Yorkies can't hold it forever

Greetings:

I believe that Yorkies (small dogs in general) are a tad more difficult to housebreak. I also go mad when people tell me that they leave their dog home alone all day long and expect it not to go potty. Excuse me, do you hold yours all day long? Yorkies need to be taken out for long walks or let out often so they can go Potty. I walk my dogs at least a dozen times a day, one or two long walks and then the rest are quick short walks around the area. (We live in a townhouse so there is no just letting them out)

Even with going out Buddy has a problem. We rescued Buddy at the age of 4.2 (don't ask me how they knew he was .2 years old) and he was not neutered or housebroken. We were able to do the first, but never got the second one down. We even had Buddy's trainer take him for two weeks in order to get him trained but she brought him back and said he was the first dog she could not house train.

The good news is Buddy doesn't Poop (at least not very often) in the house. We worked with him so that he understands he needs to do number 2 outside.

I have done everything I was told by the trainer and the books to get Buddy to stop peeing inside. I even tethered him to me for three months. That was the most effective but who can live with a fur child tied to them all day?

So how do we manage living with a fur child that pees in the house. Buddy wears a Belly Band or what we call, a Nappy. I put a pad in it (the kind people use for incontinence) and change the pad when he goes in it. He wears one at all times in the house. He doesn't like wearing it but I don't like him peeing in the house, so in order to keep him this is what we had to do. We also put a wrap on Surrobbie our female if we are going to be gone for very long. She does okay for a few hours but not all day.

According to Your Pure Breed Puppy,

"As a behavioral consultant, I would put the Yorkshire Terriers on my Top Five List of "Hard to Housebreak." Consistent crate training is mandatory. Sometimes a doggy door is necessary. And some owners never do get their Yorkshire Terriers fully housebroken."

There are some great books and methods for training your Yorkie and I think most Yorkies can be house trained. Not to say there won't be accidents. If you have a Yorkie you need to own a carpet cleaner!

Rachelle

Safe Toys for Your Yorkies

Greetings:

One of the things that is important to provide your Yorkie with is safe toys. Yorkies like to play and chew and if they have something that is safe and fun it will entertain them for hours.

My Yorkies love stuffed toys. Muffassa especially loved the fluffy stuffed animals and would play with them for hours and often liked to sleep with them. He was so funny. He would bring a toy over to my husband or me to play with and if we didn't respond he would go get another toy and bring it over as if to say, "Hey if you don't like that one I got others." He would do that until we picked up the toy and tossed it for him. Because he was a chewer I made sure that any removable objects such as plastic eyes and noses were removed. Most of the stuffed animals Muffassa had were from garage sales. Muffassa and I were at a garage sale and I picked up a little stuffed bunny and I showed it to Muffassa and said, "Mommy is going to get this for you." The lady having the garage sale looked at me and said, "That was my babies toy and I don't want a dog playing with it." I just gave her a strange look and said, "I would never give this to a dog." She seemed relieved and took my quarter. As Muffassa and I were walking away I looked down at Muffassa and said, "Who was she calling a dog?" Muffassa had no idea because he didn't know he was a dog, as far as he knew he was a "fur child."

I also never give my Yorkies those thin plastic toys. Muffassa just made a meal out of them.

I have to watch Buddy with Tennis balls. He likes to eat the insides out of them. We now have several flat Tennis Balls.

I keep Buddy and Surrobbie's toys in a toy basket and they are free to go and choose whichever ones they like. Buddy usually has half a dozen balls rolling around the house at any given time. Surrobbie really isn't that crazy about toys although every once in a while she will go get one and play around with it.

I found an interesting blog all about Kong toys. My Yorkies are not really all that crazy about them, they get pretty bored when they can't get the treat out of them fairly easily. If you do get your Yorkie a Kong get the smallest one you can get. They also have the special treats that fit inside of them or you could fill the hole with peanut butter. My two like that the best, but of course it doesn't keep them busy for long.

