Originally Posted by Yorkiesatwork (Post 3627175)

I'm not lazy... I'm not cruel... I love my Yorkies... I don't ever want to look in hindsight for what I might have been able to do to prevent a horrible accident.

My first yorkie, Marley, was turned into my office about a year ago after he was discovered running down the middle of the state highway that runs in front of my office. A woman ran in, out of breath, holding this little dog, and said 'what town is this?... and do you recognize this dog?!' I said Jefferson, and 'no'!

She was on her way north to be with her sister who was having surgery. She said her husband saw Marley and pulled his F150 crossways of the highway to stop traffic and she jumped out and grabbed him.

Had they not done this, he likely would have been dead in minutes.

Long story short, Marley came to live with me. He was a runner... He is a runner... and he's much quicker and faster than I am. For the most part, he minds well. But a deer, golfcart, skateboard, bicycle... whatever, makes him 10 feet tall and invisible! Training is wonderful. But it only takes once.

I am going to put in the fence. If it turns out to be cruel... if it hurts more than a shot, or having his teeth cleaned, or his ears swabbed, or if it takes more than two encounters with the correction, I'll pull up the fence and forget it.

If there are any of you who have had or know of someone who has used the fence on little (under 10 pounds) dogs, I'd like to hear of your experiences.

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly (Post 3627276)

Oh, I had to teach "leave it" pretty much from day one as I take medication and feared dropping a pill somehow and seeing him with one in is mouth or something! Plus, just the things he might get in his mouth dictates early training in that. He does that so well that he drops his chewie, his food, toy, whatever he has in his mouth and moves away to the middle of the room or yard to distance himself from that object that was in his mouth or whatever he was about to partake of when he got the command! He always gets an extra treat for appropriate response to "leave it" as that is a command a dog has just got to get right every time. Tibbe is such a good little learner. (I can't believe he was so "feral" almost when I first got him, I called trainers in North Dallas on Day 3 when I had him to see if they could assess him for mental acuity as I thought he might be brain damaged! He just knew nothing at all about life outside a cage and was very dead acting - nonresponsive except to run, scream, yelp, growl and he was scared of everything!) He's come so far.

Originally Posted by DvlshAngel985 (Post 3627286)

If you have any tips on getting him to drop the ball, I'm all ears! He'll drop everything but his toys. :p He doesn't like to share his toys. :rolleyes:

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly (Post 3627311)

I would stand over him, or get down on his level and look him in his eyes and point and give the command in that totally neutral, noncondemning training voice, "leave it", drop it, whatever you use, and hold that position - keep him looking at you, keep pointing and don't let him step away until he drops it. Keep him corralled there with your hands and arms and keep eye contact. He doesn't walk or turn away until he drops it. (Use a leash at first to keep him there if necessary.) Then, first and every other time he drops it, whoopee!!!! Say the word "Yes!" instantly and treat instantly and then really connect with him with lots of love. Just love him up and hold him and rub his back so gently and praise, praise, praise. Tell him you are sooooo proud of him and he is such a good boy.

But you must stand him down and no leaving the area until that ball is on the floor. Whatever you do during that standoff, do not get frustrated or mad because he will pick up on that instantly and get defensive - keep it cool and calm and stay in totally neutral training mode - but stand him down nevertheless. Anytime he doesn't drop the ball, it is a stand down. And then it is treat, partytime and love. He will get the idea the stand down is nonproductive and dropping it is way more fun! Tibbe works for the payoff he gets first and foremost and then it becomes habit. But it is like you say, you have to keep up on training and keep it positive and fun most of all.

Originally Posted by FidoTheYorkie (Post 3627408)

Cant read all the comments right now but I'm not getting an electric fence I just wanted to know how everyone felt about using it and if it had worked for someone.
Its illegal to use electric invisible fences here also I can't buy them here, I'm also moving soon we haven't found a place yet but I hope I find some place that has fence outside so Fido can be off-leash :) If not I'll just keep having him in a leash outside :)

Originally Posted by FidoTheYorkie (Post 3622675)

Is it OK to use those invicinble electric dog fences for yorkies ?
My aunt uses that for her dogs, they have a collar that gives them a little bit of electricity when they go out of the yard and it helped her so much ! she had a beagle that ran away constantly so that helped her alot :)


My yorkie, if the door is a little bit open he is gone ! No way to catch him :confused:
I would LOVE to be able to have him loose in the yard (though I would never have him alone in the yard , I'm always with him) without him running away and dont need to panic all the time about him getting loose.


How do you put down this kind of ''fence'' ? is it hard or can I get something that is really easy to put down in the ground ? I dont wanna make this some big mess , I want to find the easiest way possible :D
Its not an option for me to put a fence around the garden, it costs way to much I can't afford it.