Your yorkie’s appearance has nothing to do with the competition, but he must be purebred if competing at an AKC-sanctioned show. However, if you have a mixed breed, the United Kennel Club allows you to compete at trials.

Competitors can also be neutered or spayed. In fact, a neutered dog tends to give a better performance because there are fewer odiferous distractions.

As in conformation classes, your yorkie must be at least six months old. You will find that most of the dogs in this competition are up to a year and a half, for it normally takes at least that long for their dogs to outgrow their puppy pranks.

You begin at the novice level. The title is called Companion Dog, or CD. In this class, your yorkie must be able to heel both on and off leash, walk round two people in a figure eight pattern, stand and stay, come off-lead, finish (go around you and place himself into heel position on one command).

He should remain in a one-minute sit-stay and three-minute down-stay with dogs on either side of him while you remain 30 feet away.

The next level is open, the Companion Dog Excellent title, or CDX. In this level, everything is done off leash. The judge runs you through a heeling pattern that includes at least two stops, right and left turns, and several about turns.

Then you must perform an off-lead figure eight around two people, a drop-on-recall, in which you call your yorkie from 30 feet away. Make him lie down when the judge signals you to do so, and then finish the recall with your dog coming to sit it front of you.

There are two retrieving exercises in the open class. One plain retrieve, where you tell your yorkie to stay, throw a dumbbell, send your dog to retrieve it, and have him return to a sit in front of you.

This is also done with your yorkie going over a jump both on the way to retrieve the dumbbell and on the way back to you.

Each exercise is topped off with finish. Next exercise is for your yorkie to jump over a broad jump without touching it. The jump consists of boards lying only a few inches from the ground.

The final exercises are for your yorkie to remain in a sit-stay for three minutes and a down-stay for five minutes – lined up with other dogs and you out of sight.

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Torn between buying a Yorkshire Terrier and a chihuahua? Both are amazing dogs and can be an excellent pet. Both are preferred by pet owners. There are pros and cons in taking care of a yorkie and a chihuahua.

The problem with choosing between the two breeds has led to the cross breeding of the two resulting to the birth of the Yorkiehuahua. Here we will look at the pros and cons of considering a yorkiehuahua as a pet. Continue Reading

Once in the ‘lie down’ position, some dogs try to creep forward on all fours. If this happens, move toward your yorkie or walk toward him up the leash. Continue Reading

Having taken care to select a reputable breeder and completed purchase, it is a cheap insurance to let your veterinarian run the rule over the teacup yorkie puppy. Continue Reading

On the market for a cheap yorkie puppy? The truth of the matter is that you can find one that is reasonably priced as long as you commit yourself to really do some research. Continue Reading

Even a dog that isn’t trained to retrieve can use these commands. It makes a great trick to have your yorkie carry a magazine, newspaper, or small brown shopping bag. Continue Reading

If your yorkshire terrier female is pregnant, please consider the following: Breeders who advertise yorkie puppies early experience less stress during and after the female’s labor. Such breeders are not worrying about whether they will be able to sell the puppies. A relaxed breeder adds to the pregnant female’s safety. Continue Reading

In training a yorkie to come when called, you could theoretically train him to come to you on any signal – a whistle is a perfect example.

To do this, however, he first has to be trained to respond to the word command ‘come’. After that, you can set up all sorts of secondary signals, simply by giving the sound or signal, following it immediately by saying ‘come’.

Then eventually eliminate the word ‘come’ and just give the secondary signal.

Thus, to teach your yorkie to respond to a whistle once the he knows the command ‘come’, give a blast on your whistle, call your yorkie, and make the signal. Soon he should respond when you give a blast on the whistle alone.

You can train him to respond to a particular whistle, or to the generalized sound of any whistle. You can even teach him to respond to a silent whistle, since a dog’s hearing is so excellent that he can hear higher and fainter sounds than we can.

If your yorkie is rewarded only when he responds to a certain whistle, he’ll soon discriminate and react only to the one that is exclusively his’. The problem with training to a specific whistle is that if you lose that one whistle, you might get stuck with a dog that won’t know how or when to return to you.

You will then have to start over and recondition him to a new sound. This idea of teaching your yorkie to respond to generalized stimuli can be extended to any sound or signal, but it is usually best to stick to the standard ones.

Choosing an exotic or ambiguous one can lead to confusion.

