My yorkie is 5 months and is not doing well training? Any ideas?

Answer 1

The key is:
1. Consistancy on your part - you can't laugh at a misbehavior one day and yell about it the next. Your dog will think your crazy and not know what to do.

2. Repetition & Patience - Practice, practice...

3. A loving "parent" - It's ok to be stern and strict but your dog must still know you love him/her.

4. Be the pack leader - See "Cesar Milan" link - if your not the leader the dog will be, this will not make you happy but the dog will have you trained in short order

5. Be realistic - your dog is 5 months old, this is the learning and puppy stage, be real!

6. Lots of fun and play time - to use up that energy

7. Make learning fun and praise a lot - go overboard with your praise, make a big deal when he/she does something right or good. Often we only respond to the bad things but forget to praise when the dog is good but it's critical we do it or the dog learns "bad behavior = attention"! It really works! If the puppy is learning as a part of your play he won't even know it's happening but remember they have a short attention span right now.

Answer 2

what everyone else said..but small toy dogs are hard to train and are never 100% potty trained.. Yorkies of course are in this catagory.

I have been able to train my to about 98% by being very consistant. You might try litter box training your yorkie, they take to it very well. I leave a piddle pad out and she will use it if I miss her signs for wanting out.

I also use a bell and hang it from the door for my dogs to ring when they want out. Tis is the BEST method I have found and it has worked with all of my dogs..

Answer 3

It's impossible to diagnose behavioral problems by email but I can give you a starting point. Yes it is concerning that your Yorkie is not trained. But lets not look at this one behavior that could have been inadvertently rewarded when he was younger. Rather lets consider the relationship you have with your dog. based on your statement "She has a great demeanor and tries hard to please but I can't communicate this too her."

I will give you the best source, I know of, to help you answer your question. You need to be aware of the three main causes of dog behavior problems in order to help him. They are improper training, improper relationship and lack of training. All three may be at work here.

You will need to undo what the previous training has done with reprogramming. Dr. Meisterfeld's book Jelly Bean versus Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde explains rage type behavior and the detrimental effects of improper training techniques. Too retrain him I recommend the book Psychological Dog Training by C.W. Meisterfeld. Check with your local library for the books or do a C.W. Meisterfeld search on the web.

I don't know where you live but unless its below freezing you can take outside.

Answer 4

Patience.
A 5 month old pup is still VERY young. The training should be an intoduction, like in pre-school. It's not ready to graduate yet.

Praise good responses. Even like if you trying to make him "stay", if he can't stay unless you right next to him, say "good" while your holding him still.

Teach him one command until he learns it well. A pup is learning a new language and can be confused by trying to learn several commands at once.

Good Luck.

Answer 5

dogs are best trained young, so 5months is ok. what i did to teach my grandmas yorkies to sit was
1. have a clicker, or something that makes a clicking noise
2. get small, pea sized treats
First, sit down with your dog in a quit, well lit room. Then, say sit, and run the treat over his nose , his head will follow it and he will sit down. click with your noise maker, and give him the treat along with encouragement. repeat a few times. and do this twice a day. after the 2nd-3rd day, when the dog figures it out(which they will), stop giving him treats everytime, only once per lesson. eventually, after a week or so you will be able to say sit, and the dog will sit, but be sure to give him a often or hell stop doing it.

Answer 6

Need more info - what kind of training specifically?