Are yorkies hard to train? - Page 2 - YorkieTalk.com Forums

PiperPuppy · 12-01-2007, 12:37 PM

Hi Barbarjo!
I share your pain! Piper (6 months baby girl) dirties her crate also. She goes on a piddle pad before bed (both number1 and number2) she just seems to save a bit for the crate. I'm ashamed to say that I gave up on that whole tiny crate thing after that, as I didn't want her sitting in that mess. Now I have a larger crate and I put half a piddle pad in the front and a fluffy towel in the back. She no longer goes where she is sleeping..she just takes a few steps forward, goes, and then goes back to sleep. It's still pretty gross, but at least she's not sleeping in it. Needless to say, we are not excelling at the house training at this point. I'm obviously a pushover!
As for the training...we're in an animal-behaviorist sort of class, rather than obedience. I call it "Mommy and Me" class and my sister thinks I'm off my rocker. Piper's a month older than her peers, as we tried the class a couple of times when she was younger and she was just overwhelmed by the activity and would just lay very flat on the floor and close her eyes. So we left those classes pretty quickly (only ended up staying for about 15 minutes each time). Now she loves her new class. It's at the same place. She just wasn't quite ready when she was younger. They separate the small dogs from the larger ones for puppy free-play time. They never use her as the "demo" dog for showing how to train though, as Piper is not food motivated. They tried with "sit" and she looked at them like they were nuts. Then they tried with a larger dog and Piper (who was back at my side at the time) sat like a champ! The command wasn't even for her...she was just paying such close attention to what was going on. It cracked me up...as if she were saying "I know how to sit. I just think the treat thing is lame!" Yorkies are so smart!

Lorna · 12-01-2007, 04:44 PM

I would say, judging from my three, yes they are, however, they are very smart! They are stubborn though. When it's bath time, Savannah hides and picks out the darkest spot to hide in. Kayli will hide under the table where I have a hard time reaching her when I want to put the shock collar on her to let her out into the yard. All three Yorkie's know which crate is theirs and at feeding time, the puppy will go to her playpen to eat because she knows she can't eat the adult food. She stands outside her pen when I put the dishes down for the adults, and then I pick her up and put her in her playpen with her food.

1956snowflake · 12-02-2007, 12:22 PM

I took HazelNut to puppy Kindergardien, the instuctor was happy to have her, thought she should be there instead of obeidaince class becouse of her size. She could do all the things and was actually more behaved then some of the big dogs. The instructor did have an obvious bias for the big dogs, at times she was ignored. But, I had a good time with her, I learned & the pup learned.

MyLadies · 12-03-2007, 06:35 AM

Compared to my Shih Tzu, yes. And mine is just 1/2 Yorkie. She is quite stubborn. heheheh.

She is 1yr4mos old yet she is only 90% toilet trained. She still goes on pads when she feels the urge, rather than ask us to go out- unless it's convenient for her. My Shih Tzu was trained by 5 months, and did not need pads anymore after that. I think it's all in the personality of the individual dog though, maybe not totally the breed. But mine is stubborn. I love her & won't trade her in though!

I still hold out hope, because she gets better then regresses, but is a bit more better about pottying. But it's all about her convenience, not ours. Whereas my Shih Tzu it's all about us. So just two totally different breeds I'm comparing here. I'm no expert, just relaying my opinion from my personal experience.

EmrldShdwQueen · 12-03-2007, 06:43 AM

Yorkies are no more difficult to train than any dog...it just take persistence and consistency. And don't trust them too soon, because then they'll know what they can get away with...

imperfectlyblue · 12-03-2007, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EmrldShdwQueen

Yorkies are no more difficult to train than any dog...it just take persistence and consistency. And don't trust them too soon, because then they'll know what they can get away with...

