Animal entry: Yorkshire Terrier
Many people love Yorkshire Terriers but prefer to have another breed as it is often said that Yorkies are very loud dogs that bark all day long. While it's true that Yorkshire Terriers are excitable dogs with a tendency to express their emotions by barking, it doesn't mean your image is accurate.
Yorkshire Terriers are known as small dogs with great voices, but this is not always the case. As always, a dog's habits depend on his education and training. From an early age. If you adopt an adult Yorkie, it will depend on how you accustom him to his new surroundings.
If your Yorkshire Terrier is a chronic barker who howls every time someone gets close to them or when they hear a sound, stay tuned to HowMeow.co.uk. We will look at the possible causes and solutions to your question: Why does my Yorkshire Terrier bark so much??
Why do Yorkshire Terriers bark so much?
Yorkshire Terriers are smart, charming, and sweet dogs, but some of them spend all their time barking. However, there are many cases of Yorkshire Terriers that are quiet and friendly; its reputation for being extremely loud does not necessarily reflect the absolute truth.
All Yorkshire Terriers bark from time to time; in fact, barking is how dogs express themselves . Historically, dogs were bred to make noise, to warn that an unknown object or person was entering their territory, or when something caught their attention; dogs were guardians and hunters, so these traits were passed on.
Just as humans talk to communicate, Yorkshire terriers bark. However, its bark is particularly sharp, strong and vibrant . Yorkies are very sensitive and easily get carried away by their emotions. When Yorkies are happy, they will want to bark. When they are upset, bored, or want to get someone's attention, they will also want to bark.
Pekingese bites, what should I do?
An absolutely obedient Pekingese is the exception rather than the rule. Still, this is a rather headstrong breed of dog. Remember that Pekingese do not like children and do not tolerate any other pets. They are frightened by sharp sounds, especially children's screams or crying. Therefore, you should not be surprised later that the Pekingese bit a child or got into a fight with another pet. In fact, this is not an angry Pekingese, but one that is scared or defending its territory. If, nevertheless, the Pekingese bites someone in the family, even if there are reasons for this, it is worth addressing his behavior. Standard training techniques will help in this matter.
- training
- Pekingese
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Make dogs bark less
You don't want your Yorkshire Terrier to stop barking completely because that's how dogs express themselves. However, there are ways to make them bark less , or at least reduce the noise.
Let's say first that your patience will be tested; your Yorkie will try to bark when she feels like she has something to say. The key to balancing your mood and getting him to bark less lies is by training him so he doesn't get so excited and overstimulated. Remember that some Yorkies may have nervous tendencies.
It is important for your dog's well-being to exercise and spend time with you and the rest of the family. Take your Yorkshire Terrier for a walk and make sure he has a chance to expend all his pent-up energy. Yorkies are very active dogs who love to move all the time; if they suppress their energy, they bark more. Here you can check how often you should walk your dog.
One of the reasons his Yorkshire terrier barks so much is because he's bored; Walking can help, as can playing mind games at home.
Something extremely important but difficult to achieve is not to increase barking . If your Yorkie barks constantly but you've already taken him for a walk and he has no obvious reason to bark, don't pay too much attention or feel guilty. Also, you should not give your Yorkshire Terrier more food or rewards.
Like a child, your dog has the power of manipulation through empathy and love . Give your Yorkie what he wants when he's calm, not when he's barking.
If you yell at your dog or get angry when it barks with the intention of stopping it, you will achieve the opposite result; Your Yorkie will bark more often because you will be confused, scared and even more anxious. Speak quietly, maintaining authority but remaining calm .
Pekingese barking: why are they making noise?
Despite the compact size of the dog, the Pekingese bark is very boisterous and loud. Not very large, but brave Pekingese can protect their owner in this way, barking at rivals who are much larger in size. As a rule, they are quite sensitive and will not make noise unless absolutely necessary. However, it is no exception if the Pekingese barks in response to movements on the staircase or on the street while walking.
What are the most common reasons for Pekingese barking ?
- Joy. In this case, barking is a way of expressing positive emotions, for example, while playing with the owner.
- Fear. Pekingese can be frightened by noise, a large dog, or a rude person, and their reaction will be to bark.
