help with my dogs bad habits - Page 2

Do not spray your Yorkie with a water bottle, especially in the ear.
Going on three,  I'd say as far as the walking you've dropped the ball along the way in his training.
He needs some one on one and a little refresher course on the leash.
The barking I'm afraid goes with the territory but maybe could have been lessened with more socializing when he was younger.
The crying and whining worked at some point and he learned thats how to get your attention.
By the way, you can love a dog and still put it down, decker was probably just trying to be funny.

I'd say all things considered you might as well get used to it.

Moons.

Spoiled rotten comes to mind....LOL Feel for you! Many little breeds have a mind of their own and appear to be rather difficult to train especially when one is spoiled by having a GSD. Yes, he learnt to bark to get it his way, and it has become a habbit. Habbits are hart to break, and require patients and meticulous consistency.

Start treating him like a big dog formost. Dont hesitate and dont be afraid to discipline him. To break the barking you can use a shaker can, whristle, horn, or similar that makes an obnoxious sound. This could also be your voice on a firmer site. The important part is, it has to "snapp" him out of the barking. Once he is quiete, instant positive reward. As owner of other dogs you should be familiar with positive reinforcement training. Important here is exact timing. In the beginning he will only be quiete for a split second, rember that. For the walks use a slip collar or martingale, or have a small coupler from his flat collar to a harness, so if he tries to work his way out, you still got him. Dont pick him up, this is a reinforcement of bad habbits. When he barks at another dog on the walk, you most likely have to use something physical: firm short touch or a shove with your foot. Try to get him before he starts barking, together with a firm No! or whatever you are using. Keep on stepping between him and the sight of the other dog, reward with food if quiete. If he still escalates, dont loose your nerve, just go in the other direction, be rather a bit harsch with him, no matter what....you go! Remember you have to meet him on his level of intensity; dont feel hesitant because he is cute and little! If he barks in the house, you can also remove him instantly to another room until he is quiete (smaller one prefered) and you dont have to leave the lights on.

Try this for now. Its going to be a lot of work, and its not going to happen over night. Be insistent and consistent. Good luck!

Btw: I got a small schnoodle with a mind of his own.So been there, done that and am still on doing....LOL

he was treated like a baby as a puppy. he gets the same treatment now as the other two dogs. and they all sleep in bedroom but the only diff is that he sleep on the bed and that isnt because the others dont want to just that they dont like it, they sleep on the the bed in the room.

i dont pick him up at all he only ever walks. i really do think he is trying to protect us and he is the only boy and i think he is the boss.

my gsd's are fine with new dogs, we always have me aunties dogs all the time, they are that laid back they dont mind at all.

EEKKK yorkies my least favorite dog ever. I agree terriers are known for their stubborn defiantness and its up to you to make the change. Although Im not a fan of a harness, it might work for you since the dog wont be able to get out of it. I would try the water in the sprayer. That should work well. i use that on my shepherd when they are not minding. Its amazing what the look of the bottle will do after they have been sprayed a few times.

If you pick the dog up and carry it around, I would stop that as well as letting the dog on the furniture and any other habits that the dog thinks he is equal. I just got this handy little device for the dogs who live behind me and bark non stop while Im out in my back yard. Its called a Dazer and emits a high pitch sound when they bark. OMG IT WORKS GREAT. Now they see me and just dont bark. It works like a charm. $25.00 on Amazon. You could leave the big dogs at home and take the little dog out. Once he starts barking press the button. I never thought that damn dog behind me would shut up but this thing works so Im sure it would work for you and your dog.

I see more little dogs with screwed up minds because people think they need to be coddled. But being the smart terrier they are, take advantage and change the rules putting them in the drivers seat and the human in the back.

 >Do not spray your Yorkie with a water bottle, especially in the ear.<

By all means. Stick a prong collar on him instead, and if he ignores your command to stop barking, jerk him head over tail instead of spraying him with a harmless stream of water.

two moons- he was always meeting dogs and people as a puppy and still does. he only barks at other dogs as if to say this is my family. 

Putting a dog down because he barks is no love for a dog. i was looking for tips not for someone to have a laugh. he is a brill dog in every other way. with me not having a terrier before i put his barking down to that.

spraying him with water may help, you can buy expensive spray cans in the pet store that is meant to help. but will try the plant spray bottle first. dont think i will get it in his ears tho.

Lauren

 You don't have to get it in his ear - simply hitting the outside of the ear will get his attention.  Experiment and if he respects the water when sprayed on his back or wherever, wonderful.  Spraying the ear will get more of an effect, as will lemon water in his mouth.

i do think he thinks he is the boss. but only from when was a puppy. he is now three and gets treated like the gsd's, doesnt get picked up or talked to like a baby. he gets shouted at everytime he barks and sent to his bed if we are in the house. the main problem is the walking

Lauren

I have experience with Yorkies as I've had two and my parents are on their second (he's a little beast).  My first was one of the best dogs I've owned.  I worked with her as a puppy and she was very smart and eager to please.  She was a pleasure to spend time with, just hanging out.  The second one I got was the total opposite.  I also didn't spend nearly as much time with her as I had gone back to school, was working, and was raising young children.  She was a yappy pain in the butt from the day I brought her home until the day I had to have her put down in old age.  Terriers, in general, are stubborn and not so easily trained as others.  I might also add though, that they can get enough exercise in the house and don't need to be walked very often or very far!  If it's a problem, limit the walks!  I used to play hide and seek with mine in the house, run upstairs and jump up on the top bunk in my daughter's room, or hide in a closet and see how long it would take them to find me.  It was fun and gave them plenty of exercise.  A tired dog is a good dog!  If you play a game or and make him do some running before going for a short walk, he may be a little better and as stated above, you can praise/treat his good behavior.  I would also keep him separated from the puppy, but not completely.  They need to get to know each other so the puppy can learn easier play with a small dog.  Supervision is the key here.  Be firm without being mean and getting mad.  Demand attention and demand compliance, don't give in.

Lauren, obedience classes will definitely help.  Usually the tiny dogs have simply become spoiled and they've never HAD to have manners, so they don't.

Just be patient, and CONSISTENT, and remember that he's had THREE YEARS of having his own way with obnoxious behavior so it may take a little longer. Don't give up!

Another advantage of obedience training - and you might want to try agility, too! - is that it also works their minds.  Yorkies are often bright little dogs, and IMO don't get nearly enough of the physical exercise and mental exercise they need to be truly happy.  Remember they were originally tough little terriers, bred for action. 

Keep in mind the philosophy of the obedience classes & your training sessions are positive things to exercise his mind and body and give him something to look forward to, activities that will give him your undivided attention and fun things to do.  Don't think of them as stopping, controlling, etc. but POSITIVE activities.

Also, in your daily training sessions - keep them short.  Like 5 minutes.  You don't have to do 30-60 minutes with him, he'll get that when he goes to class.  Short and sweet will work better at home - it will give him a sense of accomplishment and not, after 3 years of no (or hardly any) training, be an ordeal to go from nothing to a 30-minute session.   Make sense?