I like that "don't trust them too soon." That makes sense!

lilbumbleybees · 12-03-2007, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xxloopylucyxx

we have just enrolled Hollie into puppy training classes but are yorkie's easy to train??

i am asking this because the one class we rang said that we cant go as we have a yorkie!!

please help!!

lucy xx

WHAT?! NO trainer will tell you that you can't come b/c you have a yorkie. ALL dogs are trainable. I will be honest though, Yorkies are STUBBORN! They may be tiny and cute but they are always first and foremost terriers and terriers are STUBBORN! It'll take a lot of being stubborn back on your part and making sure your baby knows YOU are boss. It is very possible though. Goood luck!

wellsy02 · 12-06-2007, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xxloopylucyxx

we have just enrolled Hollie into puppy training classes but are yorkie's easy to train??

i am asking this because the one class we rang said that we cant go as we have a yorkie!!

please help!!

lucy xx

no way, i had a shihtzu who knows all kinds of fun words and tricks, and i can tell ya radar, our yorkie, picked it up 10x faster. I'd say, not exagerating, that he had sit, stay, and around figured out in the first month that we had him (by 12-14 wks). He is brilliant. the key i have figured out is to work with him MAYBE for 3-4 minutes at a time, 2-3 times a day. thats about as long as his attention span is.

Kiwiglaze · 12-07-2007, 03:36 PM

Yorkies are very smart and can learn quickly if you keep the training positive and fun. Yorkies are actually one of the smarter breeds (#27 out of 132 breeds), and catch on very quickly. Have fun!

P.S. That trainer sounds like a jerk!

anthroboi · 12-07-2007, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeri Cunningham

My male was the hardest to train and he finally learned everything by 1 year EXCEPT 'go home' which means go to their pen. He hates it and actually crawls around like he can no longer walk, it is too funny!

Oh my gosh, that is too cute. You HAVE to put up a video of that! LOL Little monkeys these furballs are...

my2boyz · 12-07-2007, 04:29 PM

Personally...I think it all depends on what you're trying to train them to do. Ride a bike, mow the lawn, roller blade...those things are all pretty high on the skill level ladder and could be tough for them to accomplish

However, if you just want a nice little Yorkie that is house trained, comes when called and knows a few tricks...well, you shouldn't have too much trouble at all.

Good luck!

P.S. I can joke now but my girls will start puppy school in January and I could be in trouble!

Tamara&Tootsie · 12-07-2007, 04:33 PM

YES!!! They are hard to train because they are stubborn and spoiled but just keep working with your doggie and eventually it will work!

MMMMM · 01-13-2008, 02:25 PM

By all means, find another trainer and take your Yorkie to obedience classes.

I bet your Yorkie was rejected because of it's size and the trainer worried about injurues from the other large dogs.

20 years ago, I took my Yorkie to obedience classes when she was a pup, and it was a joy for both of us for the rest of her life.

BUT, all the other dogs in class were "giants", namely standard poodles, rotties, German sheppards, etc. She was the only toy dog in the group...there weren't even any miniature sized ones.

We even continued to go on to tracking classes (one owner was was a policeman training his rottie for his work) just for the fun of it, and my Yorkie was always the best in the group. I used to laugh and tell them her talent stemmed from her nose being closer to the ground (it was really because she was the smartest), since they all envied my dogs abilities.

Being terriers, Yorkies may be considered hard to train due to their stubborness, but we religiously practiced for 1/2 hour, 5 days a week, and that is what made the traing so successful.

You can't beat a well trained dog. My Yorkie could hardly wait each week to go to her Party.

It was a blast. I never laughed so hard in my life! it was like watching "The World's Funniest Animals" except it was in real life.

I'm in the process of enrolling my 2 5-month-old pups in classes right now. I can hardly wait to go! One trainer I recently spoke to, who won a Canadian Agility Championship with her Yorkie, stated that Yorkies are Border Collies wearing Yorkie suits, because they are so intelligent. I agree!

Please go find another trainer and let the two of you have FUN!

addicted · 01-13-2008, 02:35 PM

Sorry I know this is an old thread. I am just reading it now.

Mine were easy to train. They know how to come, sit, lay down, stay, shake, high five, roll over, play dead (bang, bang), spin, go get your toy, go to your bed, go inside (crate)... It does take a lot of patience, but they learned quick. It all depends on your pup. Goodluck!

i luv dexter · 01-23-2008, 06:00 AM

I haven't been on yorkie talk for a while. I usually log on when I'm in a crisis with my baby, Dexter. I love him so much. But I guess they are pretty hard to train. My baby is 9 months, and when he was younger, I spent most of the time working on just potty training. We finally got that under control with an accident here or there. No worries...sometimes it just happens.

