My Yorkie's 12 weeks old >.<

[angelmdevilm]

I recently bought a Yorkie. It has been with me for 3 days and he is 12 weeks old... I taught it how to follow the leash, and go up and down the stairs. It also listens to me when I tell him "No" when he begs for food when I'm eating.
But the problem is here.... when I call his name and he's feeling lazy, it does not listen to me and just lies down and stare at me, or does not even pay attention.
I think he can do a "sit", but he seems to not know the difference from his treats and not from a treat... I am trying to teach him basic tricks right now, but maybe I'm just rushing too much? I am very much under the impression that 12 weeks is getting pretty old for training... (influenced by other Yorkie owners that I have talked to). The puppy (name's Choco) pees and poops outside, and does not do it inside, so that is good. I really want Choco to learn as many tricks as he can, and be a good dog.... but as for now, I am having difficulties making him listen to me when he does not feel like it.
Any advice?
Am I pushing my puppy too hard?
Is it really too old for training?

Thank you all for your help!
I greatly appreciate it

P.S.
The original owner gave me dog biscuits and said it was his treat, but he does not listen to me either so I went to Petco (and also took Choco with me) and chose him a treat... the Chicken Breast Tender... it also does not listen to me when it does not feel like it....

[KitKatJam]

It's only been three days, he's probably still adjusting.
Don't worry he will learn the tricks

[*sophie's mama*]

I think he is still very young. It is probably a good idea to introduce training and tricks at this age but I think it could get frustrating if you expect him to master them this soon. Good luck!

[hviola]

I dont think any dog is too old to learn tricks. I am still teaching my daschund tricks and he is 6. I was going to wait with my YT Triss until she is 12 weeks to even start. I try to get her attention with treats and praise, but she won't have it right now. Just keep trying, thats what Im going to do. Good luck.

[angelmdevilm]

thanks
now i feel much better

[Sunnie]

12 weeks is still a baby. Give Choco time.. My babies are over 1 yr old and they still don't listen if they don't feel like it....And congrats on your new puppy.

[Julie1760]

First all: Congrats!!!!

I agree...12 weeks old is just a baby..and you've only had him home for 3 days. He is still getting use to not being with his littermates and his new surroundings. Training is a life time thing, in my opinion. Puppies have a very short attention span. Give him some time. Mine in 6 months old and is still in "training" stage. Potty training has been our main focus and she is doing wonderful, she even rings the bell by the door to go out. We do short sessions of all the basic commands.

Keep working on it, but stay relaxed and mainly keep it fun for both of you.

[zaknnana]

"TRICKS" is the least of my concerns!! My new puppy is 12 weeks old and it is all I can do to get her to go "POTTY"!!lol
I have seen that "Bell" to hang on the door and they go to it when they want to go out?? Where can I find out more info about that and does it work?? How old before they will do that??
THANKS!!

[ckuz13]

Okay, where are the pics...love to see your puppy..

[zaknnana]

I have to figure out how to put a picture of her on here!!lol

[ckuz13]

Originally Posted by zaknnana

I have to figure out how to put a picture of her on here!!lol

okay, when you figure it out you can teach me..haha..I know it has to be small..most of my digitals are too big to load..only the profile page will let me load them...good luck..

[zaknnana]

I just love this site!! I have got so much good advice and information from everyone here it is great!!
Lily is doing real good today!!!lol She slept in bed w/me last night and not in the crate but she did great and that is great with me!!lol I don't care where she sleeps as long as she goes potty outside!!! She is so darn cute I just love her to pieces!!lol
I am a "Nana" but I haven't had a 4 legged baby for a long time!!lol She is just great!! I travel back and forth from WV to AZ and I will be leaving WV the first week in Sept. so I have to get her ready to FLY with me!!lol My little poodle traveled very well so I hope I have the same luck with Lily??

[angelmdevilm]

thanks you guys!
I am more relaxed with Choco now.
Choco has been sleeping with me on my bed at night, and hasn't been doing his business on the bed at all. He doesn't often use pee pee pad... he goes there once and I praise him, but then he does it on the carpet most of the other time... I need to some how train him not to... any advice?

when it wants to go party outside, it goes to the door and whines.... so that is a good thing.

It is kind of starting to listen to me now, and he has been eating more so that means he is more comfortable with me now than he used to be.
You guys were right

[Epsilon]

He is SOOOOOO cute!! And GRATS on the potty training... that's great!

I think I have some advise on getting him to "listen" to you. When I had my dogs go through puppy training at Petsmart they had me do this:

Say your dogs name then make him look at you (if he doesn't on his own) by physically moving his head so that he's making eye contact with you. The second he makes eye contact, praise him and give him a treat. This is the first "trick" that had us teach our puppies. It won't take him long to realize that when you say his name and he looks at you that he gets a treat.

And another piece of advise (especially since yorkies are known for being stubborn): don't repeat commands over and over until they do it. That teaches them that they can listen to you whenever they feel like it. If they don't do it on the first try, make them. Teach your puppy that he needs to listen to you the first time, not the 3rd, 4th,... whenever he wants.

Good luck!! It sounds like you have a pretty smart little guy!

P.S. He is ABSOLUTELY adorable!!