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My yorkie has been very feisty ever since she's been teething. I never had this problem with my other pups when they go thru their teething phase. However, my other pups are a different breed of dogs. She'll growl at me and then she'll jump and nip at my hands - but she does all this in a very playful way. I tell her to stop and I say no. It's almost like she's a toodler and has a temper tandrum. She literally throws her body down and growls at me - in a nice, but whining way.

At first I thought maybe she's feeling discomfort since she is teething. I've bought her many chew toys: hard, soft, fluffy, balls, bones and so on... she's been through quite a few already. She'll then gets into a this hyper mode and will starts growling and nipping at me.

My vet said that, she's just being playful and perhaps it is due to her teething process. I personally feel that there's more to it then just her teething. She's really good most of the time. She's also potty trained. I'm wondering if this is one of the characteristics of a Yorkie? Please help, I want to know what's wrong with my yorkie and give her the best I can.

>>My yorkie has been very feisty ever since she's been teething. I never had this problem with my other pups when they go thru their teething phase. However, my other pups are a different breed of dogs. She'll growl at me and then she'll jump and nip at my hands - but she does all this in a very playful way. I tell her to stop and I say no. It's almost like she's a toodler and has a temper tandrum. She literally throws her body down and growls at me - in a nice, but whining way.
>>
>>At first I thought maybe she's feeling discomfort since she is teething. I've bought her many chew toys: hard, soft, fluffy, balls, bones and so on... she's been through quite a few already. She'll then gets into a this hyper mode and will starts growling and nipping at me.
>>
>>My vet said that, she's just being playful and perhaps it is due to her teething process. I personally feel that there's more to it then just her teething. She's really good most of the time. She's also potty trained. I'm wondering if this is one of the characteristics of a Yorkie? Please help, I want to know what's wrong with my yorkie and give her the best I can.

I'd strongly advise getting into a puppy training class with this little tyke, to improve your relationship. It pays off, hugely! Your veterinarian can likely recommend a class for you to go and check out. Go and observe at least once without your dog before enrolling. You want an orderly atmosphere where your pup will be safe, and you want to see pups motivated to want to do the exercises, rather than a harsh method of training.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series at www.veterinaryforum.com

yes, we will be enrolling in an obedience class as soon as my summer class ends (in about two weeks - phew!)

I'm hoping the obedience class will understand my pup a lot more. I can't wait to start. They said their training is life time guranteed. So, if she should develop other bad habits, I am able to take her back for retraining.

Any suggestions about what I need to know about obedience classes??

Thanks again for your help and quick response.

>>yes, we will be enrolling in an obedience class as soon as my summer class ends (in about two weeks - phew!)
>>
>>I'm hoping the obedience class will understand my pup a lot more. I can't wait to start. They said their training is life time guranteed. So, if she should develop other bad habits, I am able to take her back for retraining.
>>
>>Any suggestions about what I need to know about obedience classes??
>>
>>Thanks again for your help and quick response.

I like the "lifetime guarantee." A school who would make that promise is making a commitment to you and your dog, and hopefully will get you off to a good start.

It's a positive sign these days if a school uses treats with beginning handlers and dogs, so that's one thing to look for. You could start conditioning your girl to getting tiny treats when she responds to your calling her by promptly coming to you. Try to get eye contact from her each time with the treat, but also give the treats quickly, rather than teasing her with them. Give them as rewards, rather than showing them in advance and promising them as bribes!

She'll need to be able to walk on a leash, so make sure she gets past any habit of just sitting down and refusing to walk! Talk to the school about what type of collar/harness they use. For walking with a Yorkie, I personally would attach the leash to a chest harness rather than a collar. The breed is highly prone to collapsing trachea. If the instructor says "all" dogs in class "must" be on choke chains, that wouldn't be a good class for a Yorkie.

If it is possible, go and observe a class without taking your dog, before you take her. Hopefully the two weeks you have left will give you a chance to do that. If you're uncomfortable about how the dogs are being treated, that would be the wrong class for you.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series at www.veterinaryforum.com

I took Tiffany to Puppy Kindergarden and also Beginner Obedience. When the time came for them to wear a choke chain I told the Trainer that I wouldn't put a choke chain on her because she was so small and also the Collapsed Trachea that they can have and my trainer told me that would be fine.

If you e-mail me I have the lessons for Puppy Kindergarden and also Beginner Obedience. I can e-mail them to you. I have them in a Word Document and you can print it out.

My e-mail is:

xoxjoaniexox@aol.com

Just put in the subject line Puppy Kindergarden lessons so I know it's you.

When she nips at you and you tell her no and she stops I'd praise her and give her a treat for being a good girl and listening to you. Oy vey! The key to training is to praise them when they do what you want.

XoX
Joanie, Tiffany and Shana (my cat)