I work with him on sitting, staying and lying down at least 30 minutes a day in about six- 5minute sessions. Which is just enough for him. He loves it, because he thinks its a game, and he loves to get treats. I thought that was awesome. I was kind of embarassed though because my friend adopted a boxer mix and after having him for two weeks he was potty trained, and could do everything Dexter could do and more.

But I don't care. My baby is my best friend, and I know he does his best.

12-01-2007, 04:44 PM	#17
Lorna Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Owens Cross Roads, AL Posts: 44	Are Yorkie's Hard to Train I would say, judging from my three, yes they are, however, they are very smart! They are stubborn though. When it's bath time, Savannah hides and picks out the darkest spot to hide in. Kayli will hide under the table where I have a hard time reaching her when I want to put the shock collar on her to let her out into the yard. All three Yorkie's know which crate is theirs and at feeding time, the puppy will go to her playpen to eat because she knows she can't eat the adult food. She stands outside her pen when I put the dishes down for the adults, and then I pick her up and put her in her playpen with her food.

12-02-2007, 12:22 PM	#18
1956snowflake Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2007 Location: U.P. Michigan Posts: 135	dog training I took HazelNut to puppy Kindergardien, the instuctor was happy to have her, thought she should be there instead of obeidaince class becouse of her size. She could do all the things and was actually more behaved then some of the big dogs. The instructor did have an obvious bias for the big dogs, at times she was ignored. But, I had a good time with her, I learned & the pup learned.

12-07-2007, 03:36 PM	#24
Kiwiglaze Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Fresno, CA Posts: 179	Yorkies are very smart and can learn quickly if you keep the training positive and fun. Yorkies are actually one of the smarter breeds (#27 out of 132 breeds), and catch on very quickly. Have fun! P.S. That trainer sounds like a jerk! __________________ Proud mom of Kiwi! ...and a new Biewer on the way!

12-07-2007, 04:29 PM	#26
my2boyz Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: In my house :) Posts: 5,219	Personally...I think it all depends on what you're trying to train them to do. Ride a bike, mow the lawn, roller blade...those things are all pretty high on the skill level ladder and could be tough for them to accomplish However, if you just want a nice little Yorkie that is house trained, comes when called and knows a few tricks...well, you shouldn't have too much trouble at all. Good luck! P.S. I can joke now but my girls will start puppy school in January and I could be in trouble! Last edited by my2boyz; 12-07-2007 at 04:31 PM.

01-13-2008, 02:35 PM	#29
addicted IheartYorkies Donating Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: SGV, CA Posts: 1,511	Sorry I know this is an old thread. I am just reading it now. Mine were easy to train. They know how to come, sit, lay down, stay, shake, high five, roll over, play dead (bang, bang), spin, go get your toy, go to your bed, go inside (crate)... It does take a lot of patience, but they learned quick. It all depends on your pup. Goodluck! __________________ Linda Penny Simba Bella Marley Pink Last edited by addicted; 01-13-2008 at 02:38 PM.

12-01-2007, 12:37 PM	#16
PiperPuppy Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Seattle Posts: 53	Hi Barbarjo! I share your pain! Piper (6 months baby girl) dirties her crate also. She goes on a piddle pad before bed (both number1 and number2) she just seems to save a bit for the crate. I'm ashamed to say that I gave up on that whole tiny crate thing after that, as I didn't want her sitting in that mess. Now I have a larger crate and I put half a piddle pad in the front and a fluffy towel in the back. She no longer goes where she is sleeping..she just takes a few steps forward, goes, and then goes back to sleep. It's still pretty gross, but at least she's not sleeping in it. Needless to say, we are not excelling at the house training at this point. I'm obviously a pushover! As for the training...we're in an animal-behaviorist sort of class, rather than obedience. I call it "Mommy and Me" class and my sister thinks I'm off my rocker. Piper's a month older than her peers, as we tried the class a couple of times when she was younger and she was just overwhelmed by the activity and would just lay very flat on the floor and close her eyes. So we left those classes pretty quickly (only ended up staying for about 15 minutes each time). Now she loves her new class. It's at the same place. She just wasn't quite ready when she was younger. They separate the small dogs from the larger ones for puppy free-play time. They never use her as the "demo" dog for showing how to train though, as Piper is not food motivated. They tried with "sit" and she looked at them like they were nuts. Then they tried with a larger dog and Piper (who was back at my side at the time) sat like a champ! The command wasn't even for her...she was just paying such close attention to what was going on. It cracked me up...as if she were saying "I know how to sit. I just think the treat thing is lame!" Yorkies are so smart!

