How do you calm down a Yorkie? (5+ measures)

In this blog post, we will answer the following question: How do you calm down a Yorkie? We will teach you how to treat an aggressive and/or jealous Yorkshire Terrier. We will also discuss what mistakes to avoid when calming down an angry puppy.

How do you calm down a Yorkie?

To calm down a Yorkie, you have to know what is causing an issue, and if possible, remove the incentive. Is your dog aggressive because he was provoked or because he is scared? Is your dog hungry, feeling in danger, or jealous of another pet/human?

It is especially important to act quickly if our aggressive Yorkshire is a puppy, especially if it is between 2 and 3 months old since at this time we have a better chance of success than in an adult. However, do not worry if your Yorkshire dog is an adult, if we work properly we still have time to modify its behavior.

The Yorkshire Terrier, despite its small size, is a curious and very brave dog. To properly treat the problem you must be very observant and analyze what behavior problem your dog suffers from:

Diseases: before even evaluating a behavioral problem, we must go to our veterinarian to rule out any type of disease or health problem. Pain, hypothyroidism, or many other pathologies can favor the development of aggressive behaviors.

Socialization: we have already explained what this sensitive stage consists of, which occurs between four weeks of life and two months. A dog that does not understand what canine language is like, that does not know the basic rules of the game or that is unable to interact with a child is potentially susceptible to developing fear, insecurity, and, therefore, aggressive behaviors.

Stress and Anxiety: Life in a kennel or a breach of the five freedoms of animal welfare can leave your Yorkshire terrier feeling insecure, stressed, and highly anxious. Under these conditions, a dog cannot be trained, nor can it relate properly to other dogs or people. You must provide a calm, stable, and happy environment for at least 30 days before even thinking about their re-education.

Fear: If your dog has had a negative experience with another dog, he is likely to bark or be aggressive out of fear. In these cases, it will be essential to never force our Yorkshire terrier to interact if he does not want to, we must leave space for him to begin to interact. You can promote this situation by meeting very sociable dogs and walking together at a reasonable distance to avoid any conflict.

Sexuality: some dogs can have “aggressive” behaviors with others if they are not neutered. In addition to many advantages of castration (in which we include a lower risk of developing certain diseases), sterilization of pets will allow us to enjoy the game between specimens of the same sex once the adaptation is completed.

Protection of resources: the dog aggressively “protects” something that it considers its property, whether we are talking about a person, a feeder, or an entire room.

Of course, there are many other causes that can cause aggression in the dog, however, these are the main and most important. In the case of not knowing how to identify what may be happening, the most advisable thing is to go to a veterinarian specialized in ethology, the figure that can best help us diagnose and treat this behavior problem.

How to treat aggressiveness in a Yorkshire Terrier?

It is essential to know why our Yorkshire is aggressive before starting to work on the problem or apply any type of guideline. If not, chances are high that we won’t fix the problem and actually make it worse. 

In this sense, going to a professional is the best strategy, since only the specialist can provide us with specific guidelines adapted to our case and carry out regular behavior modification sessions in which the dog learns more positive behaviors.

However, while you wait to contact the professional, you can start treating your dog’s problems by following these basic tips:

Avoid Triggers: If your dog bites you when you scold her, stop immediately. It is likely that you are not communicating correctly with her or that you are applying education techniques that encourage the dog to react in a negative way. For example, avoid scolding her for getting on the couch and bet on congratulating her when she comes down.

Improve their quality of life: increasing the number of walks (or making them longer and more relaxing), doing physical exercise, or spending special time each day to play with them are options that will help us improve our bond and lower their stress.

Practice canine obedience: communicating with your dog effectively is essential to help him avoid certain unwanted behaviors. Practice daily 5-minute sessions using only positive reinforcement. When your dog is aggressive, you can ask her to lie down or sit, basic commands for dogs, which can help you calm the individual or redirect her behavior.

Take safety measures: although the Yorkshire is not a particularly large dog, its bite can cause serious damage to children and adults, therefore, always take the appropriate safety measures and avoid any situation that may be serious. In this sense, working on the use of the muzzle and processing civil liability insurance can be basic measures.

If your your Yorkie is jealous

Sometimes the reason why your need to calm down a Yorkie is that he is jealous, either of another pet or person. There are few studies that talk about the behavior of jealous dogs, which is why it is so difficult to determine the exact behaviors and differences with respect to other common behavior problems in dogs.

Some of the symptoms of jealous dogs can be:

1. He tries to get the attention of the “valued social partner” when he feels ignored.
2. Tries to interrupt the interaction between the “valued social partner” and the possible “social rival.”
3. He is attentive when the “valued social partner” and the “social rival” interact.
4. It may push, attack, or show various negative calming signals.

We can find many videos of jealous Yorkies on the Internet, however, we must point out that some tutors reinforce inappropriate or aggressive behaviors in dogs, probably due to ignorance, which increases these behaviors even more in dogs.

Calming down a jealous Yorkie

Whether a dog is jealous can largely depend on the education you have given him. You can be jealous in different situations, especially in front of any person or animal that can steal your role.

Your dog may begin to feel jealous when a change of roles occurs, this happens when a new member of the family arrives. That is why the importance of the attitude of the owners to this new situation that arises.

Jealousy can be caused by a sexual motive, disputes over female dogs in heat, but this is something instinctive of them, who suffer it to perpetuate the species.

Our dog can also suffer jealousy for wanting more attention, when a new person comes home or in a situation in which the owners pay more time. They perceive that the same attention is not paid to them, so they feel insecure and will surely complain to the owner.

Education plays a key role so that our dog does not feel jealous in the future. Since he is a puppy, you must accustom him to interacting with other dogs and pets, as well as different human beings. If they get used to sharing their toys, going for a walk with another pet, and even interacting with children, rest assured that in the end, they will not see new people or dogs as a threat.

If your Yorkie is jealous all the time, keep in mind these three simple tips:

1. You must be the one who sets the rules and it is not your dog who handles you.
2. It is very important that you mark the hierarchy, where you occupy the first position and the last.

3. If your dog is jealous, it should be the person who is jealous of who should correct it.

In dealing with dog jealousy, we will completely avoid the use of punishment, as this can further aggravate the picture. On the contrary, we will try to control the situation with basic obedience commands, asking our dog to sit, lie down, or stay.

Final thoughts

During the early stages of a dog’s life, it is essential to practice socialization. It is a sensitive stage in which our dog learns to interact with people, with other dogs, and with the objects that surround him. When he carries out positive social relationships on a regular basis, our dog understands how to act and cope in the daily situations that surround him.

Now you know some basic steps to start working on this behavior problem and that the final solution passes through the hands of a professional. Don’t forget to share your experience with us!

FAQ on How do you calm down a Yorkie?

 

References

Yorkieadvice.com

Petsworld.in

Animalwised.com