Make sure the toy is safe, that your Yorkie can't chew a piece off of it and choke and that it is made with material that can easily be washed. I often put the stuff animals in the washer and the sturdy plastic toys in the dishwasher.

Rachelle

How to train your Yorkie - with no hitting

Yorkie Dog Training
By Joshua McNiel

Yorkies are wonderful animals and make great pets. However, training your Yorkie dog can oftentimes be difficult unless done correctly.

Yorkies are the second most favorite breed of dog in the U.S. They are a very intelligent dog breed and generally learn commands, such as sit, stay, and fetch fairly quickly. Here are a few basic principles to follow when training your Yorkie:

* Treats, treats, and more treats - Giving your Yorkie a treat anytime they do a command correctly is probably one of the most effective actions for training. If you want to try to teach your Yorkie to sit, then put the treat in your closed fist and let your Yorkie smell it, then speak the command "sit" and when they successfully sit, give them a treat. This is a proven method, and it makes performing acts a fun time for your dog.


* Potty training - Yorkies are very smart animals, but sometimes they need a little extra time to be potty-trained. It is best to start teaching your Yorkie to go outside as a puppy, but if yours is older, it's ok too. When you see your Yorkie doing their business on the floor, yell loudly "NO", or "STOP", followed by taking them to a familiar spot outside. When yours does their business outside, give them a treat and lots of praise of affection. If your Yorkie doesn't catch on, consider crate training. Place your Yorkie in a crate at night time and when you leave the house. Only let your Yorkie out when you can supervise them.


* Distraction Free - Remember to take away distractions when you are trying to train your dog. Such things as the television, kids, phone calls, etc. can distract your Yorkie from learning. You want a quite place to train.


* Punishment - You should never be physically aggressive to your Yorkie. This can be traumatizing and create an adverse affect on their training. Yelling at them firmly is enough.


* Barking - Some Yorkies have a tendency to bark loudly when visitors to the door. If your Yorkie wont stop barking, try to yell "NO" at them. If this doesn't work, try to ignore them completely. If you are consistent, your Yorkie will realize he will be punished the next time he acts like that.

Yorkies are fast learners and are very affectionate. Be patient training your Yorkie and always give them lots of love.

For more information and great deals on yorkie clothes visit http://yorkiedogclothes.net

Agressive Yorkie

I love to grill out on my patio during the summer. I was grilling dinner one night and witnessed first hand how one's actions can cause a reaction. I opened the door to go to the grill and my eight-pound Yorkie, Surrobbie, bolted past me. She was so fast that she was in the middle of the front yard before I even knew what was happening. I had not noticed the woman walking by with her Standard Poodle. Surrobbie was on that poodle barking and biting. The poodle stood there for a second and then in one graceful move chomped down on Surrobbie. Surrobbie screamed and rolled over like she had been shot. I scooped her up and tried to apologize to the poodle owner who glared angrily at me. I took my wounded dog inside. The bite was only surface.

Most people don't realize how aggressive little dogs can be. I did Surrobbie a big disservice by not training her as a puppy not to be aggressive and not bolt when she has the opportunity. I am working with her and she is getting better, however it is a challenge to train an older dog new tricks. Although it can be done it would be easier to do it when they are puppies.

Here are some tips for training your Yorkie not to be aggressive so you won't have to worry about her hurting anyone or getting hurt.

Yorkshire Terriers - 5 Tips On How To Keep Your Yorkie From Being Aggressive
By Connie Ragen Green

Yorkshire terriers can become very aggressive if they are not trained well when they are young. This surprises many people because we all think of our Yorkie's as being very gentle. This is not always the case. Here are 5 tips on what to do to keep your Yorkie from becoming an aggressive pet.

