM

Try offering her a treat, but to get it she will have to stick her face through the sock sweater to get it. Try to get her to go a little further each time. When she seems comfortable with that, then slip it on her and give her lots of treats (plain Cheerios or similar so she won't get too filled up) and tons of praise, especially how pretty she looks with it on.

ritapatt · 12-01-2011, 06:01 AM

Ziva only wears clothes for a few months here. It is a learning process every year- she stands completely still until the "pretty girl" starts sinking in- then she fusses at me when I take it off! The harness she knows means out so she is happy to see that.
We are starting to put a small harness on Abby (5 months) every day and a bit of the leash walking back and forth.I like to do it slowly a little every day.

kjc · 12-01-2011, 06:13 AM

For the top knot, for everyday or training, I use the made for humans plastic claw clips from WalMart. They're cheap, and you can get them in quickly, and if she gets it out, she won't be ruining an expensive bow. It can take up to two weeks or longer before she'll forget about it and leave it alone.

If it really bothers her, just get it in, then give treats to distract her and praise. Then do 4-5 15 minute sessions a day until she's okay with it. Same with the harness, and always try to end the sessions on a positive note, with treats and a ton of praise.

Bobbiowens · 12-01-2011, 06:31 AM

Thanks for the advice...I should have mentioned earlier, yes in fact, treats go along way with Sunny! LOL. I do use a lot of treats to motivate her. So its basically persistence, if I am gathering everyones advice and TIME. You would think that wearing clothes and bows would be a given for a Yorkie!! LOL

Bobbi

kjc · 12-01-2011, 06:33 AM

My Sapphire is a hyper little thing and so loves to go for walks.The entire time I'm trying to put her harness on, she's mouthing my hands and likes to chew on the harness. Before I can get it buckled, she's spinning around going after my hands again. If I'm taking two for a walk, she'll try to chew the other dog's harness too. Then when the harness is on, she'll go for the leash. My plan is just to try to get her to calm down a bit, but once they're outfitted we head right out and get busy walking, and the chewing and silliness stops. She walks like a gnat on a leash, but has improved a bit... she'll be 5 years old this month!

kjc · 12-01-2011, 06:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobbiowens

Thanks for the advice...I should have mentioned earlier, yes in fact, treats go along way with Sunny! LOL. I do use a lot of treats to motivate her. So its basically persistence, if I am gathering everyones advice and TIME. You would think that wearing clothes and bows would be a given for a Yorkie!! LOL

Bobbi

Lol! Yes and you don't want a mad yorkie either, hehe.

Bobbiowens · 12-01-2011, 07:14 AM

Holy crap! Never make a Yorkie mad!! LOL!! For some reason this wee one makes me a bit neverous. I have had several dogs in the past, heck she has three other sisters, that are much bigger then her, I just dont want to make her this lil demon dog. Maybe I read tooooo much info on Yorkies before I got her. I just so want to do whats right and good for her. All my other dogs are just fine, but I think the smartness factor, the tendency to be stubborn, along with all those other traits makes me just a bit neverous...maybe she is smarter then me!! LOLOLOL..I just dont want some yippy, snappy lil dog...so I try not to piss her off and when I do, it worries me that I may have "damaged" her!!

Bobbi

R_Z · 12-01-2011, 07:45 AM

I've not gotten to the harness as of yet. Bailey and I leash with a collar. I know we need a harness, but so far, Bailey won't leave my side much so there's never been any need for tugging or the like. We are in such sync when we make our potty rounds and he is the proudest looking little boy as he struts the 'hood leaving his mark!

As for sweater, we bought him one and tried it on. Ha! He's a tea pot alright. That thing was so short on him I snatched it off as fast as we put it on. Luckily Natalie loves to knit and she's making Bailey a sweater this week.

chachi · 12-01-2011, 07:55 AM

She just has to get used to it. Put an outfit or harness on her everyday and after a week or 2 she wont make a fuss about it

DJDB · 12-01-2011, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kjc

Try offering her a treat, but to get it she will have to stick her face through the sock sweater to get it. Try to get her to go a little further each time. When she seems comfortable with that, then slip it on her and give her lots of treats (plain Cheerios or similar so she won't get too filled up) and tons of praise, especially how pretty she looks with it on.