- Boredom. Left alone, Pekingese often begin to bark. Moreover, it is very difficult to wean them from this habit.
- Anxiety. The cause is unfamiliar sounds, places, and premonitions of the dog itself.
- Resentment. This is how they express disagreement with the owner’s actions.
- Overexcitement. Due to strong feelings the Pekingese bites , and not just barks. The cause could be a fight with another dog or chasing a cat in the yard.
- Request. With the help of loud barking, Pekingese express their desire to play, walk outside or have a snack.
- Alert. Pekingese are able to notify their owner about an intrusion into the territory of someone else, for example, when there is a person outside the door.
In any case, it is worth remembering: the Pekingese bark is a means of communication.
Training a Yorkshire Terrier to shut up
Train your Yorkshire Terrier just like you would any other breed: here you can learn and teach basic dog commands. Start with simple instructions such as lie down, lie down, or shake hands.
During training, try to keep your dog's full attention on you so that you are not distracted or worried about sounds and events in your environment. This will help you later when you call him as he will respond the same way.
There's no point in shouting Rover, stop barking! from another room where you cannot physically see the dog. Instead, you should approach your Yorkie, get her attention, and try to correct the behavior face to face.
It's important to act early and create a strong emotional bond with your Yorkshire Terrier so that he feels like he can express his emotions in ways other than barking. Your neighbors and your peace of mind will benefit from this, and your Yorkie will be more emotionally stable.
Does this explain why your Yorkshire Terrier barks so much? ? Do you have any other tips for training Yorkies? Tell us everything in the comments section!
If the dog barks at guests
Let's try to figure out how to minimize barking when guests knock/ring on the door. Typically, a dog's barking and strong excitement are caused by joy from waiting for guests and excessive fussiness, attention to the behavior of the animal from the owners themselves.
1. Ignore the barking: do not touch the dog, say anything/yell at it, or look in its direction while it is barking.
2. If you have the opportunity, turn off the bell/intercom signal during training. A sign with the inscription “We are teaching the dog to bark less, so we will not be able to open the door right away” will be very effective and original. We would appreciate your wait and understanding." By the way, there will immediately be fewer people willing to sell you plastic windows or talk about the Kingdom of God.
3. Invite friends and neighbors so that they can participate in the training process - after all, it is when they come that we want to reduce the dog’s reaction.
4. Ask one of the helpers to ring or knock on the door. When the dog runs up to the door, reacting to this sound, calmly walk towards it, stand between the dog and the door, turn your back to the dog - and give the “stopping hand” signal. Stay there until the dog calms down.
When you stand between the door and the dog and make a stopping gesture with your hand, you are letting the dog know that you are taking the solution to the problem yourself. This is very helpful for dogs that are overly hysterical and think they are “guarding” the house.
5. Open the door slightly. If the dog remains calm (sitting/standing), then you can open the door wider. If the dog begins to worry, then stop opening the door and wait until it calms down.
6. Invite the person to come over. Do this all calmly and friendly.
7. When the door is open enough for the helper to enter, let him into the house, asking him to walk sideways towards the dog and not pay attention to it. You can communicate with a friend, but in a calm, peaceful manner.
8. Come into the house together and settle down. If the dog is again excited and eager to see the guest, then it would be better if you put on a harness in advance and hold it until the dog calms down. After, of course, you need to give the dog the opportunity to communicate with a friend or neighbor. But let the first minutes of communication pass in a calm atmosphere.
Later, you can repeat this training several more times with other helpers, and then warn your relatives/friends that you have a new ritual of “entering” the house and practice it with them.
What should a dog be able to do?
Minimum required:
- The puppy must know its place. To do this, under no circumstances should you take him to the bed.
- A well-mannered pet always knows a place to relieve itself.
- The dog should not chew things on shoes.
- Know basic commands and execute them.
- Respect the authority of the owner.
- A toy terrier must know his name and respond to it.
- A well-mannered dog treats people calmly, does not bark, does not bite, or behaves aggressively.
- A properly trained toy is comfortable with a leash and collar.
Raising a Toy Terrier is different from raising a large service dog . There is no question of physical punishment or raising one's voice here. Otherwise, the dog may get scared or even run away.
