How to Train a Rehomed Yorkie Terrier

Weighing an average of eight to 10 pounds, a Yorkshire terrier might fit inside your coat pocket. Despite their size, however, Yorkies are bold, courageous and stubborn. They were bred to hunt vermin, such as rats, and won't back down from a fight. They are lively and energetic, and will gladly take over a home if they are allowed to do so. Training a Yorkie that was previously someone else's pet requires patience. You may have to change habits or, if your Yorkie was mistreated, overcome fear-related behavior problems. Fortunately, positive reinforcement training techniques can help your Yorkie adjust to its new rules and home.

Things You'll Need

  • Dog treats
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Instructions

    • 1

      Ask your Yorkshire terrier's previous owners or the shelter about past training if it is possible. Learn what commands the Yorkie was taught and what rules it was expected to follow. This information may not be available, but if it is, it will help you manage the dog's behavior until you can retrain it in a way that is more suitable for you and your home.

    • 2

      Decide on rules for your Yorkie to follow, and enforce them as soon as it comes to live with you. Don't allow it in the kitchen while you cook if you don't want it underfoot, or make it wait outside the baby's room instead of following you inside. Be patient. It will take some time for your Yorkie to understand these rules, especially if they weren't the rules of its old home.

    • 3

      Correct inappropriate behavior (such as breaking a rule or getting into mischief) by interrupting your Yorkshire terrier. Clap, whistle or say "no" in a loud voice. The interruption will startle your Yorkie and get its attention. When its attention turns to you, praise your Yorkie and give it a treat as a reward. Require your Yorkie to stop the mischief for longer periods of time before rewarding it.

    • 4

      Teach your Yorkie basic commands, if it has not learned them already, by using treats to lure it into position. Hold two or three training sessions every day to give your Yorkie plenty of time to practice. Work on just one or two commands per session, and don't train for longer than 10 to 15 minutes at a time. Your Yorkie's focus will wander after that, and you won't accomplish anything.

    • 5

      Avoid scolding or punishing your Yorkie for making a mistake or breaking a rule. Punishment teaches your dog what it is not allowed to do without giving it an alternative course of action. Instead, reward behavior you do like. Be patient and remember that things were done differently in your Yorkie's old home. Habits can take weeks, or even months, to change.