The absolute fundamentals of leash training your yorkie to walk with you are to get him to move out when you do, stay by your side when you walk straight ahead, and come to a halt when you stop.

The logical start is to teach him to begin walking when you do.

Place your yorkie on your left side, making sure his front feet are right next to yours. Adjust the leash so you are holding it correctly with both hands. Tell the yorkie to start by giving a slight jerk forward on the leash. Do it just enough to get your yorkie to move out.

Then, if you feel it is necessary, say ‘let’s go’ while stepping off and walking at your regular pace.

Eventually, when he is off the leash, the slight movement of bringing your hand forward, plus the simultaneous moving of your foot will wave the yorkie onward.

Keep in mind that you do not give the verbal command unless you are actually in motion. Then while you are walking, keep the leash slack as long as he stays close by your side.

If he tries to cross in front of you, knee him out of the way. If he lags behind, goes ahead, or wanders off to one side, bring him back into place with a quick, sharp jerk on the leash.

If a dog refuses to respond to an ordinary jerk of the leash, use a series of quick, sharp snaps. Your yorkie may be so distracted that one jerk on the collar may not be enough to get him to look in your direction, let alone to walk in place by your side.

Therefore, give a number of short jerks one right after the other, each a little harder than the previous one. If the yorkie is errantly stubborn, you may need to take the leash in both hands and jerk in a downward and backward stroke.

Just be careful to always snap back and to your side, or you are likely to hit yourself.

A stick as a three-foot-long dowel can be of use in helping keep your dog in place. This stick is held in the left hand with the lead and is tapped against the dog to nudge him into place when necessary.

It is an aid for use in guidance, NOT for reprimanding when he does things incorrectly.