Are you the pack leader?

[kjc]

Instead of spitting in his food, the same thing can be accomplished by stirring the food with your hand.... it puts your scent on the food so he knows from whence it came...

[gracielove]

Originally Posted by lovespandp

I have taught Peanut how to sit, stay, lay down, speak and high five and double high five- He loves when I sit down with him and go over tricks. Heel is the one I have NOT been able to teach also “play dead” I will def start working teaching him “heel”. I think you are right, that sounds like a great idea!!

Ok on the walk thing- should I let him pee/ mark ( I say mark because outside he will always lift his leg, he doesn’t lift his leg on his pee pad) He will also lift outside in this dog run. That is confusing to me… if I let him lift outside where he wants or not let him mark where ever he wants..

Lots of little things we are going to work on that will help! I’m excited for us! My goal is to have a well balanced Yorkie!

I will also look up that website!! Thank you so much!

I would let him pee as much as he wants on the walk....unless it gets obsessive. I really don't think it has anything to do with who is the leader. It is a male dog activity and he needs to be able to do it outside. He should get rid of excess urine while he is doing it
If he does not lift his leg when using the pee pad then it does sound like he is doing a marking behavior when he goes where is not supposed to. You may need to confine him or tether him to you when he is inside until you are able to retrain him. I really think going on walks with him will help. They just love exploring and the exercise is really needed. Backyards are wonderful but some dogs just don't exercise enough unless they have someone to play with out there. I hope you find something that will help you with him. He does sound like a very smart little guy that is trying to deliver some sort of message to you.

[lovespandp]

Originally Posted by gracielove

I would let him pee as much as he wants on the walk....unless it gets obsessive. I really don't think it has anything to do with who is the leader. It is a male dog activity and he needs to be able to do it outside. He should get rid of excess urine while he is doing it
If he does not lift his leg when using the pee pad then it does sound like he is doing a marking behavior when he goes where is not supposed to. You may need to confine him or tether him to you when he is inside until you are able to retrain him. I really think going on walks with him will help. They just love exploring and the exercise is really needed. Backyards are wonderful but some dogs just don't exercise enough unless they have someone to play with out there. I hope you find something that will help you with him. He does sound like a very smart little guy that is trying to deliver some sort of message to you.

So yesterday I took him on a walk right after I got home… he peed, and peed and peed till nothing came out, and he also pooped! He only had 1 “accident” that evening! I can really see how taking him for a walk is really going to help!!!

[dawn27]

Originally Posted by lovespandp

So yesterday I took him on a walk right after I got home… he peed, and peed and peed till nothing came out, and he also pooped! He only had 1 “accident” that evening! I can really see how taking him for a walk is really going to help!!!

Thats great news... sounds like your in for a supper work out. That way you both get the benifit of a nice walk ....lol !

[gracielove]

So happy to hear the walk went well. It is amazing how much they urine a male can hold. Hopefully if you made the walk a routine thing it will help to relieve his need to do that inside. Watching him 24/7 is going to help, too.

Gracie doesn't pee inside but I have found that a morning and evening walk really help her contain her busy activities inside. She needs the release that the adventure gives her and it tones down the energy level quite a bit. Last winter I slacked off the walk quite a bit because of the weather and she gained some weight. So I doubled up on the walk come spring time and she trimmed back down pretty quickly.

I hope you continue to see improvement.

[lovespandp]

Originally Posted by dawn27

Thats great news... sounds like your in for a supper work out. That way you both get the benifit of a nice walk ....lol !

Thank you!!

[lovespandp]

Originally Posted by gracielove

So happy to hear the walk went well. It is amazing how much they urine a male can hold. Hopefully if you made the walk a routine thing it will help to relieve his need to do that inside. Watching him 24/7 is going to help, too.

Gracie doesn't pee inside but I have found that a morning and evening walk really help her contain her busy activities inside. She needs the release that the adventure gives her and it tones down the energy level quite a bit. Last winter I slacked off the walk quite a bit because of the weather and she gained some weight. So I doubled up on the walk come spring time and she trimmed back down pretty quickly.

I hope you continue to see improvement.

It is amazing how much they can hold in that little bladder!! He loves to be outside, he loves walking, and in the summer he will sun bathe for hours! I’m excited to work with him- in the end it will bring our bond closer! ( not sure how much closer it can get LOL)

Watching him is the key as well, I think if I was watching him a little better I could have prevented that 1 accident! DH and I were wrapped up in “Hotel Transylvania” LOL really cute movie by the way!

I still made him lay in his bed ( which is right in front of us) while we ate dinner last night- DH always finishes first and even after he stopped eating he still laid there until I said “ok” and I told him he was a good boy and he did a good “stay”- he of course got his treat- which he was super happy about and did 3-60’s.