* When you feed your dog, make sure to separate her from any other animals you have in your home. Yorkshire terriers may become aggressive towards other animals when there is food involved, no matter if they are hungry or not.
* Make sure your Yorkie has her own toys. This way she will know that she has things that belong only to her. Do not make her share her toys with your other pets or with dogs that come to visit.
* When other animals visit your home, make sure you hold your Yorkie and do not allow the other animals to run around loose in your home. Your dog knows that it is her home, and should not have to share it with strangers.
* Begin teaching good behavior when your Yorkshire terrier is a young puppy. It is much easier to teach a young dog than one who is older.
* When your Yorkie behaves in an aggressive manner, see what happened before you do anything. Try not to raise your voice and certainly do not hit your dog. If you stay calm you will be able to diffuse the situation much more easily.

Follow these tips and training your Yorkie will be much easier.

And now I invite you to find out more about training small and toy dogs such as Yorkshire Terriers and Maltese by visiting http://www.YorkshireTerriersAretheBest.com

History of the Yorkie

Understanding today's Yorkshire Terrier means looking at this dog’s ancestry. There seems to be little disagreement about the way in which the modern Yorkshire Terrier came to be. Even though there are no records of the earliest relatives of the Yorkie it's widely believed that the breed is estimated to is just over 100 or so years old. The Yorkshire Terrier of the past was much larger than today's terriers. It's surprising but the early versions of today's Yorkies were working class dogs.

From the 11th Century there was a rule that laborers were not allowed to hunt. In order to prevent hunting laborers were not allowed to own a dog big enough to be able to hunt. Dogs had to pass through a small hoop (7 inches in diameter) to prove that they were small enough. It was originally bred to be a hunting dog, catching rats, rabbits and mice to supplement their poor owner’s diet.

Before the beginning of the Industrial Revolution people lived in small communities and grew up around factories and mines. With the Industrial Revolution came great changes to family life. People were drawn to the cities seeking work and a better life.

These people brought with them the Paisley Terrier; who were mainly working dogs who used to catch rats and other small animals.

The Paisley Terrier, or Clydesdale Terrier was crossed with other types of Terriers. The English Black Terrier, the Tan Toy Terrier and the Skye Terrier. The Maltese was also crossed with these to produce long coats, and a smaller stature. You can still see the similarity in shape between the Maltese and today's Yorkies. There aren't any records about the early pedigree to confirm these crosses. There were low levels of literacy and this led to poor record keeping. It is believed that this is the most likely of the crosses.

The father of the modern Yorkie is said to be a dog called Huddersfield "Ben". Bred by Mr. Eastwood and owned by Mr. Foster; this was a very popular stud dog who had a great influence in the modern breed. He won many competitions and is believed to have set many of the standards for his breed type.

The British Kennel Club registered the first Yorkies in the British Kennel Club Stud Book in 1874. The American Kennel Club started recognizing Yorkshire Terriers as a breed in 1885. The first Yorkshire in 1910 was the first specimen seen in a German speaking area. Known as "Halifax Terriers" these dogs shared the appearance of the Yorkshire Terrier which to this day has changed very little. The breed standards for the Yorkshire Terrier have hardly changed. There are some small changes but these relate directly to the new knowledge in matters of canine health.

The Yorkshire Terriers of today are brave, loyal and energetic. A loyal guard dog who will be suspicious of strangers and defend their territory. Yorkies like to bark but with good training they can be taught not to. Some of the cross breeding which results in tiny "teacup" varieties can cause health problems for today's Yorkshire terriers. Often their skulls are too small and this results in a range of respiratory problems.

History of the Yorkshire Terrier
By Steve Allison

It is widely agreed that the breeding of such "Teacup" varieties is cruel and causes all kinds of health and behavioral problems. Be responsible and buy one of the more accepted varieties. If you are intending on breeding your Yorkshire terrier keep this in mind when choosing a sire.

Today's Yorkies are energetic, fun and a delight to have around. They will keep you entertained for hours and years to come.

