I have a pug and a yorkie. I have also had 2 other pugs in the past and have taught them all the same way on how to lay down. Pugs are known to be stubborn but this works. I have taken them all to obedience classes and I was taught this way. Have your yorkie on a leash and you tell them to lay down, or down what ever word works for you and at the same time put your hand out flat and have it in a downward motion. They won't of course laydown so you put your foot on the leash and say lay down. Each time they won't you put your foot up closer on the leash toward the collar until there head is close to the ground. They are pretty stubborn so their head may be down but body up. Your yorkie will get tired eventually and lay down. When he does, praise him and say good down but do not touch him for he will want to bounce back up. Then have him sit and praise him for good down. Walk him on the leash again and then do the same thing all over again. Eventually, when he knows you are the boss and if he doesn't lay down when you command it, you will once again step on the leash and get closer to the collar until he is complete down, he will start doing it automatically. This does not hurt the dog at all and forces them to lay down. All my pugs and my year old yorkie will go down with my hand command and staying down. They also need to know that in this position, they are not allowed to get up until you tell them. If my dogs start running away, I say down and do the hand movement and they will stop in their tracks and lay down.
