Image: Pixabay
Yorkshire terriers may be small dogs, but their keen senses, protective nature, and general distrust of strangers make them excellent watchdogs. Such excellence, however, can become pretty annoying when Yorkies start barking at anything and everything that looks even remotely suspicious.
You might be surprised that such a small dog breed could make so much noise. Not too mention, your family members and neighbors probably won’t appreciate being kept up at night.
Determine the Cause
Keep in mind that all dogs except for the Basenji breed use barking as a form of communication, so complete cessation of barking is probably not realistic. The first step then for pet owners is to determine the cause of the inappropriate behavior in the first place. When the cause has been clearly identified, the proper corrective actions can then be taken.
Dogs bark for a number of reasons including:
• Intruder Alert - This is a valid response from a Yorkie and, thus, must not be curbed by the pet owner except under certain circumstances.
• Separation Anxiety - Yorkies are affectionate companions that require plenty of attention from their humans. Separations can be hard on their psyche.
• Illness and Injury - Barking is a form of communicating to others the pain due to an illness or an injury.
• Boredom - Yorkies are active animals that can easily become bored when left alone with no toys or no other dogs to play with. Barking can become a sort of entertainment for the restless pooch.
• Aggression – This can be dangerous when the Yorkies are up against a much bigger breed. (Yorkies are brave dogs, which makes them oblivious to their own small sizes.) Aggression can also be directed at the owners, which is a serious concern that might require specialized help from an animal behaviorist trained in aggression.
It must also be noted that the Yorkshire's excessive barking can be a combination of many factors. For example, a Yorkie may bark because of a combination of separation anxiety and boredom. They may experience different motivating factors at different times of the day, for instance.
Take the Proper Corrective Actions
First, check your dog’s area to determine if there is a valid cause for the warning. If there is none, say "Quiet" in a firm voice. If there is good reason, call the police.
But it may just be the mailman, the neighborhood kid, or the dog next door passing by the house as the cause for the excessive barking. In this case, provide the Yorkie with more socialization opportunities to accustom it to the neighborhood sights and sounds. Play dates, walks in the park, and other social activities will greatly help to curb the Yorkie's suspicious nature.
Second, separation anxiety can be remedied with ensuring that your departures are done with little to no fanfare. Don't announce your departure with a grand exit or get carried away by your dog’s mournful yapping.
Gradually accustom your pet to your absence by extending the time spent away from it - 5 minutes away, then come back for 5 minutes, and then spend another 10 minutes away and so on. Spend more time with your pet during your free days by playing, grooming, and training it.
Third, check the Yorkie's head, body, and fur to rule out illnesses and injuries. If anything suspicious is found, seek a veterinarian's opinion immediately. (Even if you find no sign of illness, a trip to the vet is still recommended for unexplained aggression.)
Fourth, you can conquer boredom in a Yorkie by increasing playtime. Give the dog a sufficient number of safe and stimulating toys like chew balls and bones. Play with the dog to satisfy its need for playtime, which also doubles as exercise.
Fifth, aggression barking against the Yorkie's owner can best be curbed by respect training. Basically, it involves teaching the Yorkie that its owner is the leader of the pack and must be respected as such at all times. Clear commands including "No", "Stop", and "Quiet" to stop the unnecessary barking must be given in a firm voice.
It will take patience before anti-bark training yields the desired results. It will be worth it, though, as your Yorkshire Terrier will soon be a calm and respectful canine citizen (and that means more peace and quiet for you and your loved ones).
Image: Pixabay
