terrier are by nature independent dogs. to the person with the yorkie shadow, that is amazing. yorkies were bred to run head first into small dark, rat infested tunnels and kill rats the same size as themselves, over and over and over again. they were bred to due this on their own, independent of human instruction. now, time and selective breeding has changed the appearance, and size of yorkies, but that fearlessness and independence are all still there.
my yorkie will listen to me and come when i call, if he wants, but if he sees a chipmunk or squirel game over, nature and instinct kick in and off he goes.
our other do, an ISSR shiloh shepherd was a breed desined to be a family companion dog, and he can be off leash anywhere, and is fine 99% of the time. hes almost 16months old, and still a pup, so sometimes he wants to go off on his own, but a few words from me and he stops and listens, because it is what he was bred to due.
is it possible to train your yorkie to be off leash, yes it is. is it practical, only if you have lots and lots and lots of free time (active retired person, parent whose kids are at school most of the day and doesnt work) then you would have the time to train them. but, it would be very very hard, and to make it easier i would talk to numerous breeders and find some good, knowledgable breeders who know about tempermants and tempermant testing etc, to get yourself a yorkie who may be slightly easier to train in this manner. |