12-03-2007, 06:35 AM	#19
MyLadies No Longer a Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Washington State Posts: 1,218	Compared to my Shih Tzu, yes. And mine is just 1/2 Yorkie. She is quite stubborn. heheheh. She is 1yr4mos old yet she is only 90% toilet trained. She still goes on pads when she feels the urge, rather than ask us to go out- unless it's convenient for her. My Shih Tzu was trained by 5 months, and did not need pads anymore after that. I think it's all in the personality of the individual dog though, maybe not totally the breed. But mine is stubborn. I love her & won't trade her in though! I still hold out hope, because she gets better then regresses, but is a bit more better about pottying. But it's all about her convenience, not ours. Whereas my Shih Tzu it's all about us. So just two totally different breeds I'm comparing here. I'm no expert, just relaying my opinion from my personal experience.

12-03-2007, 06:43 AM	#20
EmrldShdwQueen No Longer a Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: US Posts: 3,987	Yorkies are no more difficult to train than any dog...it just take persistence and consistency. And don't trust them too soon, because then they'll know what they can get away with...

12-07-2007, 04:33 PM	#27
Tamara&Tootsie Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Georgia Posts: 26	YES!!! They are hard to train because they are stubborn and spoiled but just keep working with your doggie and eventually it will work!

01-13-2008, 02:25 PM	#28
MMMMM YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 8	By all means, find another trainer and take your Yorkie to obedience classes. I bet your Yorkie was rejected because of it's size and the trainer worried about injurues from the other large dogs. 20 years ago, I took my Yorkie to obedience classes when she was a pup, and it was a joy for both of us for the rest of her life. BUT, all the other dogs in class were "giants", namely standard poodles, rotties, German sheppards, etc. She was the only toy dog in the group...there weren't even any miniature sized ones. We even continued to go on to tracking classes (one owner was was a policeman training his rottie for his work) just for the fun of it, and my Yorkie was always the best in the group. I used to laugh and tell them her talent stemmed from her nose being closer to the ground (it was really because she was the smartest), since they all envied my dogs abilities. Being terriers, Yorkies may be considered hard to train due to their stubborness, but we religiously practiced for 1/2 hour, 5 days a week, and that is what made the traing so successful. You can't beat a well trained dog. My Yorkie could hardly wait each week to go to her Party. It was a blast. I never laughed so hard in my life! it was like watching "The World's Funniest Animals" except it was in real life. I'm in the process of enrolling my 2 5-month-old pups in classes right now. I can hardly wait to go! One trainer I recently spoke to, who won a Canadian Agility Championship with her Yorkie, stated that Yorkies are Border Collies wearing Yorkie suits, because they are so intelligent. I agree! Please go find another trainer and let the two of you have FUN!

01-23-2008, 06:00 AM	#30
i luv dexter Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2007 Location: Frederick Posts: 10	I haven't been on yorkie talk for a while. I usually log on when I'm in a crisis with my baby, Dexter. I love him so much. But I guess they are pretty hard to train. My baby is 9 months, and when he was younger, I spent most of the time working on just potty training. We finally got that under control with an accident here or there. No worries...sometimes it just happens. I work with him on sitting, staying and lying down at least 30 minutes a day in about six- 5minute sessions. Which is just enough for him. He loves it, because he thinks its a game, and he loves to get treats. I thought that was awesome. I was kind of embarassed though because my friend adopted a boxer mix and after having him for two weeks he was potty trained, and could do everything Dexter could do and more. But I don't care. My baby is my best friend, and I know he does his best.