[Teresa Ford]

Bonding, You and your Yorkie
Although it is recommend to place Yorkie pups at 12 weeks, many who study canine behavior, belive there is a critical bonding period that happens between the 6th and 8th week. Puppies learn many valuable lessons about how to interact with dogs, bite inhibition, and even keeping the nest clean, which helps with future potty training. It is very important to have a breeder who knows this and prepares the puppies for human bonding by sending time with each puppy away from the mother and litter.
If you have other dogs it is natural for the puppy to look to them for protection, leadership, and provisions (like where the food, water, bed and so on is) Puppies need one on one bonding with their human. People that have created a system of training service dogs for the blind, know all about this and begin touching, socializing, and teaching pups very early, that humans are the PLP. Protector, Leader and Provider of all resources, even before their eyes are open.
Most puppies who are placed after 12 weeks age, eventually learn to trust their human as the Provider of food but, sometimes never fully accept them as their leader and protector.
Trainers see cases everyday where the dog thinks he/ she is is equal to their people. Dogs with mixed identity roles, will some time guard their food, toys, bed, and even their people. They don't want other dogs or people sleeping with, sitting on, or touching their person. The dog thinks it is the PLP ! What a burden for the little guy. Sadly this sometimes leads to Small Dog Syndrome. Excessive barking, nipping, urine marking and even aggression.
Ideally when people bring home a puppy they would have at least 4 weeks to spend at home bonding and training their new family member. Of course that is rarely the situation. So we use several exercises we do encourage bonding, you might try them.
1. Umbilical Tethering
Is a fancy term for keeping your dog on a leash when he is not in his crate or gated safe play area. Use a regular soft cloth leash attached to his harness and the other end attached to you. Every where you go, he goes. Let him walk , people carry puppies far too much. Walking teaches him to follow. At first he will not be happy about this, but in a few days it will become routine. (this the scary part, with a puppy you have 4 magical weeks where everything you teach him, helps form his adult personality. From 12 to 16 weeks) Some people give up right here. They think 4 weeks of dragging a dog around, nope not for me. If they only understood 4 weeks training will last the dogs whole life, it is an excellent foundation. When you walk just cue with Let's Go and start walking. I won't take long for your puppy to learn to watch you the PLP and follow your lead. Training is much easier because he is right there with you, not wondering off to potty on the carpet, chewing the cord on the lamp, barking out of boredom etc. UT also teaches a pup he is safe he does not have to stay just out of reach. Teach all your basic training cues, his name Come, Sit, (lay) Down, Potty, Bark, Enough(barking), Good Quiet, Kisses, No, (get) OFF and Treats. Use the cue words during this four weeks while doing your ordinary daily things. Everyone in the family should use the same cue words.
A good book to read is Dog Perfect by Sarah Hodgson

2. FEED ME do this when your dog is hungry.
Spread something yummy on the back of your hand just a small amount( like peanut butter, low fat cream cheese, honey, canned dog food etc) and a real meat treat( like a tiny piece of boiled chicken etc.) in your palm. Close your hand. Call your dog give the cue, His name - Come (If your dog does not come EVERY TIME when called, make sure he is on a leash for this, if you have too gently reel him to you. You should be sitting low.) Cue with the word TREAT and pretend to lick the back of your hand and then put it down in his reach. When he sniffs, be very still and quiet. As soon as he begins to lick, cue with KISSES GOOD KISSES. Slowly roll your hand over and say TREAT and let him get the goody. Use your release word cue OK, so he will know the lesson is over. Do this several times a day for 3 days. On Day four gently stroke him with your other hand on the side by his ribs NOT ON TOP of his back or head, when he is licking. Do not pick him up. This lesson teaches him that food really comes from your hand. At some point he will probably begin to climb on to your lap especially if you are sitting low enough. Calmly stroke his side. Practice calling your dog 5 or 6 times every day. NEVER CALL YOUR DOG for any thing bad or punishment. No matter what always reward with praise, pets or treats when your dog comes. At first only call him when he is on a leash or long training tether.