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

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

When choosing a commercial diet for the old yorkie, look for the following specific ingredient breakdowns as measured against 100 grams of food:

- No more than 14 grams of protein

- No more than 9.5 grams of fat; 1.2 grams of fiber, or more

- Less than .33 grams of sodium

- Less than .33 grams of phosphorus

- About .55 grams of calcium

Cutting down on sodium, fat, sugar, and potassium will help him properly digest his kibble. As the old yorkie ages, his sense of smell may decrease, making food less palatable.

Adding a bit of special canned diet food will not only make him want to eat, but also will add much needed moisture to help his kidneys work. Fiber will aid the gastrointestinal tract, reducing the incidence of colitis and diarrhea associated with other dysfunction.

Offering too many calcium-rich foods such as milk or cream not only increases the yorkie’s fat intake, but may cause digestive problems and result in diarrhea.

Regardless of the health or age of your old yorkie, be sure to provide plenty of fresh water. This helps maintain his hydration.

Lots of water is especially important of the old yorkie has a kidney disorder, diabetes, chronic vomiting, or diarrhea. If he stops drinking regularly, he can become dehydrated and anemic. He must go to the veterinarian immediately for intravenous fluids.

Monitor his water intake to ensure he maintains his hydration level. Dogs average two liters per day of fluid intake. While much of his moisture can be obtained through moist food, he must drink the rest from his water bowl.

Obesity is one of the biggest problems facing an elderly dog. An obese dog can develop any number of internal disorders that can be detrimental to his overall health and shorten his life.

The type of diet you choose should depend on your old yorkie’s state of health – if he is underweight due to an underlying disease, he may need a higher calorie diet, whereas an overweight dog needs a lower calorie diet.

One of the ways to check your old yorkie’s hydration level is to take a fold of his skin between your fingers, then let go. If his skin snaps back into place, he is properly hydrated. If his skin remains loose or slowly returns to normal, he is dehydrated and will need immediate veterinary care and intravenous fluids.

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

Bathing dogs is not something that needs to be done too often. In fact, too-frequent bathing may be harmful because it removes the natural oils and encourages a variety of skin problems.

Three or four baths a year are probably more than sufficient, depending on the kind of life your yorkie lives. Frequent brushing is more important. Continue Reading

A Yorkshire terrier dog, coming as a raw recruit to a new home and master, requires considerable patience and understanding. Left to himself, he will develop under the influence of his subconscious instincts, many of which are undesirable under domestic conditions.

Some of these instincts have to be suppressed; others can be made use of and guided into special channels. Continue Reading

Some dogs are forever seeking fights with other dogs, but this problem doesn’t usually become seriously engrained until the animal is two to three years old. You should be able to observe early signs of such a propensity in your yorkie and begin corrective reprimands before it’s too late.

Some precociously pugnacious pups grow into nasty dogs that are never completely reliable and have to be watched constantly. Continue Reading

A Yorkie fight in progress is entirely different from one that’s just brewing or threatening. A ferocious full-blown fight can start in a split second; one in progress, the pace is fast and furious.

Flailing bodies, bared fangs, snapping jaws, the snarling and growling all blur together with lightning speed. To stop the action, you must act rapidly – and surely. Continue Reading

Certain basic dos and don’ts can make your home and surroundings far more amiable for your yorkie. Your world is full of potential hazards for an animal. Simply taking a few protective measures can help ensure your yorkie’s safety.

Many an emergency veterinary visit arose because of an accident that a little simple forethought could have avoided. A fishbone in the throat, a tennis ball or corn cob lodged in the stomach, a needle stuck in the skin, or paint on the pads of the feet are all common. Continue Reading

Some yorkies become so overly attached and dependent on their owners that they remain emotionally a perpetual pup. When this type of dog is separated from the owners for whatever reason, there can be adverse results.

Refusal to eat, constipation, diarrhea, and general physical exhaustion may be the result of such emotional stress. Such over-attached yorkies may literally pine away, slowly deteriorating and perhaps even dying. Continue Reading

The urinary patterns of both male and female Yorkshire terriers are instinctive and depend on inherited physiological and psychological characteristics. The physical stance taken during urination is most indicative of the differences.

Both male and female defecate in the same manner, and as pups they also urinate the same way – squatting, with all four legs extended, abdomen lowered, and tail raised. Continue Reading

It is most important to select a yorkie for stable temperament and trainability. Either a male or a female – dog or bitch as they are called – will make a good pet, given proper training.

Thus the question of sex is really up to you. Female yorkie owners claim they are gentler, quieter, and better pets in general. Owners of male yorkies, on the other hand, claim their pets are livelier and have more outgoing, vigorous personalities. Continue Reading

Some people get their dogs either from private homes, breeders, pet shops, animal shelters, or off the street. But where your teacup yorkie comes from can be very important in determining what you are getting.

