How Can I De-Stress My Yorkie?

The Yorkshire terrier weighs, on average, seven pounds, but despite its small size it was bred for a specific purpose; hunting rats and other small vermin. Though they are companion animals today, many Yorkies retain the courageous, stubborn spirit of their working ancestors. However some terriers become stressed when exposed to something they are afraid of, or when bored or under-stimulated. This stress can lead to behavior problems such as chewing, urinating or soiling in the house, aggression or self-injury (by excessive licking or chewing or trying to escape). To help your Yorkie relieve stress, you need to address the cause.

Things You'll Need

  • Blanket
  • Dog bed or crate
  • Dog toys
  • Dog chews
  • Leash
  • Collar
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Instructions

  1. Anxiety or Fear-Related Stress

    • 1

      Observe your Yorkshire terrier to see what situations trigger a fear-response. Ask yourself if your Yorkie is stressed during storms or fireworks (fear of noise), when strangers are around, in the presence of larger dogs or in unfamiliar situations such as when traveling or walking in new areas.

    • 2

      Avoid reinforcing fearful behavior by petting or coddling your Yorkie. Ignore it if it attempts to demand your attention. If you reward the behavior, you teach your Yorkie that it is an appropriate response to the situation, and the stress can get worse.

    • 3

      Provide your Yorkie with a safe place to go when it feels afraid or stressed. This can be a crate, a bed or a corner. Some dogs enjoy hiding underneath objects such as table or in bathtubs or even in cars. Watch your Yorkie carefully to see if it selects a safe place of its own, and encourage it to go there in the future. Do this by placing a blanket, cushion or favorite toy in the safe spot.

    • 4

      Reward your Yorkshire terrier for staying calm in situations that normally frighten it. For example, if it asks to play during a thunderstorm, reward it by tossing the toy around the living room and praising it excitedly. This can help you reinforce the idea that your Yorkie has nothing to fear.

    • 5

      Ask a veterinarian to prescribe a sedative for your Yorkshire terrier if its stress becomes extreme enough that it hurts itself. It may lick itself excessively and cause skin irritation or injure itself trying to escape from a loud noise. A sedative can help prevent this. Hire a certified applied animal behaviorist to help you recondition your Yorkie and teach it not to fear the situation in the future.

    Frustration or Boredom

    • 6

      Take your Yorkshire terrier for a short walk, five to 10 minutes long, every day. Yorkies are energetic dogs and need daily exercise or they can become stressed. Walks on the leash will help relieve your Yorkie's stress by giving it physical exercise as well as mental stimulation.

    • 7

      Play with your Yorkie every day. Structured play time helps relieve extra energy that can lead to stress and boredom-related behavior problems. It also gives your Yorkie an outlet for its instinct to chase, hunt, chew and shake. Play also has the benefit of providing one-on-one bonding time between you and your Yorkie, which will help reduce stress.

    • 8

      Provide toys, chews and bones to entertain your Yorkie during "down" time. When you aren't actively paying attention to your Yorkie or helping it get physical exercise, it can get bored. This boredom can turn to frustration and stress, which will in turn lead to behavior problems. Give your Yorkie a way to occupy its time with toys, puzzle toys such as kongs, chews and bones. These items entertain your Yorkie and give it a chance to stimulate its mind and practice instinctive behaviors.