Toy Terrier training by month
1-3 months
At this age, the puppy is taught basic rules of behavior, this:
- Sleep peacefully at night, don’t whine and don’t ask to go to bed with your owner. Here you will have to show firmness and willpower.
- Toilet training. This could be a tray or a cloth. To make it easier for your dog to get used to it, place the tray where she most often relieves herself. Show your baby that he needs to “do his business” in the tray. When your pet gets used to it, gradually move the tray towards the place where he will stand
- Accustoming the puppy to its place. To do this, first introduce the dog to his “bed”. Firmly say “Place” and take the puppy there. Do this several times. Then stand near the dog’s place, say its name and command “Place”; if the baby obeys, give it a treat.
- Teach your puppy not to jump on furniture or damage things.
4 to 6 months
At this age, they begin to accustom the toy to unfamiliar places, as well as to a leash and collar. At first, do this at home. Put a collar on your puppy and let him walk around the house in it.
Repeat this action for several days, this will allow the puppy to get used to it . Now you can attach the leash and show the dog what it is for.
6-8 months
Now it's time to learn the basic commands.
These are commands such as: “Fu”, “You can’t”, “Place”, “Walk”, etc..
Of course, the baby will have to learn some of them much earlier. At this age, the owner should pay maximum attention to training the dog.
Commands must be executed clearly and quickly . If you have any difficulties, contact a professional dog handler. A specialist will help teach the toy terrier commands and also give the necessary recommendations.
It is worth considering that at this age the dog begins puberty - girls experience their first heat, and male dogs begin to react to females in heat. This greatly affects the pet’s behavior, the dog becomes less obedient. The solution to this problem, if breeding work is not planned in the future, can be sterilization.
9 months
During this period, command training continues and the range expands. At this age, the dog must clearly respond to those commands that have already been learned .
If this does not happen, then the training was not of sufficient quality. Persevere in your studies and be consistent.
What else should a dog be able to do at this age?:
- Do not jump on you, passers-by or other pets.
- Know how to behave in elevators and public transport.
- Don't bark for no reason.
- Be calm about the leash and collar.
- Calmly withstand procedures in grooming salons.
10-12 months
At this age, the toy terrier already knows commands and diligently follows them. Now is the time to teach him off-leash walks and appropriate commands.
These are “Near”, “Sit”, “Stand”, “To me” . Walk your dog in quiet, calm places away from the roadway.
Parks, squares, suburban areas are the best option for such a plot.
Where to start education?
You should start raising a toy terrier by teaching the basic rules, namely:
- Accustoming to cleanliness. The dog must strictly know the place where it should go to the toilet. This could be a litter tray or a diaper.
- Be sure to show the dog his place, this could be a pillow in a cozy place, an old mattress or a special house. Under no circumstances should your dog sleep with you.
- Stop any attempt at aggressive behavior. If the dog tries to bite, let him know who is in charge.
- Teach your baby to hygiene procedures - trimming nails, combing and cutting. The latter is especially important for long-haired toys.
- A Toy puppy should tolerate loneliness calmly. Get him used to this gradually. Leave the lady alone for 15-20 minutes. Then increase the time.
- A little later, accustom your dog to a leash.
Expert opinion
Kozhevin Semyon Kirillovich
Expert dog handler.
The toy terrier is a choleric dog, sometimes it is characterized by aggression and violent expression of feelings, it develops reflex connections very quickly and also quickly fades away. Once you have achieved excellent command performance, do not give up on your studies. This requires a special approach. Regularity, consistency, loyalty - these are the keys to good upbringing.
Special preparations and devices
For animals, they also produce sedatives - psychotropic drugs suppress the desire to bark at people, other animals, or just like that. It is better to buy drops or tablets that contain extracts of chamomile, valerian and other herbs.
Veterinarians do not recommend using medications on an ongoing basis - animals feel lethargic and develop physical and behavioral abnormalities.
There are collars with citronella, a plant whose stems contain essential oil. When the dog begins to bark, a fragrant cloud is sprayed around the muzzle, causing discomfort to the pet. However, this device is not without its drawbacks:
- in the fresh air, the collar is absolutely useless - the wind quickly carries away all unpleasant odors;
- the fur is saturated with a specific aroma, which is why the dog quickly gets used to it;
- animals easily realize that if they bark and move to another place, the smell will be much weaker.
