No, I did not. Although it would have probably helped prevent me from making a lot of mistakes. Good for you for even considering! There are tons of dog training books out there, and some pretty good TV Shows (The Dog Whisperer and It's Me or the Dog) that can actually provided excellent foundations for training.
When I adopted Vinnie, he was a slight behavioral mess, and I added insult to injury by not always being the best "pack leader." Thanks to a couple of good classes and some well-meaning friends, I was able to get a handle on his behavioral issues and he is a pretty decent dog (most of the time).
Some Yorkies are small and you do have to consider that with everything you do. That said, they are still dogs and many of them have quite a bit of heart (I've witnessed pit bulls cower in the presence of my little guys). It is definitely important to use good dog training techniques early on so that they can grow into confident and happy members of your family.
__________________ Andrea,
Mom to Vinnie  , Alex , and Guru  |