When their dogs come after being called, some people want them to sit, lie down, or stand in front of them or at their sides in a heel position. These refinements can easily be added – after your yorkie learns these other commands.

For now, when the yorkie comes to you, simply reach out to hold, place, and praise him exactly where and in what position you want him to stay. He’ll soon learn that’s where he is to be.

Test your yorkie’s proficiency in the command by gradually increasing the distance from which you can call him. Additionally, try him out when he’s involved in other activities and least expects it – but demand obedience.

The processes of aging and gradual degenerative changes start far earlier in a dog than often observed, usually at about seven years of age.

If we recall that each year of a dog’s life roughly corresponds to about seven years in the life of a man, by the age of seven he is well into middle age.

Your yorkie dog will become less active, will have a poorer appetite with increased thirst, there will be frequent periods of constipation and less than normal passage of urine. His skin and coat might become dull and dry and his hair will become thin and fall out.

There is also a tendency towards obesity in old age, which should be avoided by maintaining a regular exercise program. Remember that the yorkie dog will be less able to cope with extreme heat, cold, fatigue, and change in routine.

There is the possibility of loss of impairment of hearing or eyesight. He may become bad-tempered more often than in the past.

Other ailments such as rheumatism, arthritis, kidney infections, heart disease, male prostatism, and hip dysplasia may occur. Of course, all these require a veterinarian’s examination and recommendation of suitable treatment.

Care of the teeth is also important in the aging yorkie. Indeed, the mouth can be a barometer of nutritional health. Degenerating gums, heavy tartar on the teeth, loose teeth, and sore lips are common.

The worst of all diseases in old age, however, is neglect. Good care in early life will have its effect on your yorkie dog’s later years; the nutrition and general health care of his first few years can determine his lifespan and the quality of his life.

It is worth bearing in mind that the older yorkie compared to the younger one needs more protein of good biological value, more vitamins A, B-complex, D and E, more calcium and iron, and less fat.

Feed elderly yorkie dogs twice a day as their digestion gets less efficient. Perhaps amounts at mealtimes need adjusting as elderly yorkies usually become less active and require fewer calories.

Some dogs, particularly the very old – need more calories than before. Judge the food by keeping an eye on the yorkie’s body shape and reducing or increasing the food accordingly.

Be careful though, some conditions such as heart problems can result in fluid gathering in the abdomen which makes the old yorkie appear pot-bellied.

Miniature yorkies rank among the most adorable breed of dogs. Many children like to play with them. They are called as such because their size is not fully developed compared to the standard yorkie. If you are considering getting one, here are some information about miniature yorkie puppies. Continue Reading

Keep each stationary command separate so that your yorkie doesn’t mix them up, or when you say ‘sit’, he may lie down – and vice-versa. Continue Reading

When given this command, your yorkie will remain standing rather than flopping into the more relaxed sitting or lying down positions.

Often, when walking your yorkie, you don’t want him to sit down every time you pause. Additionally, at times your dog will have to submit to being checked over by a stranger – such as a veterinarian or groomer – and not run off, wriggle around, or object nervously or viciously. Continue Reading

When trying to learn the fundamental skills on how to take care of a Yorkie puppy, you need to understand that the Yorkshire Terrier is a breed of dog that possesses special characteristics and may require special needs. Here we will look at the basics of how to look after a Yorkie puppy. Continue Reading

Planning to adopt a Yorkshire Terrier? While yorkies can be an excellent choice for a pet, there are many factors that you need to consider prior to purchasing one for your pet. Before ever considering getting a yorkie, you first need to arm yourself with information about yorkie puppies. Continue Reading

Most people don’t know how or where to start training their yorkies. To keep the mistakes on your part and your dog’s to a minimum, set up a special learning session right at the outset.

Training can be done without this lesson, but it is really highly desirable. You want your yorkie to get the right idea of what it’s all about and start him off learning quickly. A good beginning sets up patterns for you and your yorkie. Continue Reading

If you ignore your yorkie dog’s signs of aggression, they may get so far out of hand that he takes over your home and bullies you into a corner. Therefore, get to work on solving this problem when it’s still in its early stages.

From the outset, your yorkie has to learn to control himself. Play with him, but don’t play roughly. Teach him that he cannot use his mouth for nipping, even playfully. Every time he bites at a piece of clothing or at your hand, give him a slight tap and tell him “no”. If you don’t, he can develop a biting habit. Continue Reading

Since a dog’s vision is generally limited, he does not rely on it alone but uses other senses to augment it.