This method is most often used by people who do not want to spend time training and patiently weaning their pet from barking at home.
How to stop a toy from barking.
“How to effectively stop a toy terrier from barking?”
Answer: There are many ways to wean a toy dog from barking: for example, there are painful means (electric collars that shock the dog when barking) and painless ones (special devices that act on dogs with ultrasound). We do not recommend even considering the use of painful devices, and painless devices are not always effective. There is also a method of surgical intervention (intersection of the vocal cords), but we are categorically opposed to this method. In our opinion, the most effective method is the oldest one - education. For a patient and wise owner, nothing is impossible. Every time the dog starts barking, rebuke it in a stern, loud voice. The command should be clear and short. Another effective method is the method of ignoring. The puppy understands that he has done something wrong and tries to correct the situation. Don’t be lazy, devote more time to raising your dog, and then you and your pet will overcome all difficulties and bad habits together.
The loudest breeds
There is a definite relationship between the frequency of barking and the size of the dog. As a rule, representatives of large breeds do not bark at trifles. They are confident in their abilities and react calmly to external stimuli.
Small and decorative pets are shy, so they vocalize more often. By being aggressive, they try to protect themselves from things that seem dangerous. These breeds include:
Some large breeds are also characterized by increased “talkativeness”:
Congenital characteristics can be corrected if you raise the dog from an early age. It is unlikely that she will grow up to be an absolute silent person, but she will definitely not bark at everyone for no reason.
Ways to fight
They begin training the animal from the first days of its appearance in the house. The puppy must learn a basic set of commands and the rules of living together. Including when you can bark and when you need to be silent. Of course, this does not provide a 100% guarantee of no barking in the future. But correcting the behavior of an obedient pet is much easier.
Dog training is based on natural instincts. It is enough to show that the pet will definitely be praised for correct behavior, and he will gladly perform the required action.
Effective methods of dealing with constant barking:
- Teach the dog to unquestioningly obey the command “come to me.” As soon as she starts barking, you should call her and call her to you. The dog will be distracted and stop barking. For each successful action, the animal is rewarded with a treat. If your pet ignores orders, you need to scold him in a stern voice. After several repetitions, he will remember the pattern: if he was silent - he received encouragement, if he missed the command - he caused dissatisfaction.
- Many dogs are sensitive to touching their ears. When an animal begins to bark, you should approach it, lightly press your fingers on the ear, or even just stroke it with your palm. Usually pets are very surprised and stop emptying.
- You can gently squeeze your mouth. Physical impact will directly indicate that the owner is dissatisfied. This is what you need to do every time your pet speaks at the wrong time. If the animal quickly calms down and becomes silent, it is given a treat.
If the dog barks out of boredom, he is provided with a variety of toys. Then he will not be left idle when the owner leaves - the likelihood of unwanted behavior will be significantly reduced. In your free time, you should communicate more often with your pet, pay more attention to it, and openly demonstrate your love.
If a dog barks after moving to a new home, it is better not to leave it alone at first. Let her get used to the new environment.
The pet can use its voice to communicate its needs. For example, that he is hungry or wants to go for a walk. In this case, the pet is given an alternative:
- Tap the bowl with your hand before pouring in the food. Soon the dog will tap his paw himself when he gets hungry.
- You can ring the bell before each walk. The dog will quickly grasp the connection and learn to call on his own, indicating his desire to go outside.
There are many other ways to communicate. This approach has 2 advantages:
- eliminates the need for your pet to bark just like that;
- develops the animal's intellectual abilities.
Also, weaning methods vary depending on the stimulus that prompts the dog to bark.
In order not to aggravate the situation, you should not praise your pet when it barks at its owner upon meeting. The animal will quickly notice that such actions cause positive emotions. In the future, the dog will bark every time a person appears in his field of vision.
How to stop barking at people
A pet barking at passers-by or guests is annoying and irritating. Barking at other people indicates insufficient socialization - the puppy was not shown how to behave correctly in society.
