Table of Contents
Foreword
The Yorkshire Terrier, although small in stature, is actually a multi-talented breed. Commonly referred to as the Yorkie, this is an energetic, smart, athletic, and feisty dog. Unfortunately, this cute yet spirited dog is frequently misunderstood and often underestimated. In The Complete Idiots Guide to Yorkshire Terriers, author Liz Palika does an excellent job of explaining where and how to choose a Yorkie puppy. And she gives an in-depth overview about the true nature and needs of Yorkies while dispelling some of the ugly little myths that exist about small dogs, and Yorkies in particular.
For example, although Yorkies are small and light enough to sit on your lap, dont be misled into thinking that they should be content to sit on your lap all day. Although the AKC categorizes the Yorkie as a Toy breed, when you get a Yorkie, youre getting a true terrier, bred to be a hunter and killer of small vermin (think rats and mice). Yorkies have a high prey drive and major determinationthey are tenacious and are bred not to give up. They can play fetch for hours, shine in dog sports, and excel at obedience.
People often mistakenly believe that because Yorkies are small, they dont need to be trained. Not only do Yorkies need to be trained, they thrive on it! Its not unusual in a group class for the Yorkie to be the star studentthey can steal the show. Know this: If you dont train your Yorkie, your Yorkie will train you!
Small dogs still have big needsand the operative word here is dog. Over the last 16 years as a dog trainer and behavioral consultant, at least once a week a client expresses concern to me about his or her Yorkies hyperactivity, mouthing, housetraining, barking, or fearfulness. The first thing I always ask is How much exercise does your Yorkie get every day? Invariably, the answer is My dog is a house dog, so I dont take him outside. There is no such thing as a house dog. I regretfully tell them that if they wanted a pet to remain in the house, they should have gotten a fish. I try to hide my anger and sadness over this poor dog who is leading a boring and unnatural life.
Yorkies are an exceedingly popular breed. But being popular is a double-edge sword in the world of dogs. With their increased popularity, Yorkies are too easy to obtain. Take our advice and stay away from pet stores and backyard breeders. These little guys, when bred by nonprofessionals, are often fraught with poor temperament and ill health, which then leads to uncharacteristic traits in the breed such as anxiety, fearfulness, aggression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder, not to mention aberrations in the size of the breed such as being too small or too large. So be careful. A good breeder wont try to convince you to get a dog, but will interview you to determine if you and the breed make a good fit. Buying a dog is always a business transaction! Do it with someone you can trust. And remember this: No good or reputable dog breeder will sell to a storethere are no exceptions!
Intelligence and cuteness are equally matched in the Yorkshire terrier. In The Complete Idiots Guide to Yorkshire Terriers, Liz Palika will enlighten and educate you about all you will need to know about choosing, raising, training, and just having fun with your new family member.
Congratulations, and enjoy the new relationship.
Stacy Alldredge
Owner, Whos Walking Who Dog Obedience and
Behavioral Training
212-414-1551
wwwdogs@aol.com
Introduction
The Complete Idiots Guide to Yorkshire Terriers is not like most of the breed books youve seen. Most breed books are written by judges, exhibitors, and breeders of that particular breed, and they will tell you how spectacular that breed is. In those books you can read about winning show dogs and see photographs of champion dogs. You can hear the awesome characteristics of that breed and how it could be the best choice for everyone. Well, this book isnt like those books.
As a dog obedience instructor, I see more than 700 dogs and their owners each year in my classes. Many of the new dog owners have done a lot of research before adding a dog to their family, and yet they still find out their research has not been complete. They really didnt know as much about the breed as they had thought.
This book will help you decide whether you should get a dogany dogand whether you have the time, energy, and money to take care of one. Once you have made a decision about dog ownership, then you can decide whether a Yorkshire Terrier is the right breed for you and your family. You may find that a Yorkie sounds perfect for you, or you may decide that a Yorkie wouldnt fit into your lifestyle at all. And if thats the situation, well, its best to find that out before you bring one home!
Once you figure out if a Yorkie is the right dog for you, Part 2 will show you how to prepare for your new family member and what to do once you bring home your new Yorkie. Youll find out all about housetraining and establishing some household rules. Of course, youll want to know how to take care of your Yorkie, and Part 3 will help you learn how to groom your dog and how to care for him, including some emergency first-aid information. Part 4 will guide you through the training process and also answer common questions about training and canine behavior.
This book is written for people who are thinking of adding a Yorkie to their family or who already have a Yorkie but want to better understand him.
Who Am I?
As a dog obedience instructor with more than 25 years of experience, I have watched many Yorkie owners come into class carrying their dog because the dog has repeatedly refused to walk on a leash. There are usually housetraining problems, many times the dog is biting or nipping, and he is usually being fed from the table. Sometimes there have been complaints from neighbors that the dog is barking nonstop when the owner leaves the house. Are Yorkies really this horrible? Well, they shouldnt be, but they can be!
I teach dog obedience classes because I love dogs and enjoy sharing my life with them. My husband and I enjoy many different activities with our dogs, but we also treasure quiet times at home with them. Our dogs are good friends and companions. However, when a dog turns into a tyrant and makes life miserable, he is no longer a joy to spend time with.
When dog owners understand why their dogs do what they do, they can then either change the situation or learn to live with it. However, when dog owners do not understand their dogs, the levels of anger and frustration can escalate until the dog is no longer a member of the family and is discarded. My goal is to make sure dog owners realize they have a means of making sure their dog is a friend and companion rather than a tyrant!
I have taught all levels of dog obedience, from puppy through the advanced obedience classes, called utility. However, my primary focus is teaching pet owners how to train their dogs to be well-behaved members of the family, and I have found this to be extremely rewarding. When someone enrolls in one of my classes and says, I took your classes 14 years ago with my dog, Roxie. She was a wonderful dog but just passed away. When we got a new puppy, we wanted her to go through your training, so she will be a good dog, too! Well, then all my efforts have paid off!
