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softlyspeaks · 10-18-2015, 03:07 PM

Hello yorkie lovers,
I am new to the forum after searching the internet for helpful and advice in possibly training a new puppy.

Recently, a dog attacked and killed my precious little yorkie. I am just devastated as I have had my pet for several years and he was my constant shadow and companion. I had spent a lot of time initially training him so he could do a lot of tricks.

Last year I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. There are times that I am in constant pain in my joints and bones. During the night, restless leg and arm syndrome sometimes leave me with only a few hours of sleep and being so sleep deprived I wake up in what is called a brain fog which can sit in my brain for several hours. I am what I would call a very function person with fibromyalgia and am doing my best to overcome this with juicing and other healthy alternatives.

My little yorkie stayed by my side and we had our little routine. What I didn't realize was that my yorkie had some annoying habits that really bothered my husband so much so that he is very hesitant for me to bring home another puppy. This was even more devastating to news for me. As I began to think and ponder, I made a list of what my husband was telling me and began to think if there was a way that I could change my behavior so that I could bring another puppy into our home. From what I have been searching online, I am hopeful. I asked my husband to give me a month, to see if I can figure out how to train and change my behavior to accommodate a new addition for Christmas. Could you help me with any of your tricks, tips, or behaviors that have helped you train your yorkie to stop a possible annoying habit before it has started?

1. barking-my husband said he didn't like the high pitched bark. I read there were collars or debarking surgery. I did read several controversial things about the surgery which sound pretty scary. Is there anyone that has had debarking that is content with that procedure? When I mentioned this to my husband he said that the only time the barking was a real problem for him was when I was coming home. In that case, I found positive comments about barking collars with remotes. Has anyone a favorite collar and do they work well? Are collars then always used or do they really help in training puppies to stop? What do you do to stop your yorkie from barking? Do you have a word, a treat or a sound that seems to give them the signal? If you use a barking collar how soon would you recommend using a barking collar? I don't even remember if my last yorkie barked right away. I honestly prefer a barking collar with a remote over surgery.

2. As I had written above, I don't always sleep very well and it can be difficult for me to get up in the morning. My last pet slept in a small soft sided crate beside my bed. I called him Houdini because he figured out how to unzip the crate and escape. When I would get up in the morning, the first thing I would do was let him go outside to relieve himself. What I didn't know, because I sleep with ear plugs, was that Mr. Houdini was scratching, whining, and waking my husband between 6 and 6:30 a.m., about an hour before he wanted to wake up. How could I train this behavior not to happen with a new puppy? When Houdini was brought home, he slept in a soft sided dog carrier in my bed with me. I don't remember him getting me up but it has been a while. When he grew out of the little carrier he was moved to the larger soft sided crate beside my bed.

I will confess that I didn't take Houdini out for walks, although I wanted to, but he had plenty of space in our home and around in our yard. We live on a hill so there is plenty of exercise running up and down the hill. I was worried about walking him in our neighborhood because of fleas and ticks and picking things up from other dogs on the cobble stone streets. If I were to take him somewhere to walk him, could this resolve the scratching and whining behavior before it's time to get up? Maybe rather than moving him to a crate, I could have a larger soft sided carrier for him so he's confined yet able to sleep with me. I asked my husband if he would go with me to walk the little guy along our boardwalk? If he isn't available, I do have other family members that live near the boardwalk that I'm sure would go with me.

I am concerned about having to wake in the night with a puppy. I can't remember what it's like to have a small puppy. At 3 months of age, how well do they sleep at night? I wouldn't bring one home before 3 months. Can they sleep all night at that age? How often do they need to be fed at that age? If they still need to go out in the middle of the night, I need an older puppy. Then the question is, how old are they when they can sleep through the night? Say 10-11 p.m.-7:30 a.m.

Do I sound like I'm on the right track? Thank you for your thoughtful experiences in advance.