Your yorkie may not recognize a specific person at a distance; he may have to get close enough to see features and smell and hear before recognizing who it is. Continue Reading

When you praise your yorkie for doing right, do it in such a way as to use it to your advantage. Correct praise can help you make sure your pet consistently does well.

At least in the early stages of training, praise your yorkie by chucking him under the chin to keep his head up and make him look happier. Continue Reading

When you bring a new teacup yorkie puppy home with you, here are some points to consider on his first night: Continue Reading

Because your yorkie uses his mouth to fidget the way we would use our hands, the nervous idiosyncrasies he may develop are generally oral. Continue Reading

This reasonably common but potentially dangerous oral fixation often develops into self-mutilation. Continue Reading

For first time yorkie owners breeding their yorkies: The best help you can give is to leave the animals alone. If either or both are nervous, prevent panic and stop them from hurting each other by some gentle, soothing talk. Continue Reading

The best time to diagnose yorkie pregnancy is three to three and a half weeks after breeding. At this stage, the veterinarian can feel puppies as tiny lumps or bumps. Before and after this, it is more difficult. Continue Reading

Sometimes a yorkie puppy will arrive with no sign of life. If you feel a pulse beat under the forearm, start the puppy breathing by blowing steadily into his mouth – this way the lungs can be sufficiently expanded to supply necessary oxygen. Continue Reading

Your yorkie pup needs more frequent feeding than an older dog because his stomach isn’t large enough to hold all the food required for proper growth. Continue Reading

If it is necessary to change your yorkie’s diet, you may have to be insistent. Keep in mind that a sudden change in diet can cause digestive upsets – the yorkie may even reject a drastic change in food.

When changing from one food to another, do it gradually. Add a little more of the new food at each meal and decrease the former food proportionally until the complete change is made.

If your yorkie refuses to eat for a day or two, don’t panic and give him a special treat. That’s what he wants. Hold out until he gives in and eats. As with all carnivores whose food supply is not constantly available, a dog is well adapted to going without food for long periods.

Flatulence or gas can sometimes be attributed to the food a yorkie eats. It is common in an aging dog because of diminishing intestinal mobility – the system slows down through the aging process.

Food is retained longer in the intestines, causing bacterial action on highly fermentable, poorly digested food. Gulping food is another cause. In fact, seventy percent of the gas in the digestive tract is said to be swallowed.

Diseases of the liver, pancreas, and intestines are other factors. Less meat and more exercise will help control this problem. Crumble charcoal pills – available at the pharmacy into your yorkie’s meal once a week. They absorb gas in the stomach, help relieve indigestion, and correct diarrhea.

They are not digested – just naturally eliminated.

Water, unlike food, should be readily available at all times, unless there is a condition for which your veterinarian asks you to cut out or limit water for two or three days. With water available, dogs drink frequently a little at a time.

If it kept away and given at intervals, they may gulp it down, overdrink, and become ill. When there is a real problem with housebreaking, you may have to regulate your yorkie’s water at night. Any dog that drinks an excessive amount of water should be checked by your vet.

Unusual thirst is a warning signal; food can sometimes be the culprit. In general, however, a dog will drink only what he can hold. Only when there is a real problem with housebreaking should you regulate your yorkie’s water as outlined.

What goes in one end must produce waste products in proportionate amounts at the other. Feeding and housebreaking are, therefore, directly related.

There is little choice among meat varieties, except that pork is seldom relished by dogs as it usually contains too much fat, and seldom should be cooked to improve its digestibility when it is used at all. Continue Reading

Dentition is a horrible factor in the yorkie, and some yorkies have soft, brittle, and defective permanent teeth no matter how excellent the diet and care given to them. Continue Reading

It should go without saying that a yorkie should have access to clean, fresh, pure drinking water at all times of which he should be permitted to drink as much or as little as he wants. Continue Reading

It is best that the “midwife” with whom the whelping yorkie is on intimate terms, and in whom she has confidence (the yorkie owner, usually). Continue Reading

In the choice of a yorkie stud dog, no attention need be paid to claim that he sires numerically big litters. Continue Reading

It is the breeder’s purpose to choose for his breeding yorkies with recessive or purely dominant gene pairs, whichever tends to produce the desired characteristics and to avoid yorkies with mixed gene pairs. Continue Reading