Agree with this method 100%. We did that for Ozzy for wearing his harness and it worked like a charm. He gets excited now every time you take out his harness, and he doesn't mind having shirts and sweaters put over his head. TREATS TRUMP EVERYTHING and making them WANT to put their head through is the trick.

Jennyms319 · 12-01-2011, 08:01 AM

We had a stray yorkie that we keep for awhile and he chewed through his harness while he was crated one day. So I don't ever keep harnesses on them.

My other Yorkies loved clothes so that wasn't a problem but I always did take off the collar while i crated because once I came in and found her caught on the crate from the o ring on the collar and that really scared me. What if that had happened while i was gone of the day

Lovetodream88 · 12-01-2011, 08:14 AM

I guess I was lucky because mine has always loves clothes

Callie actually puts her head through the head hole and will lift each leg and put it through the leg holes. I would put something on her every day and give her a treat after and just keep doing it until she seems to get used to it.

katienme2002 · 12-01-2011, 08:27 AM

I really have no great advice to offer..lol..But Foxy is fine with her harness and clothes, but bows on the other hand dont stand a chance...lol...We had her groomed about two weeks ago and they put a gorgeous bow in her hair, yes it was cute, but it lasted all of two minutes once we got in the car...lol...

chachi · 12-01-2011, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katienme2002

I really have no great advice to offer..lol..But Foxy is fine with her harness and clothes, but bows on the other hand dont stand a chance...lol...We had her groomed about two weeks ago and they put a gorgeous bow in her hair, yes it was cute, but it lasted all of two minutes once we got in the car...lol...

Now My Jewels used to do that with her bows and when she did I would put it back in and then she do it again and Id put it back in and so on. After awhile she got the idea If I put it in it stays in and she quit doing it.

12-01-2011, 05:51 AM	#1
Bobbiowens Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Kingland, GA, U.S. Posts: 159	How do you get your Yorkie to get used to.... outfits? harnesses? bows? etc.. I was talking to a fellow small dog owner and she said to put it on, while you were at home (the harness anyway) and leave it on for the day...let her wear it for a few days, take it off while she sleeps at night. Outfits? Hmmmm, seems as though Sunny hates anything going over her head. its a struggle and a fight to put on a sock sweater that I made her...yep, saw the video and tried it. Any suggestions....will the battles die down after I do it a few times or do I just conceed and try something different? I know there are a ton of outfits out there that dont necessarily have to go over her head and maybe where the head opening is, is much bigger then say a sweater but....do I just tough it out and make her put the sweater on? after she gets it on she seems to be ok with it, its just getting it on that is a huge fight! LOL Bobbi __________________ Sunny's Momma

12-01-2011, 06:00 AM	#2
kjc I♥PeekTinkySaph&Finny Donating Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Posts: 18,866	Try offering her a treat, but to get it she will have to stick her face through the sock sweater to get it. Try to get her to go a little further each time. When she seems comfortable with that, then slip it on her and give her lots of treats (plain Cheerios or similar so she won't get too filled up) and tons of praise, especially how pretty she looks with it on. __________________ Kat Chloe Lizzy PeekABooTinkerbell SapphireInfinity

12-01-2011, 06:13 AM	#4
kjc I♥PeekTinkySaph&Finny Donating Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Posts: 18,866	For the top knot, for everyday or training, I use the made for humans plastic claw clips from WalMart. They're cheap, and you can get them in quickly, and if she gets it out, she won't be ruining an expensive bow. It can take up to two weeks or longer before she'll forget about it and leave it alone. If it really bothers her, just get it in, then give treats to distract her and praise. Then do 4-5 15 minute sessions a day until she's okay with it. Same with the harness, and always try to end the sessions on a positive note, with treats and a ton of praise. __________________ Kat Chloe Lizzy PeekABooTinkerbell SapphireInfinity

12-01-2011, 06:31 AM	#5
Bobbiowens Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Kingland, GA, U.S. Posts: 159	Thanks for the advice...I should have mentioned earlier, yes in fact, treats go along way with Sunny! LOL. I do use a lot of treats to motivate her. So its basically persistence, if I am gathering everyones advice and TIME. You would think that wearing clothes and bows would be a given for a Yorkie!! LOL Bobbi __________________ Sunny's Momma