To train a dog not to bark at people on the street, do this:
- take her on a leash and, if necessary, put on a muzzle;
- walking through crowded places at a brisk pace or even running.
While moving, the dog will not be able to concentrate on a specific object, and therefore will not be able to bark at passers-by.
After making a few runs, move on to the next stage:
- walking again in crowded places, but at a slow pace;
- when an animal barks, it is pulled by the leash or touched by the ears;
- if the pet does not calm down, give it a favorite toy or distract it in some other way.
To stop a dog from barking at people, the method of distraction with commands is used. The pet focuses on orders and stops barking at strangers. Just first you should practice in the presence of other people. For example, when guests came home. Then you need to achieve unquestioning obedience in the yard and on the street.
Some dogs rush at people in the entrance. They believe that they are on their territory and must protect it from strangers. In this case, the animal is muzzled and led on a short leash. Disobedience is punishable by a jerk with the leash or other physical force. It is easier to pick up a small dog and carry it out of the entrance.
Representatives of large breeds can be driven with a strict collar. It is important to be proactive - give the command “near” as soon as the dog tenses up, but has not yet barked.
Often a dog constantly barks at guests because:
- very glad to come, looking forward to refreshments and joint games;
- is afraid of strangers;
- aggressive, considers strangers a source of danger.
How to teach basic commands?
Basic commands include those that are based on the basic instincts of the animal and are the easiest to learn.:
- "Ugh" . command, control is recommended to be taught first. It is given when a pet does something inappropriate. During the training process, make it clear what the dog should not do.
- "Place" . Also the bottom of the most important teams. Show your baby the place where he should sleep, while clearly pronouncing the “Place” command. Remember - the command must be pronounced in a firm and firm voice. If your dog complies, reward him with a treat.
- "To me" . This command trains the pet to approach the owner upon request. Start learning at home. To do this, say the dog’s name loudly and command “Come to me.” If the dog obeys, give him a treat.
- . " This command is not particularly important, but it is still worth teaching your pet to it.
Additional ways: when parenting doesn’t help
Correcting behavior through consistent training is the best method to stop a dog from barking. However, if there is not enough time or the pet has increased nervousness, they resort to special means.
Sedatives
Treats, tablets and drops containing sedative herbs – valerian, mint, lemon balm – will help relieve anxiety.
The medications are given to the pet according to the instructions, without exceeding the dosage. Before use, especially if the animal has allergies, you should consult a veterinarian.
Anti-bark collars
Equipped with microphones and sensors that respond to sound and produce an irritating signal. They are considered an inhumane way to stop a dog from barking.
The dog does not understand why he needs to stop barking, since the reasons are not explained to him - he will be afraid to raise his voice even during danger and games. Also, the collar does not always work - the pet may pull it off or get scared and yelp even more.
There are several types of Anti-bark collars:
- ultrasonic
- they emit a sound that is inaudible to humans, but unpleasant to the dog;- electroshock
- delivers a slight current discharge;- mechanical
- begin to vibrate when the vocal cords vibrate;- spray
- release a stream of water mixed with citronella or citrus fruit ester.
Owner methods: reviews
Owners who managed to succeed in weaning their dogs from loud barking acted as follows:
- patiently developed obedience, rewarding the pet for correct actions;
- if the pet barked only in the absence of people, we tried to pay less attention to it half an hour before leaving and after returning home - the difference in sensations when the owners were at home and when they were not there was not so striking;
- distracted the animal with toys - the dog forgot about barking and happily indulged in entertainment.
In advanced cases, when gentle methods did not help, medications had to be used.
Household training takes from 1 to 3 months. During this time, lessons should be repeated daily, patiently correcting unwanted behavior. In most cases, once the cause of the discomfort is eliminated, dogs stop barking at everyone.
Source
At what age should training begin?
Usually, training a toy terrier puppy at home begins at one month of age, but if the baby arrived in the house later, training can begin at 2 or 3 months .
Start learning with the basic rules that are accepted in your family. The dog must know its place, be accustomed to the litter tray, recognize the authority of the owner, etc.
After six months, you should take training more seriously and start teaching your baby commands . At this point, he must be sufficiently well-mannered and obedient.