not babying a yorkshire terrier
 

Hey everyone,

I'm hopefully soon getting my yorkshire terrier (found a good breeder, going through the whole process now) and wondering about peoples opinions on 'not babying' them and its effect on the dog.

Throughout my life my family has always had dogs (minus the last couple of years). They were usually hunting dogs (beagles) but when they weren't hunting they were very loving family dogs. I was taught a very kind, yet stern (maybe consistent is a better word) approach to raising a dog and never physical.

My concern is I've seen so many toy dogs that were babied to the point where the dog is just a nightmare. The family lost control of the dog and its just an awful sight. I really want to make sure this doesn't happen.

So, if you treat your yorkie like a 'normal' dog and socialize it like a 'normal' dog - do you get good results? Of course its a toy dog and as such it has some special needs (which i understand fully, been reading a lot on the subject).

Has anyone gone down this path? Looking for first hand accounts as opposed to reading another book or webpage.

( and yes saddly, i'm going to buy the future yorkie an outfit - i can't help it :cool: - but that's as far as the babying goes :aimeeyork)

Good luck whatever you try. I have tried to treat my yorkie exactly as I did my pom years ago and I have lost total control of the yorkie and had a well-mannered pom. My vet keeps saying don't compare the two, you can't compare 2 children so don't compare 2 dogs.
Baxter is completely rotten and takes all the attention in the room. Won't sleep all night because he wouldn't crate train. It has been unreal. Sometimes I get to my wits end.

I'm not sure if this is what you're looking for but here goes:
go back to the history of the breed-what were they bred for? check out earthdog trials
raise your baby with what you've described-loving consistency
remember that a lot of the things done for the lil ones have their roots in the practical-clothes because they keep a smaller body warm, strollers because 1 step for us is 4 or more for them
go with what is within your comfort level-there are no "rules" for having a Yorkie
most of all just enjoy your new furkid!!
congrats on the upcoming addition!

Welcome to YT .

I think your question is a very good one. You sound like your going to be
a good Yorkie owner.

I understand there are many, many tiny Yorkies. Buddy is a larger one, however, I would have done no different if he were smaller.
I raised him like a dog but giving him lot's of love and hugs along the way.
I remember reading, before I got him, that this breed can become depressed
if not treated correctly. Treating them like a baby constantly is wrong.
They are dogs first and formost and need to be treated as such. Dressing
them from time to time is fine, heavens knows it's so tempting with all the
beautiful clothes out there but they need to be dog's first. Lot's of training
and praise just like a larger dog is key or you will wind up with a spoiled,
unsocialized dog that will rule the roost and they will if allowed to. They do
demand attention and should get lot's of it however you need to be boss,
(Alpha) at all times. They feel more secure knowing your taking care of them
and protecting them. They feel the love and can't get enough training, IMO.
Buddy thrives on it. You'll be fine because you already seem to know what to do. Good luck and don't forget to post pictures when you get your furbaby.

I've had all sizes and breeds of dogs in my life and I expected them all - no matter what their size - to behave in an acceptable canine manner. If you teach them good manners and give them a good base you will have great times together. Just be aware that these little guys usually have fearless hearts and need to be looked after so that they don't hurt themselves. I find that if something bad happens and they no longer feel you will watch over them, that is when they become fretful.

Please don't confuse 'babying' with being 'watchful'. And buying cute little outfits and bows and bling is NOT babying...it's necessary. :p They are royalty, just ask any one of them and they will tell you. :D

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup: Well said!

I am SO happy i am not the only one!!! My DH hates it when I put clothes on my pups, but they are so cute.. i have to sometimes!!!!!! I baby them just cause i love them, but not to the point where they have control! AND they listen rather well... my older pup will even go to his 'room' when told! GL with your new furbaby!

Baxter is 7 lbs and he can outwalk me so no stroller for him and he hates clothes!!! He does tolerate bows though. I am worried about him getting cold when walk this winter so any suggestions for getting him to wear clothes would be welcome.

I give mine major daily doses of love, hugs and kisses. I also make sure they are around other dogs as much as possible and also have play-dates twice a month with my three plus 8 to 11 other small dogs. I do put sweaters and jackets on them when it's cold and use a stroller so they either won't burn their pads when we go to different little towns for shopping and traveling, or to get inside stores that otherwise wouldn't allow. In malls, and outside eating areas.
You can have well mannered, well adjusted dogs and still do these things. It's a good balance. ;)

I don't really understand what exactly you mean by babying.
Some people would call dressing your dog babying.
Some would say letting them sleep with you is babying.
Some say not letting them outside alone is babying.
Some say feeding a diet that they like is babying.
Some say not making them follow the rules is babying.
Some say putting them in a stroller or carrying them is babying.

So, were you talking about a certain area in particular?

Ellie doesn't like following rules but is usually forced to.
She hates other dogs but I can't make her like them.
She marks her territory but I can't hold it in her.
I don't let her outside alone. It is dangerous.
She gets homemade food and we are both happy about it.
She has a stroller and is usually carried in public because she marks and growls. I'm not paying $400 for a trainer because they are going to tell me not to let her on the furniture or in bed with me...yeah right. Not going to happen. So yes, Ellie is babied but she usually ends up following the rules when forced to.

Welcome to YT :)

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup: Well said!

