When is the best time to take a yorkie to obedience training?

Question

My pup is 6 months old. i wanna make sure she is old enough to comprehend what she is being taught. When should I start? She doesnt have any bad habits and just has a house training problem. She is having a hard time house training, thats all.

Answer 1

As soon as your dog has her vaccines, she should start with basic training, simple commands (sit, stay) and socialization with people and other pets. You should get through that and advance through levels of training until you have your dog well-trained and at the level that you want her to be in training.
Good luck!

PS - www.bestfriendspetcare.com
If you're lucky enough to have one near you, go there over the Petsomethings! Best Friends tends to have smaller classes, more class options, and better certified, well-trained obedience trainers (I worked at both Petsomethings in the past and I know how they certify people to be trainers ... not at all impressive!)

Answer 2

In my opinion as soon as your Yorkie is vaccinated all 3 times (plus her rabies shot) she's ready to go to class. If you start early the habits and rules that obedience class teaches will be instilled in her and will be stronger than learning it say, 2 years later. If she doesn't have any real problems still take her to class, she'll meet lots of dogs, lots of new people. You'll be able to socialize her so when she becomes older she won't become scared or aggressive towards other people or dogs.

What I’m sort of concerned is the fact that she’s months old and is still having trouble with housebreaking? She needs to definitely work on that some more. Yorkies are intelligent dogs and since they’re young (they may look young and pupful they’re still very smart and learn very fast) they should be able to grasp housebreaking within a week or two. But don’t worry too much, some pups do take a little longer, but she should be done house training in at max another 2 months. And if she just doesn’t get where to go when she need to go then a firm little spank will do the job. The key is to be firm and not to be harsh. Don’t spank her too hard not spank her too often. Spank her once or twice so she’ll get the point that you don’t like it and won’t tolerate it much longer. Be pack-leader :)

Answer 3

My personal experience is to start them as early as possible. Yorkies (being terriers) tend to have the "my way or no way" attitude and the faster you get it under control the better.

The main thing to remember is that when you are training, it's not just while you are in the class, it's an on going FOREVER thing. You need to reinforce what they (and you) have learned all the time.

Most places seem to be leaning to the reward (treat) system, the thing I don't like about this is that if you don't have a treat in hand for a reward, they don't listen. Verbal praise is wonderful and Yorkies seem to respond to it.

Most Petsmarts offer a Potty Training Class as well as obedience. You may want to check with any local kennels or your local humane shelter for classes also.

Good luck, Yorkies are great and I wouldn't trade them for the world, attitudes and all.

Answer 4

i had the same problem it is never to early to star traing at 6 months it is the perfect time that way they will learn now and get used to being obidient and also it will help the pup know who is encharge and will know the rules when it is older but dont b to ruff it wont like u if u r and when it does somethin right try a healthy treat and say good dog and b gentle give it time to catch on

Answer 5

Once you dog has all its shots - but you can train it at home in the meantime , or hire your own in home trainer to start eariler

Answer 6

you should start traing them right know cuz if he gets older he with develop bad habbits in his future