How to Prevent My Yorkie Pup From Tearing Up My Walls

Puppies explore their environment with chewing; however, chewing or tearing up inappropriate things is a behavior that can be prevented. A Yorkshire terrier, or Yorkie, is small and preventing it from tearing up your walls can be done easily.

Things You'll Need

  • Crate (optional)
  • Puppy pen or toddler play pen (optional)
  • Anti-chew spray (optional)
  • Chew toys
  • Acrylic glass, acrylic sheets, toddler gates or wood (optional)
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Instructions

    • 1

      Write down the events surrounding your Yorkie puppy tearing up the walls to help determine the cause and when prevention needs to be applied. Chewing when left alone, especially for long periods of time, is common, but your puppy may also be destructive when you are there and busy, during storms or if company is in the house. According to Wayne L. Hunthausen, DVM, there are many causes for chewing, including teething, boredom, medical problems and stress--including separation anxiety.

    • 2

      Crate your Yorkie puppy when you are not able to supervise it. According to Kathy Diamond Davis, author and dog trainer, dogs normally sleep up to 14 hours a day. Make sure your puppy has many potty and play breaks and that the crate is used only for unsupervised times.

    • 3

      Put your puppy in a puppy pen or a toddler play pen. A Yorkshire terrier's adult weight is generally under 7 pounds; therefore, a small pen will give the puppy room to play without having access to a wall.

    • 4

      Spray the walls with substances--such as bitter apple--that are designed to prevent chewing. Many puppies like the taste, so observe to make sure your puppy does not continue to chew. Test the spray on a small hidden area first to determine if it will stain your wall.

    • 5

      Block the wall areas that your Yorkie can reach with material such as acrylic glass or acrylic sheets, toddler gates or wood. Make sure the material is secured by furniture or hardware so it cannot fall on and injure your Yorkie.

    • 6

      Say "No chew" in a loud voice if you see the puppy tearing the wall. Immediately give your puppy an appropriate chew toy. Do not punish any behavior that you do not see your puppy doing. Provide your Yorkie puppy with various chew toys and rotate them so it does not get bored with the toys. When your Yorkie puppy has stopped tearing up your wall, you can begin to give short times alone where you can monitor its behavior.