Professional breeders and are business people. Animals are their merchandise, and they are usually interested in maintaining good health conditions. If you get your teacup yorkie from a reputable breeder, you can feel reasonably sure it is healthy. Continue Reading

A dog’s skin is an organ of his body, forming a protective layer over the bones, muscles, and internal organs. The skin has few pain receptors and is sparsely supplied with blood vessels.

However, certain unprotected structures such as the ears have an increased blood supply. Yorkies don’t get welts when bruised, since the skin is affixed very loosely to the flesh and muscles beneath it. This way, the epidermis can slide beneath a blow, affording greater protection from injury. Continue Reading

The teacup yorkie mother will care for her new family herself for the first three to four weeks. She will keep the brood clean; and as long as the teacup puppies are warm and getting enough to eat, they will be quiet and sleep most of the time.

If they aren’t happy, however, they won’t hesitate to let everyone know. Your main concern is the mother’s needs and keeping the temperature at the right level. Continue Reading

The secret to successful lactation is keeping the mother strong and well-nourished. A nursing teacup yorkie has to eat a lot of food and drink a lot of milk or water.

Supplements can be especially helpful at this time. If you don’t take care of the teacup yorkie mom’s nutritional needs, the puppies will drain her reserves, and you could end up by the time she finishes nursing with an emaciated dog. Continue Reading

Weaning is the separation of the young yorkie puppy from the mother, or in the case, of orphans, from the substitute mother. Start weaning at two, three, or even four weeks of age, depending on the size of puppies, the number of litter, and the milk supply available.

Now you will be the provider of food. Wean gradually so as to slowly decrease the yorkie puppies’ dependence on the mother’s milk. Her milk will slowly dry off, and the food you offer the yorkie puppies in weaning should increase, as should the yorkie mom’s intake. Continue Reading

Make a comprehensive list containing your yorkie’s date of birth, sex, breed, coat, length, hair texture, unusual aspects, color, eyes, ears, marking, tail length, height, license number and renewal date, and inoculations.

This will be an easy reference guide to the essential descriptive information about your yorkie. It is also a great help not to have to solely rely on memory, so keep a good photograph in addition to your list and keep them together. Continue Reading

Considering adopting a teacup yorkie? Yorkshire Terriers as they are commonly called belong to the family of toy breeds. Taking care of yorkies requires a big responsibility on your part. Because of their relatively small size, they are prone to several health issues. Here we will develop an understanding of teacup yorkie adoption. Continue Reading

Digging at the earth around the base of plants is another habit that dogs develop. If your yorkie likes to dig inside flowerpots indoors, cut out a disk of screening or chicken wire to fit inside the pot.

Cut out one or more circles to fit around the plant’s trunk or stems and bury the screening just under the soil. Now when he goes to dig at the earth, your yorkie will catch his nails or teeth in it, making it uncomfortable for him, and he will stop. Continue Reading

If your yorkie puppy halts at every spot to relieve himself, drifts ahead, lags behind, heels wide, lurches at passerby, bites at your arm, plays with the leash, attacks other dogs, pulls you through doors, or rushes ahead into elevators – he needs additional training work.

When your yorkie puppy wants to relieve himself, you should allow him to sniff around a little: that is normal pre-elimination behavior. Do not, however, allow him to sniff constantly and stop and urinate a few drops on everything. Continue Reading

Don’t expect your teacup yorkie to control him if your schedule is really erratic. Additionally, a dog with a bladder infection or an older dog with kidney problems shouldn’t be kept away from a toilet area.

Under these conditions, give in a little and train your teacup yorkie to go both inside on paper or outside when walked. The only problem with this type is that when paper if left down in the house, a dog will generally use it if he feels even the slightest urge. Continue Reading

If your yorkie dog crawls along the ground toward you or your friends as though you were going to beat him when he gets there, it can make you feel terrible – especially when your yorkie rolls over and urinates a little in submission after he reaches you.

This behavior needs to be normalized. You may not cure him completely, but hopefully you will achieve enough success that your yorkie dog won’t make you feel like an ogre. Continue Reading

With a fear biter, it is his defensiveness and fear of being hurt that pose the problem. He’s only looking to avoid the danger his deluded mind anticipates from every source.

This trait may begin as an extreme wariness of large, noisy, or unusual objects, and progress to overt aggression as he matures. Don’t praise or try to comfort this type of yorkie when he shows fear; this only reinforces the reaction. Continue Reading

Food is so basic to a yorkie’s life that it can spawn all sorts of problems. Stopping these bad habits will help avid many upset stomachs and may even prevent poisoning if your yorkie ingests something he shouldn’t. Continue Reading