I think that's about right on the money. I'm in NY and when I do train other people's dogs (when I have time - whenever that is!), I charge about $45. Also, I agree that for many small dogs, private lessons or small groups are the way to go. There's a video out there on competitive obedience training for small dogs and the trainers say in the video that they prefer training their dogs away from the large dogs and hustle of a group class. It's less intimidating for the wee ones.

Congradulations! That's wonderful! Welcome to the wonderful world of Yorkies! Once Chloe is adjusted to your home, you can start training immediatly. With a young dog, keep sessions SHORT (five minutes tops), always end on a good note, and keep it light and fun. Incorporate training into playing and games so that your dog doesnt' know the difference between what is play and what is work. You'll find that Chloe will pick up what you are trying to teach her quicker this way and she'll learn to love to work for you. That book I recommended "Building Blocks for Performance" is specifically focused on training young dogs. I beleive it is published by Alpine Books (they have thier own website) but it is probably also available at http://www.dogwise.com

Currently have three dogs. My agility yorkie who was adopted from an animal shelter at three, a show dog who was purchased from the breeder at four months and a geriatric poodle who was adopted from Poodle rescue at nine years! The Poodle, admittedly doesnt' get a heck of a lot of training but that's mostly because he is very sedate, slightly blind, toothless, and is happiest sitting on the sofa watching football with my father. For him, training was mostly focused on housebreaking (he had lived in a kennel his entire life) and getting him desensitized to all the strange things and going-ons of a a household (when we got him, we soon discovered he had no idea what even GRASS was!). The agility dog and the show dog were trained almost as soon as they moved in. With the show dog, who was only a puppy, I followed the advice I just mentioned. Take it slow and make it fun.

THANK YOU, you gave me so much good information, I am going to look at your website, I'm looking forward to checking out and possibly purchasing the videos that you mentioned. We've decided that the training class that we've attended is not for Tiko, I don't want to put him through that horror anymore. And after reading your post I'm absolutely sure that we're making the right choice for him. He does so much better when I train him at home, in a more gentler and loving way, and I'm just starting to learn, like I said before this is our very first puppy, so we really don't know anything about dogs and their mentallity. But I do know that we adore this little guy and want to do the best for him. Again, I thank you so immensely for taking the time to give me so much info.

Oh Wow, where in NY are you, I'm in NY, right on the border of Brooklyn and Queens.

Iris, I sent you a private message in regard to my own availabiltiy (want to honor the rules of this board). In the meantime, I also emailed a trainer friend of mine I've come to rely on to help me with my agility training. Both she and her sister competed in competiion level obedience with Poms for many years before turning to agility and she is someone who has helped me work through training issues with my own dog. I'd feel very confident in referring her to you if we can't work something out.

In the meantime, I'd gladly help you out through this message board and share your issues with the board so that, perhaps, we can help other people out as well. To begin with, I'd like to know what you dog already knows and what he doesn't. Ideally, I'd like to see him learn attention and "look" before heeling and sit and down.

If you don't mind me asking, where was the school that you attended the class? The "horrible" place I went to that one time was in Franklin Square. While I don't know anything in your immediate area, there are good number of great places within a reasonable drive from your home: Whiteplains, CT, Staten Island, and New Jersey.

We just finished puppy kindergarten with Bentley and I can't believe some of the things I am reading from other people. We were very picky with the class we attended and I am glad that we were as it sounds like there are a lot of shady places out there. It definitely is a good idea to do research and get referrals from vets, etc. At the beginning of class they did not use a choke collar on any of the dogs. As the class went on (it was 6 weeks) they only used alternate collars (prong and choke) on the bigger dogs (boxer, lab) if they found them to be very high strung dogs. No small dogs were given any of these types of collars. Some people came in the first day and had these special types of collars on their small dogs and the instructor scolded them on being so hard on the puppy's neck.

We must have gone to the same place, it's on Lincoln Road.

