An overly shy Yorkshire terrier that can never be found because he’s constantly hiding somewhere – even from his owner – is a nuisance, as is one that clings to you all the time. Not only is this behavior annoying in itself, but it can cause additional problems.

It’s not normal for dogs to be antisocial. By nature they are pack animals, extremely social creatures that thrive on group activity.

Whether they realize it or not, they need contact with others. In helping your yorkie overcome his antisocial quirk, you are doing him a favor. Constant isolation – even if voluntary – can be detrimental to your yorkie’s health.

Isolated dogs without human or animal contact have been known to die of loneliness. Laboratories even hire people to pet experimental dogs and keep them happy, or at least content. Besides, a yorkie who is shy of you and your friends may, if cornered and unable to escape, resort to defensive-aggressiveness attack.

Many fear biters are shy, unsocialized dogs. To counteract this, give your yorkie lots of affection and handling. Dot his even if he doesn’t want it! Insist he allow you to handle him. No real meaningful relationship can develop if your yorkie is not attached to you.

A shy yorkie may never become an exuberant extrovert, but over a period of time he can be trained to stay with you and even permit strangers to touch him. But his confidence must be won before progress can be made – which can be a difficult task.

These dogs are suspicious and wary; they seem to think that any person coming near them has some ulterior motive. Fear of the unknown arising from lack of contact, is the cause of this reaction.

Some yorkies are so nervous they actually quiver and shake when strangers are around. To stop this, you have to convince your yorkie through firm, insistent reassurance that everything is fine.

At first, have strangers merely walk near your yorkie, but don’t let them touch him. Once he stops spooking when a person gets close to him, let friends gradually reach out their hands as if to touch, but not actually do so.

Later, when your yorkie remains calm as someone reaches toward him, have people gently touch your yorkie. Perhaps slip him a special treat at the same time to provide pleasure. If you are firm, you can gradually get your yorkie to permit strangers to touch him.