He is such a little smartie pants, he really is smart, and he does listen to me- I think he just needs more “structure”. I’m going to work with him every day for about 10 mins- hopefully we can get “heel” down- have not been able to master that one yet. With a little work and following up, I think we can achieve anything!! Who knows maybe he will learn the “ bang bang” trick!! He will lay down when I “shoot him” but he doesn’t stay on his tummy.. We can work on that trick too!!

Gracie sounds like Peanut- loves to be outside and adventure!! I love watching them walk, those little legs and paws go so fast.. It is really cute to watch when they are outside- how they tilt their little head up and smell all the different smells- how they stop to listen if they hear something- Super cute!

On the weekends I am going to make it a point to walk him twice! I think like Gracie that will help Peanut as well.

How much does Gracie weigh? How old is she?

Thank you for all your help on this- you have really helped me understand things more!!

[gracielove]

Gracie is 2 1/2 years old. Her normal weight is 5 lbs but as I said she gained last winter. She lives for her walks and the outdoors in general. If I am late taking her out she will start to pace around and if I don't look like I"m going to take her she will start to bark at me. She know exactly when walk time is in the morning and in the evening. You would think she was on a search and rescue mission the way she sniffs the ground as we walk! We live back in a wooded area so I'm sure she smells all the animals that roam around at night. In the warmer weather I will sit out in the backyard with her after our walks. She just loves watching the squirrels and birds.

I think walking adds some adventure to her life. Hanging around the house with me can't be very exciting for a young dog so I make myself take her for the walks. I suppose I need it as much as she does but with her around it is quite a motivation to exercise more.

[lovespandp]

Originally Posted by gracielove

Gracie is 2 1/2 years old. Her normal weight is 5 lbs but as I said she gained last winter. She lives for her walks and the outdoors in general. If I am late taking her out she will start to pace around and if I don't look like I"m going to take her she will start to bark at me. She know exactly when walk time is in the morning and in the evening. You would think she was on a search and rescue mission the way she sniffs the ground as we walk! We live back in a wooded area so I'm sure she smells all the animals that roam around at night. In the warmer weather I will sit out in the backyard with her after our walks. She just loves watching the squirrels and birds.

I think walking adds some adventure to her life. Hanging around the house with me can't be very exciting for a young dog so I make myself take her for the walks. I suppose I need it as much as she does but with her around it is quite a motivation to exercise more.

Aw she sounds like a sweet heart. I think Yorkies are little adventure seekers in general- it runs in their blood. We all need a push in life, we should be thankful to have them push us to get outside and take it all in to enjoy it!

[Charlies Mamma]

drum rolllllllllll.............................

CHARLIE!!!! LOL

#6. When you leave the house or the room, even for a minute, ignore the dog for a few minutes upon your return.

when I walk in the door Charlie is waitng on me at the top of a recliner that sits by the door and I grab him first thing and hug and love on him (even before hubby) LOL and when I leave he runs to the door fast as he can and I always bend down and love on him and tell him I will miss him.

#15. Any attention given to the dog, including petting, should be given when the human decides attention is to be given (absolutely no petting when the dog nudges or paws you or your hand. This would be letting the dog decide and reinforcing, in his mind, that he is higher on the scale than the human.)

Charlie paws on us all the time for petting and we do it like a game we will pet for a bit then stop so that he will paw on us some more.


that said, He is not a disobedient dog. he is very loving, and is treated like a child in our home. he has never "marked" in the house (to my knowledge anyway) and I assume I would know from the smell. as far as eating, in the morning I put Charlies food down and he will look at me and I will tell him go head and he will walk over and eat BUT we did not teach him this he has just done it from day one. at dinner, Charlie eats with us he eats on the floor and from his bowl but its at the same time and yes, we pull him up with us to the table to eat sometimes (he IS our baby)

If we are going by the list , Charlie IS the leader but we dont mind following him. LOL

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by Charlies Mamma

drum rolllllllllll.............................

CHARLIE!!!! LOL

#6. When you leave the house or the room, even for a minute, ignore the dog for a few minutes upon your return.

when I walk in the door Charlie is waitng on me at the top of a recliner that sits by the door and I grab him first thing and hug and love on him (even before hubby) LOL and when I leave he runs to the door fast as he can and I always bend down and love on him and tell him I will miss him.

#15. Any attention given to the dog, including petting, should be given when the human decides attention is to be given (absolutely no petting when the dog nudges or paws you or your hand. This would be letting the dog decide and reinforcing, in his mind, that he is higher on the scale than the human.)