Tiko is a smart little guy. He knows "look" this happened by chance cause whenever I gave him a treat if he missed a few crumbs I'd point to them and say look but I don't think he knows "look at me". Using a treat as an incentive he knows "sit, stay, laydown, come." He knows "wait, almost done, ball, toy, Tweety (which is one of his toys)" He knows "go to daddy, mommy." Using the soft collar I'm teaching him to heel but he doesn't quite get it yet. But I wouldn't mind using a target stick or the clicker if I can learn how to.

You are doing everything right AND you are going about it in the right way! What I should suggest is that you get some good books and videos on clicker training if you would like to have it a try. There are also seminars that come through our area I can give you a heads up on. When I get a chance this week, I'll compile a list of clicker training books and videos and where to get them. I can make it a seperate post (I may have made such a post in the past but I don't remember). OK?

Keep up the good work! : ) :p

My trainer did recomend the training lead for other dogs but not the small dogs. I trained all of mine in a harness and they did just fine. I would refuse if they made them wear a collar. I can understand why you would have a problem with a large dog cause they are so big, But the harnesses worked great for me. Mine wear nylon collars but only to carry thier tags. Never for a leash. I started classes after thier last set of shots. Some say after the 3rd set is ok I dont know but I didnt want to take chances. Bailee gets to go next although because of the weather it probablly wont happen til spring. There were no clases this summer cause the trainer broke her ankle not once but 2 times. I train mine for Therapy dogs. Brandi is a good size for them to hold but they prefer Jigzey cause Jigzey is a mushmonster and will sit up in front of them and let them hold her paws. LOL.
They love going there and the people love them too!They cant get enough and look forward to the visits. I would recomend it for anybody that has a good tempered dog. You get a lot of joy out of it.
Cindy

OOPS sorry I missed a page on this thread.
Cindy

i always thought the pronged collars were horrible............ untill my mom got lani (a mixed pound puppy who DEFFINATLY has some herding dog in her) She pulled like no other, she still does even with the pronged collar but at least it is not as bad....... i couldnt imagine using anything but a harness on these little guys.... when i had a cairn terrier i started out with a choke chain, but it didnt do any good so i used a harness instead adn it worked wonderfully ( he used to yap when we were walking adn the only time he would shut up was when we were running, silly dog :p
I've actually seem someone with a yorkie at petsmart looking at the pronged collars and trying them on her dog :eek: i was horrified, i wanted to take her dog away and slap her on teh wrist..... these guys are sooo smart and they learn fast it just takes patience

Thanks, I'll be looking forward to the info. By the way I sent you a private message, I wasn't sure if you automatically get a notice or if I was supposed to let you know. :)

[QUOTE= I train mine for Therapy dogs. Brandi is a good size for them to hold but they prefer Jigzey cause Jigzey is a mushmonster and will sit up in front of them and let them hold her paws. LOL.
They love going there and the people love them too!They cant get enough and look forward to the visits. I would recomend it for anybody that has a good tempered dog. You get a lot of joy out of it.
Cindy[/QUOTE]

I've heard a lot about therapy dogs, I think it's such a good idea, something that in the future depending on how Tiko is doing I might like to look into.

Shoot! Iris, I realize now that the list I put up on training and clicker books/videos was on Yorkie Direct which has been down. It will take me a bit of time to put up the list again. In the interim, heres a few sources to check out:

Karen Pryor's website (I included the link in a previous post)
Gary Wilkes website (same)
Dogwise - http://www.dogwise.com
Amazon.com has a list system (lystomania) a few people have put up books on clicker training.

My yorkie was also a lil pain when it came to getting him in the harness, now that he is used to it though he loves it and like fasteddie he also steps right into it and even knows which foot to pick up and step through with! I keep a collar on him for identification and because I think it looks cute :) But I would not walk him in this...he tends to pull a lot on the harness...anyone know how to stop him from doing this?