10-18-2015, 03:07 PM	#1
softlyspeaks Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Outside of the USA Posts: 93	Physically Possible Hello yorkie lovers, I am new to the forum after searching the internet for helpful and advice in possibly training a new puppy. Recently, a dog attacked and killed my precious little yorkie. I am just devastated as I have had my pet for several years and he was my constant shadow and companion. I had spent a lot of time initially training him so he could do a lot of tricks. Last year I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. There are times that I am in constant pain in my joints and bones. During the night, restless leg and arm syndrome sometimes leave me with only a few hours of sleep and being so sleep deprived I wake up in what is called a brain fog which can sit in my brain for several hours. I am what I would call a very function person with fibromyalgia and am doing my best to overcome this with juicing and other healthy alternatives. My little yorkie stayed by my side and we had our little routine. What I didn't realize was that my yorkie had some annoying habits that really bothered my husband so much so that he is very hesitant for me to bring home another puppy. This was even more devastating to news for me. As I began to think and ponder, I made a list of what my husband was telling me and began to think if there was a way that I could change my behavior so that I could bring another puppy into our home. From what I have been searching online, I am hopeful. I asked my husband to give me a month, to see if I can figure out how to train and change my behavior to accommodate a new addition for Christmas. Could you help me with any of your tricks, tips, or behaviors that have helped you train your yorkie to stop a possible annoying habit before it has started? 1. barking-my husband said he didn't like the high pitched bark. I read there were collars or debarking surgery. I did read several controversial things about the surgery which sound pretty scary. Is there anyone that has had debarking that is content with that procedure? When I mentioned this to my husband he said that the only time the barking was a real problem for him was when I was coming home. In that case, I found positive comments about barking collars with remotes. Has anyone a favorite collar and do they work well? Are collars then always used or do they really help in training puppies to stop? What do you do to stop your yorkie from barking? Do you have a word, a treat or a sound that seems to give them the signal? If you use a barking collar how soon would you recommend using a barking collar? I don't even remember if my last yorkie barked right away. I honestly prefer a barking collar with a remote over surgery. 2. As I had written above, I don't always sleep very well and it can be difficult for me to get up in the morning. My last pet slept in a small soft sided crate beside my bed. I called him Houdini because he figured out how to unzip the crate and escape. When I would get up in the morning, the first thing I would do was let him go outside to relieve himself. What I didn't know, because I sleep with ear plugs, was that Mr. Houdini was scratching, whining, and waking my husband between 6 and 6:30 a.m., about an hour before he wanted to wake up. How could I train this behavior not to happen with a new puppy? When Houdini was brought home, he slept in a soft sided dog carrier in my bed with me. I don't remember him getting me up but it has been a while. When he grew out of the little carrier he was moved to the larger soft sided crate beside my bed. I will confess that I didn't take Houdini out for walks, although I wanted to, but he had plenty of space in our home and around in our yard. We live on a hill so there is plenty of exercise running up and down the hill. I was worried about walking him in our neighborhood because of fleas and ticks and picking things up from other dogs on the cobble stone streets. If I were to take him somewhere to walk him, could this resolve the scratching and whining behavior before it's time to get up? Maybe rather than moving him to a crate, I could have a larger soft sided carrier for him so he's confined yet able to sleep with me. I asked my husband if he would go with me to walk the little guy along our boardwalk? If he isn't available, I do have other family members that live near the boardwalk that I'm sure would go with me. I am concerned about having to wake in the night with a puppy. I can't remember what it's like to have a small puppy. At 3 months of age, how well do they sleep at night? I wouldn't bring one home before 3 months. Can they sleep all night at that age? How often do they need to be fed at that age? If they still need to go out in the middle of the night, I need an older puppy. Then the question is, how old are they when they can sleep through the night? Say 10-11 p.m.-7:30 a.m. Do I sound like I'm on the right track? Thank you for your thoughtful experiences in advance.