12-01-2011, 06:33 AM	#6
kjc I♥PeekTinkySaph&Finny Donating Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Posts: 18,866	My Sapphire is a hyper little thing and so loves to go for walks.The entire time I'm trying to put her harness on, she's mouthing my hands and likes to chew on the harness. Before I can get it buckled, she's spinning around going after my hands again. If I'm taking two for a walk, she'll try to chew the other dog's harness too. Then when the harness is on, she'll go for the leash. My plan is just to try to get her to calm down a bit, but once they're outfitted we head right out and get busy walking, and the chewing and silliness stops. She walks like a gnat on a leash, but has improved a bit... she'll be 5 years old this month! __________________ Kat Chloe Lizzy PeekABooTinkerbell SapphireInfinity

12-01-2011, 06:01 AM	#3
ritapatt YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Merritt Island,FL Posts: 1,400	Ziva only wears clothes for a few months here. It is a learning process every year- she stands completely still until the "pretty girl" starts sinking in- then she fusses at me when I take it off! The harness she knows means out so she is happy to see that. We are starting to put a small harness on Abby (5 months) every day and a bit of the leash walking back and forth.I like to do it slowly a little every day.

12-01-2011, 07:14 AM	#8
Bobbiowens Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Kingland, GA, U.S. Posts: 159	Holy crap! Never make a Yorkie mad!! LOL!! For some reason this wee one makes me a bit neverous. I have had several dogs in the past, heck she has three other sisters, that are much bigger then her, I just dont want to make her this lil demon dog. Maybe I read tooooo much info on Yorkies before I got her. I just so want to do whats right and good for her. All my other dogs are just fine, but I think the smartness factor, the tendency to be stubborn, along with all those other traits makes me just a bit neverous...maybe she is smarter then me!! LOLOLOL..I just dont want some yippy, snappy lil dog...so I try not to piss her off and when I do, it worries me that I may have "damaged" her!! Bobbi __________________ Sunny's Momma

12-01-2011, 07:45 AM	#9
R_Z Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Memphis, TN USA Posts: 1,078	I've not gotten to the harness as of yet. Bailey and I leash with a collar. I know we need a harness, but so far, Bailey won't leave my side much so there's never been any need for tugging or the like. We are in such sync when we make our potty rounds and he is the proudest looking little boy as he struts the 'hood leaving his mark! As for sweater, we bought him one and tried it on. Ha! He's a tea pot alright. That thing was so short on him I snatched it off as fast as we put it on. Luckily Natalie loves to knit and she's making Bailey a sweater this week.

12-01-2011, 07:55 AM	#10
chachi I Love My Yorkies Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana Posts: 37,147	She just has to get used to it. Put an outfit or harness on her everyday and after a week or 2 she wont make a fuss about it __________________ Chachi's & Jewels Mom Jewels http://www.dogster.com/?132431 Chachi http://www.dogster.com/?132427

12-01-2011, 08:01 AM	#12
Jennyms319 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: shawnee,ok Posts: 146	We had a stray yorkie that we keep for awhile and he chewed through his harness while he was crated one day. So I don't ever keep harnesses on them. My other Yorkies loved clothes so that wasn't a problem but I always did take off the collar while i crated because once I came in and found her caught on the crate from the o ring on the collar and that really scared me. What if that had happened while i was gone of the day

12-01-2011, 08:14 AM	#13
Lovetodream88 Yorkie mom of 4 Donating YT Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: LaPlata, Md Posts: 23,247	I guess I was lucky because mine has always loves clothes Callie actually puts her head through the head hole and will lift each leg and put it through the leg holes. I would put something on her every day and give her a treat after and just keep doing it until she seems to get used to it. __________________ Taylor My babies Joey, Penny ,Ollie & Dixie Callie Mae, you will forever be in my heart!

12-01-2011, 08:27 AM	#14
katienme2002 YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Somewhere Over the Rainbow Posts: 1,290	I really have no great advice to offer..lol..But Foxy is fine with her harness and clothes, but bows on the other hand dont stand a chance...lol...We had her groomed about two weeks ago and they put a gorgeous bow in her hair, yes it was cute, but it lasted all of two minutes once we got in the car...lol... __________________