New Member with Problem Yorkie

[kezza]

Originally Posted by donnarod

I do not feel that this is negative, it is very positive to help people, that, maybe have never owned a dog or a small dog.

I'm not saying the advice is negative...just worried a new member would be given a hard time for using this 'shock collar' which i myself dont agree with. She has been given some great advice..Archies post especially was very informative and helpful.

[JCarlson2004]

Originally Posted by chachi

I would try pennies in a can, the spray bottle, training, heck even a citronella collar but please dont use the shock collar. They are not meant for toy dogs and that your dog is yelping tells me she is in pain

Try the pennies in a can. That works great and it doesn't harm the dog at all. Please, if your dog is yelping it's because the shock collar HURTS. Please do not use it.

[bellarb2]

Hi there,

Thanks for all of your ideas. We got the shock collar as a last resort. We hated the idea of doing it but we couldn't think of anything else. She really can not continue to bark like this. I know yorkies are barkers but this is out of control. We couldn't even stand letting her out in the morning or late out night to go potty. Her old owners lied to us about why they were giving her up. We found out the other day that they were trying to use her as a breeder but she wouldn't mate and that's why they gave her up. They told us that she was just a family pet and their landlord told them they could only have three dogs. Since she was the last one they got, she was the one that had to go. This was a complete lie. We found out through a good, rescuer friend of ours. Apparently they let her bark and did not train her at all. She is a larger yorkie, about 16 pounds and the collar is bark controlled. It starts out with a small shock and gradually increases in intensity if she continues to bark. We've stopped using the collar because it doesn't work. We've tried the pennies in the can idea, spraying her with water, trying to distract her, etc. She barks agressively at other dogs & noises. It's not a bark out of boredom. I'm going to try the suggestion of positive reinforcement.

I may also consider a training class but she has to get over her agression towards other dogs first. We are trying to socialize her since apparently her previous owners didn't put in the time with her. We try and introduce her to new dogs whenever we can.

Thanks again for the help. I'll keep you updated on how things are going.

[red98vett]

Hey there - the training class will help her with the aggression and the barking too - and if you have the money to spend and the time - personal trainers are great if you find a good one - I've never used one but several people I've talked to have - from what I've heard most all were positive experiences

[diggy4]

I agree anything but a shock collar Yorkies are very smart dont underestimate them. She knows she is doing wrong but her urge to do it is obviously stronger than the shock! Maybe some positive reinforcement and classes would helps lots.....

I have a true story for you, I was engaged to a State Trooper for 4 years, he called me one night said we got a call from a lady that said this. My neighbor has a Lab, they have an invisible fence the dog would run thru the fence and scream bloody murder while getting shocked and continue on running. After the people took the collar off the fence was no longer a shock to him BUT when he hit that line where the fence USED to be he would still scream and jerk like he was shocked and continue running. The lady was calling to report the dog as escaped but told this story to them as she reported it. Sorry the shock collar reminded me of it. Dogs are smart!

[yorkiesmiles]

I just want to welcome you to YorkieTalk!!

You have some good advice. Please don't take offense to all the opinions. This is a great place. I would say if what you're doing isn't working after this amount of time, do try something else.

My little Roxie likes to bark at squirrels and other dogs, it does take time to train them to curb the behavior.

yorkiesmiles & Bubba & Roxie

[Yorkiekids]

Their necks are so small that I would never put a shock collar on them. Water sprayer, or penny cans are a much better solution. Best of luck with your training.