TV and Walks
 

Hi,

I have two questions. My Yorkie is now 5 months old and a lovely little dog. However he has started watching TV. We have always liked watching the pet channel but now we are getting our pup's growls and barks as part of the soundtrack whenever they show an animal! What's the best way to handle this?

Also I've started walking last week and he's doing well. However there are times when he stops or runs ahead. I know it's all new to him. I'd like him to walk mostly beside me with some side sniffs (he pees inside so doesn't stop for that). Should iI be jerking on the lead and if so, how much etc?

Hi and welcome to YT. I believe that it is normal for an animal to bark back when they hear another animal on TV. You could teach the quiet command but I believe you are fighting against their natural instincts. You can use some pennies in a can or I use a can of compressed air. When Buster barks inappropriately I give a little hiss of the air never directed at him and when he stops I reward him. Please never jerk hard on the leash. I hope you are using the leash with a no choke harness rather than a leash and collar. Yorkie have very delicate trachea's which can easily be crushed or injured. YT recommends the use of the no choke harness. Most dogs like to sniff and smell. Dogs communicate by leaving pee mail so your dog is just checking the neighborhood thread. Once again when your dog is walking by you praise and reward when they are walking correctly. If they are pulling or doing what you don't want them to do stop and don't move until they behave correctly. That is what I have done hopefully others will give you their suggestions and you can figure out what works best for you but always be gentle with their necks. Best wishes Yorkies are great companions.

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Thanks for your responses! Actually, the pup isn't responding to hearing an animal, it's seeing it on tv. Watching the Black Stallion got a bit interesting when he looked up to see a horse :-) and then that darn horse kept coming back :-) and Ladyhawke got a bit louder than planned when he realized there was a wolf in the story.

I think he's gradually getting acclimatised to horses now tough he seemed to be looking cross-eyed at the horse in Ladyhawke he refrained from barking. It's still loud for the Pet Network rescue series.... The other issue is him seeing his reflection in the glass of the fireplace cover....

What we've been doing is using stern calm deep Nos and Enoughs. We seem to be making some progress....

As far as the walks -- definitely no collar and no jerks other than one in which we both headed blithely off in opposite directions. His harness puts the "pull" over the shoulders. I'd like a different harness soon though since the one I'm using is very hard to readjust over or under his sweater and hard to put on regardless.

Linda

The Buddy Belt is a great no choke harness that has many sizes. It is pricey but it is great quality leather and is very comfortable and great looking and it comes in incredible colors. In fact you might become a BB addict. There is a member here Maximo that sells them. Here is a link to her website. Designer Dog Clothes, Dog Accessories | W. Field's Dog Boutique

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/4486143-post11.html

Thanks for this thread. I'll be more careful when i take my Lucy on walks. When she gets stubborn I would just pull and drag her until she'd start walking. It worked and now she follows with even minimal 'pull' on the collar, but I didn't realize I could be hurting her. She's just so tiny that no harness fits her yet. Maybe another week or three.

Anyway, even though she's perfectly fine, I'll be more careful from now on. thanks!

He's reactions are normal and if we are going to keep our dogs inside most of the time, we have to expect some doggie responses from time to time and bear with it if we love them. But if he gets obsessive about it and is just driving you crazy going on and on, stop him each and every time. There are many ways to do it but here are two.

You can stop him before he does it if you want when you see him begin to fixate on the image - when his ears come up, his eyes focus in and his body, face and mouth tense up or after he's been barking a while and you are tired of it. Just stand up, clap your hands, say "uh oh", move in front of him, lock eyes with him and point at him and tell him "Quiet". Stand there pointing and keeping constant eye contact until he relaxes. Don't yell, act angry or scare him - just stay relaxed, confident and matter of face. You are just showing him a new reaction you are teaching him. Stand there before him until he looks away, loses interest. He'll soon learn that you are just as determined as he is.

IF you do this every time and even include moving over to him and touching him suddenly on his flank if he's barking in a frenzy to redirect his attention to you while saying "uh oh", locking eyes and standing there in front of him, relaxed-but-firm, until he relaxes, he will get it that he's no longer allowed to make further verbal responses when you say so. Later, a mere look or point of your finger will quieten him.

I'm one of those, however, who lets my little indoor captive canine, who doesn't get all the doggie play dates he should, make all the noises he wants when he sees other animals on TV or through the window - if we are alone. But he doesn't bark on and on - he's a reasonable barker and never gets frenzied. If someone else is here, I look and/or point at him and he knows to be quiet. Then I get up and treat him or reach over and praise him lavishly, toss a toy for him to go get, let him know he did good.

My Diva will bark if she hears a door bell on TV or if it's loud enough, another dog. I simply say: "Diva, that's the TV." Then she's quiet.

Waffles growls when she sees Adele (Rolling in the deep) specifically on the tv. lol