Okay I'm GUILTY of it! Shoot me:D
Mine are what I say spoiled but well behaved. They get a little excited or may I say out of control when its time to go for walks..oh yeah the barking and running around the house like little maniacs...yes they do it but I can understand that they're just excited to go bye bye. When someones at the door they all bark and will not listen when I say stop barking but I also know that they love company and are excited that someone is coming to the house. Other than that they are great furkids and I have no compliants.
I do spoil them rotten in my own way.:D

I baby my Yorkies like I never did any other breed. BUT with 9 dogs you better believe I have control. I am the pack leader first and foremost and they are the pack.

I do dress them.
I do pamper them.
I do spend more on them than I did on my kids when I raised them.

I think it is OK to baby them if you are in control.

My Yorkie here is one of 8/11 depending on who is here for the day. I have 7 of my own dogs. He is a dog first and formost. I do not have time to dress up and stuff with all the animals that are here...pills for those that need them..cleaning on a daily basis..pond and garden and I do work full time. But he plays well with the others, he is 4#. I am in charge...they all look to me to feed, groom, pill, treats...I personally would not have it any other way.

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

I have always babied my yorkies and will continue to do so. However, you can baby and train as well. Kacee is a wonderfully social little doggie and I wouldn't change a thing about her. Why do you want a yorkie if you don't want to baby her? Just had to ask.:)

Pampering your dog and allowing it to become the pack leader are two different things. all dogs need rules and limitations or they tend to take over the position as pack leader. But after setting the boundries there is no reason at all why you can't treat them like a baby and dress them up. As long as they know the boundries.

just like with a child you can indulge them all you want as long as they understand that when you say NO, you mean it5.

I baby mine all day long but at the same time they have rules to follow. All of my friends say that they want to come back as my dog. Hot Rod was my first very own dog but I lived with my sister who had (over the years) 2 german shepherds that I took care of. I don't let my yorkies act any differently than the shepherds. The basic discipline things such as jumping on me or other; barking like crazy; sitting when fed or given a treat; taking off on his own without his leash, etc.

I don't see anything wrong with disciplining your dog...it is for their benefit as well as yours. I ask myself this all the time..."if he weighed 70 lbs, would I let him do _______?"

Congrats and good luck on your new addition.

I do baby my babies...all 5 of them but i am still Leader of the PACK and they know it. They are crated at night and they know their own little "room" and go to it when it is bed time and out in the morning. They all get dressed and love wearing clothes. I think you will feel differently once they get into your system...there is nothing like a yorkie!! Socializing them is very important too. :D
Welcome to YT...keep reading and learing about the breed. We all love them here and we will be happy to help you with questions/answers.
Be sure and post pictures when you can!

I agree both of mine are babied but they are also trained. I think you can have both when you put the effort in

I think you're on the right track. We socialized Biff with all the big dogs in the neighborhood (his girlfriend is a chocolate lab named Chloe) as well as our niece who was just over 1 when we got him. We knew we wanted him to be a well rounded, grounded and not nervous dog. The one thing that we really stuck to our guns about that might seem like babying was that we trained him not to jump. He won't jump off the couch or the bed I mean. He has a few t-shirts and sweaters, but honestly I've always had big dogs and we take him on walks, he plays with tennis balls and chew toys...we don't carry him all over the place and honestly most of the time when we take him places I put his leash on and make him walk. We take him to the park. The only thing I have to say is that they're terribly smart, terribly sneaky and very stubborn so you may think that your "tough love" training isn't working, but keep it up. There were times training made me want to cry, but with time and some sleepless nights he came around.

Welcome to YT :wavey: -- Just wanted to say Hi! You've gotten lots of good advice and comments. I think you will know the line -- it's hard not to just love them up - but they are like children - they do want to be disciplined - but most importantly need consistency.

Good luck with how your heart will be stolen ;)

:yeahthat:

:D common sense will be your guide young jedi :cool:

Im with you on the walking. Izzy can out walk and out run me sometimes! :p

You have a lot of great advice already, I will add that socializing them is very important and being consistent with the training. Ive learned that the hard way. I had to re-train izzy on some things around the house. If I could just get his barking toned down, we will be fine. LOL

Just keep trying them on him everyday. He should get used to it eventually.

I've had Yorkies my whole adult life (which has been for quite some time) and I've always treated them like little "dogs". I've never dressed them up and don't believe in strollers. If you want to walk with a stroller, my belief is, have a baby.

I think Yorkies enjoy being "dogs". They like to run, fetch, play, and occasionally get dirty. Yes, they are little and adorable but that doesn't negate the fact that they are dogs.

Katy is my first Yorkie and I plan on trying my best to treat her like the "big dog in a little dog's body" that she is. She is starting puppy class tomorrow but already I make her "sit" and "stay" before treats and "wait" when we go out the door. I don't let her walk in front of me and I don't free feed her. Since I stopped free feeding and placing her food before her I have gained more respect from her. Don't get me wrong, she has little dresses and such and I plan on "babying" her - but still knowing she is a little dog. Plus I love her so much that I think it is only being kind to her by teaching her manners and giving her boundaries. And by socializing her, it will give her more confidence.

I spoil Roxie with lots of LOVE! She is queen of the house but not in a bad way. She just loves to be loved and paid attention to. But...I'm the leader of the pack and just with kids I expect rules to be followed. She accepts that she can't always go out of the door with me and is always so happy to see me when I return. I really have no complaints about her behavior as she's always just happy when one or all of us are home with her (esp. me ;)). When I'm busy around the house she just follows me around or entertains herself with her toys or takes a nap. Not bad for just a little over a year old huh? How could you not spoil them with love?