You and your family know that your newest addition to the family, your precious Yorkshire Terrier, is the sweetest, most lovable baby in the world. However, you might have trouble convincing others of this fact, because when you take your furry baby out into public, it transforms almost as if from the doggy version of Jekyll to Hyde. This is one of the many reasons why it is so crucial that your Yorkie is socialized in the correct manner while it is still young.
Walk Your Troubles Away
The number one method for socialization, as agreed upon by most experts, is that of the daily walk. The crucial point to remember is that if you want to ensure that the act of socialization itself is beneficial to both you and your pup, you need to keep yourself calm and relaxed when meeting another individual or canine. Yorkies are very sensitive to the emotions of their humans, so your pup will read your body language, and believe it or not reply in kind.
Reinforcement Of The Positive
Like most other breeds Yorkies are eager to please their humans—especially male Yorkies. Using negative reinforcement for punishment will not only confuse your furry companion but will also cause your pup to withdraw into itself, due to their innate sensitively to your emotions. That is why experts suggest that, when possible, to proceed to ignore the unwanted behavior. As an example, if your pup is prone to barking each and every time that the doorbell rings, simply ignore the behavior. With a little patience on your part, It will be no time before your Yorkie will learn that barking will not only elicit any reaction from you but also that if you are not afraid of the doorbell ringing, why should they be.
Treat, Treat, Who’s Got The Treat?
On the other hand, when your Yorkie exhibits the desired behavior, make sure to have treats on hand to reward them. The use of a treat can work two-fold. For example, if while walking your pup you come upon another canine, and after acknowledging and sniffing its new friend, your Yorkie allows you to continue on your without barking and growling, make sure to treat them. Also, if you find yourself coming upon a situation that you think might cause a problem, make sure to divert your pup’s attention with a treat, until the either you or the situation has passed.
If All Else Fails
Lastly, if it seems everything else has failed, there is always the fallback step of enrollment in obedience training classes. Making sure that you do your homework and researching the instructors class results will go a long way to making sure that your time and money are well spent. With expert training, your pup will be less likely to be upset by new canines or situations they may come upon, and if they are upset, you will have additional options to put into action to diffuse the situation.
Yorkies are energetic little fireballs, and as such are quickly excited. However, if you make an effort to socialize them when they are young, and exposing them to various situations, they will soon learn to enjoy going just about everywhere with you, becoming the perfect companions.
