[gemy]

I thought I d share what my training with my Yorkie for over 6yrs and just being trained myself for about 10 yrs with large n small - and what so far I have come to experience is the safest way to walk these dogs of disparate size.


1. Many folks won't like this one and if you are on your own well you just will be doing 4 walks a day - for I believe with a large and strong vigorous breed there is no way a single handler can do their best by both dogs if an intervention is necessary. Your Yorkie is unlikely to step back from the fray and will very much want to be a part of it! Which means the large dog is on its own as you control your very excited and protective Yorkie both from himself and not to get stepped on by other large dogs.
You certainly can mix up your exercise periods - maybe one indoors for the wee one. One in the backyard for the big one separate to the wee one.


2. But walking your Yorkie. This is just you and your dog. I short rein in my dog when I see another dog/human team approaching. I also step slightly ahead of my dog - and will always give the widest distance possible when passing. If necessary I will cross the street if I see a dog team approaching I don't like the looks of. This means for you to be situationally aware ideally all the time - but hey life happens and sometimes you get surprised.


3. If the dog is still coming in - in an uncontrolled fashion I am out in front and I sternly use the STOP command If the dog does not stop - I use BAD DOG NO BAD DOG NO I know to say this with confidence is hard when you are in a tense situation - but the firmer in command you are with your voice and presence the greater the success you will have.


4. Jeanie likes to carry a large umbrella with her and will open that out in front of her if an animal is charging in.


5. Never trust a large dog. Sad isn't it for me to say this - but many many breeds do have a prey drive that is not well controlled or even controlled at all by their naïve owners. So always try to take control of the situation with your leash and dog handling skills and creating distance. Never be too shy to say to that other human - look keep your dog away. We are not saying Hi today.


I remember at one of our BRT walks - stranger to me with her young under one year old pup kept allowing her dog to lunge out on the lead toward Razzle. I kept circling away from the pair keeping my body between the two - when finally in exasperation I said lady CONTROL your Dog. This one is too excited to say Hi to my boy. I am not too diplomatic.... After I had calmed down - I took Magic out and over to her with her young excitable pup and said watch the correct approach.
I had Magic in a sit stay and asked her to walk in slowly under control - of course she allowed the pup to lunge at Magic I put one hand out and said Ignore - Magic moved not an inch. Then I said Wait. Took her dog in my hand and said observe. And showed the demo again. The pup did not lunge was made to walk around Magic - sit on my left side with Magic on my right - and after 5 minutes of this was finally allowed to sniff noses on a loose lead.


I hope this helps for some.