Charlie paws on us all the time for petting and we do it like a game we will pet for a bit then stop so that he will paw on us some more.


that said, He is not a disobedient dog. he is very loving, and is treated like a child in our home. he has never "marked" in the house (to my knowledge anyway) and I assume I would know from the smell. as far as eating, in the morning I put Charlies food down and he will look at me and I will tell him go head and he will walk over and eat BUT we did not teach him this he has just done it from day one. at dinner, Charlie eats with us he eats on the floor and from his bowl but its at the same time and yes, we pull him up with us to the table to eat sometimes (he IS our baby)

If we are going by the list , Charlie IS the leader but we dont mind following him. LOL

LOL!!! Well, lists of rules are only for the people having a problem with their dog's behavior and not those pleased to pieces with him. As Tibbe doesn't whine or cry when I leave the house or pee on the floor when I return, we greet as if we haven't seen each other for months! We make an absolute scene greeting each other! And, as he doesn't try to dominate or make a pest of himself about it, I pet and googoo at him anytime he nudges and barks for attention! We settled our leadership issues long, long ago and now we're just comfortable old companions of one another who each knows his role in the relationship, loves the other madly and it couldn't be a happier fit. All that stuff in the dog books and in magazine and online advising this and that are just for people who have problems with their dog. Mine happens to be perfect and has been for years so I let him get away with near murder and am happy to do it. Thing is, he's perfected the art of being the perfect dog - he's happy, he's upbeat, he's self-entertaining and cute as a bug, well-behaved, barks to alert me when there is a strange noise I should know about, doesn't eliminate when or where he shouldn't, doesn't destroy a thing except his breakfast and dinner and lives large. And did I mention - he's cute! I rarely have to correct him anymore. If all dogs and humans could live together as happily as we, there would hardly be a dog in a shelter. But it took a good year plus of training and setting boundaries and reinforcing preferred behavior and getting up for the 100th time that day to get him a treat when he minded me about something or I saw him back off from something he knew he should resist. And I still do that - I still reward good behavior with a special treat and get rewarded all day with love & Yorkie kisses. Good rules and lists are just for problems with dogs but when you do follow them, they sure can produce a great dog and we don't have to worry who is leader at this stage!

[gracielove]

Originally Posted by Charlies Mamma

drum rolllllllllll.............................

CHARLIE!!!! LOL

#6. When you leave the house or the room, even for a minute, ignore the dog for a few minutes upon your return.

when I walk in the door Charlie is waitng on me at the top of a recliner that sits by the door and I grab him first thing and hug and love on him (even before hubby) LOL and when I leave he runs to the door fast as he can and I always bend down and love on him and tell him I will miss him.

#15. Any attention given to the dog, including petting, should be given when the human decides attention is to be given (absolutely no petting when the dog nudges or paws you or your hand. This would be letting the dog decide and reinforcing, in his mind, that he is higher on the scale than the human.)

Charlie paws on us all the time for petting and we do it like a game we will pet for a bit then stop so that he will paw on us some more.


that said, He is not a disobedient dog. he is very loving, and is treated like a child in our home. he has never "marked" in the house (to my knowledge anyway) and I assume I would know from the smell. as far as eating, in the morning I put Charlies food down and he will look at me and I will tell him go head and he will walk over and eat BUT we did not teach him this he has just done it from day one. at dinner, Charlie eats with us he eats on the floor and from his bowl but its at the same time and yes, we pull him up with us to the table to eat sometimes (he IS our baby)

If we are going by the list , Charlie IS the leader but we dont mind following him. LOL

I have known people who are so very proud of how well trained their dogs are but the dogs have never seemed very relaxed or happy because they are always watching for the next command. I just do not feel comfortable with having that much control over humans or pets. I think it gets carried way too far. Gracie knows the commands that are pretty basic and enough so that she is happy to do what I ask her to do but she is not a trained machine like some dogs I have known.
It seems some dogs are given no boundaries at all and they are the ones that tend to take over the house.
I totally agree that training can be over done. Going too far the other way is bad too.

[life4life]

I am not. DH is the pack leader.

[yorkietalkjilly]

I personally haven't seen that many overtrained dogs. A lot of what I see are dogs with a couple of months of obedience when they were puppies and people too busy to work with their dogs much at all consistently. The dogs are bored silly and maybe get a walk 3 times a week and then my friends wonder why their dog is neurotic with a touch of OCD, peeing everywhere, doesn't come when called and chewing, barking too much. Those dogs don't seem very happy either. And the owners really aren't. I wish those people would spend some more time working with and nurturing their dog's needs to work and have mental challenges.

[susan lynn]

I have 4 Yorkies now, ages 2-4, 2 females (spayed) 2 males (neutered) they used to do pretty good about potty and rules until I added the last female, she destroyed all the rules and causes a lot of confusion. she is very hyper. so now we really have no control or rules. The girls always use the potty pads, the boys do sometimes or will go out side, sometimes. My youngest male thinks he can lift his leg and pee on anything. I have tried everything to stop him, but no luck. They all are in control no matter what me or my husband do or say. They in the most part are good dogs. They are just very spoiled and they rule the house. I think it is a Yorkie thing, I try but love them to much to discipline them like I should, especially when they look at you with that cute little face and give you a million licks every day. Nothing like Yorkie Love!