Training topics

10 Yorkie training topics

Every common Yorkie challenge, with first steps and guides to read.

A blue and tan Yorkshire Terrier illustration for barking at the window.
Topic 01

Barking at the window

One woof, then quiet.

A blue and gold Yorkshire Terrier illustration for house training.
Topic 02

House training

A routine for a tiny bladder.

Your Yorkie puppy trots outside, sniffs around, and comes back in with a wagging tail. Two minutes later there is a puddle on the rug. Owners describe this exact scene all the time, and it almost never means the puppy is being spiteful.

What is going on is a tiny bladder plus a lesson that has not yet tied the yard to the house. Many Yorkies also look reliable for weeks or months and then slip, and full reliability can stretch to many months or longer. We have spent many years focused on this breed's training, and the dogs who get there have owners who keep the system running well past the first clean stretch.

Read the full guide: Potty Training a Yorkie Puppy Without the Setbacks

A black and tan (puppy) Yorkshire Terrier illustration for coat brushing.
Topic 03

Coat brushing

Keep that silky coat tangle free.

A first-command plan works better as a deck of separate skill cards than as one long obedience routine, and each card has a purpose, a setup, a reward point, and a way to make the task easier. You can draw the card your Yorkie needs in that particular moment instead of drilling the whole stack by habit at home.

The nine-card deck begins with communication and covers name response, hand targeting, sit, down, stay, recall, leave it, and release, and we use treats and praise on every card while short sessions protect enthusiasm. Read on to teach one clear picture first, then move it gradually without assuming a familiar word travels automatically.

Read the full guide: First Commands Every Yorkie Dog Can Learn With Treats

A blue and tan Yorkshire Terrier illustration for chasing critters.
Topic 04

Chasing critters

A ratter at heart. Redirect the chase.

A blue and gold Yorkshire Terrier illustration for time alone.
Topic 05

Time alone

Calm alone time for a devoted dog.

A black and tan (puppy) Yorkshire Terrier illustration for digging and burrowing.
Topic 06

Digging and burrowing

A dig box for a terrier.

A blue and tan Yorkshire Terrier illustration for barking for attention.
Topic 07

Barking for attention

Quiet ways to ask.

To train a Yorkie not to bark, reward quiet and teach a replacement behavior instead of punishing the barks. You are not removing a trait. You are giving a very alert little dog a better job to do when something happens.

The breed is why this needs a plan. Published breed ratings put the Yorkshire Terrier at 4 of 5 for barking and 5 of 5 for watchdog nature, so sounding the alarm is the default setting. Handled badly, that becomes constant noise, tense neighbors and a dog worn out by their own vigilance. Handled well, you get a dog who alerts once and then looks to you.

Read the full guide: How to Train a Yorkie Not to Bark Using Rewards

A blue and gold Yorkshire Terrier illustration for guarding toys.
Topic 08

Guarding toys

Happy trades.

A black and tan (puppy) Yorkshire Terrier illustration for jumping up.
Topic 09

Jumping up

Four paws on the floor.

A blue and tan Yorkshire Terrier illustration for puppy nipping.
Topic 10

Puppy nipping

Gentle mouths for tiny teeth.

A Yorkshire Terrier puppy can start learning the day they come home, and the first real results usually show up within the first few weeks. Reliable manners take months, and for some dogs house training stretches well past that. A small minority of Yorkies learn the basics in about a week on praise and treats, but they are the exception, and expecting that result makes owners feel they are failing when they are not.

We'll walk you through what to teach in the first days, weeks and months, then how rewards, brief sessions, slow socialization and careful handling of a 4–7 pound body fit together. Timing matters because habits set early tend to stay, and a puppy who is quiet and easy now may find a loud bark later. Done well, you get an affectionate, quick little companion who wants to work with you.

Read the full guide: Training Your Yorkie Puppy Starts With Treats and Praise