Steve Allison is a third generation of professional dog breeders along with his brother Gary. It all started with his grandparents in 1970 with the Boston Terriers and has expanded to Maltese, Yorkshire Terriers, Pugs, Shih Tzu’s and Pomeranians. He is also actively involved with dog rescue and has a website that showcases the puppies they occasionally has for sale at All My Puppies Online Steve is also the co-author of two consumer guides, Carpet Secrets and Moving Secrets Guide

Rat Dog

Although it is hard to believe when I look at my little princess Surrobbie, Yorkshire Terriers were originally bred to be ratters. The Yorkshire Terrier, although classed today as a toy breed, is descended from terrier bloodlines. A man-made breed created within the history of modern dogdom, the Yorkie's diminutive size can be said to epitomize the terrier reputation in that its courage, gameness, and resilience have always been known to far outstrip its relatively small size. As the breed name suggests, these dogs were bred to go to earth (terra is Latin for earth) for rats and other vermin that generally are pests to man. A favorite of British miners in the Yorkshire section of England where she was used as a ratter in the coal mines, the Yorkie had retained all of the hardiness and tenacity that his working dog origins demanded of him.

I found a great article that details even more of the history of Yorkies. However I won't be mentioning to my little fur children that they come from a line of ratters. My pampered pooches wouldn't believe me.

Love my Yorkies,
Rachelle

Today's Yorkshire Terrier is a far different dog than when the breed appeared in 1865. In over just one hundred years, the size has been greatly reduced from an average weight of thirty pounds to a mere seven pounds today. And the trend is to have the Yorkie (as the breed is affectionately called) get even smaller, with adults tipping the scales at a mere three pounds. But who knows? Perhaps in the future, there will be a demand for the Yorkshire Terrier to grow back into a thirty pound dog.

Like many breeds of dogs, the name does not reflect their point of origin. For example, German Shepherds were actually developed in France. And Australian Shepherds originated in America. The geographical difference isn't nearly so big, but it is still significant. The main stock for today's delicate, adorable and pampered Yorkshire Terrier came from the unforgiving landscape of Scotland.

The Yorkshire Terrier did not originate in the English country of Yorkshire, despite their name. The breed became famous when they were perfected in Yorkshire. Huddersfield Ben's ancestors came from various tough little Scottish breeds of terriers, which are thought to have included the Scottish Terrier, the Clydesdale (or Clyde) Terrier and the Paisley Terrier. All of these breeds (except the Scottie) are no longer with us, but do live on in the form of Yorkshire Terriers.

The Scottish breeds inevitably bred with the terrier breeds already in Yorkshire, which experienced a great wave of Scottish immigrants in the late 1800's. The Scottish breeds were purposefully put to breeds that were known for killing rats. Yorkshire Terrier information sources guess that these breeds included the Maltese, the Skye and the now extinct breeds of Black and Tan English, Waterside and quite possibly the Manchester Terrier (which still survives, but is considered an extremely rare breed). The result was a rat-killing machine that was extremely friendly with people.

As time went on, the need for big working dogs decreased. People were living in smaller homes and needed smaller dogs they could physically control easily. The Yorkshire Terrier filled this niche admirably. They were a hit on both sides of the Atlantic. Not only did they make great guard dogs, but were affectionate and did not need a lot of exercise. They were introduced to America in 1872.

Over the last century, Yorkshire Terriers have become ever smaller. The original Yorkies were about thirty pounds and came in several colors. Today's show Yorkies are not to exceed seven pounds and must be steel blue and tan (and have those colors in specific proportions). The hot trend is top breed Yorkies that tip the scales at three pounds, which has lead to concerns about the health of breeding such small dogs. The Yorkshire Terrier, as of 2006, is the second most popular purebred dog in America.

Susan Bailey loves everything having to do with dogs, including Yorkshire Terrier history. The Yorkshire Terrier was a much larger breed in the beginning. This author is currently writing a series of articles containing Yorkshire Terrier information for interested readers.

If your dog is fat you are not getting enough excercise

There is a big connection between our fur children and our own life styles. If your dog is fat chances are so are you, at least according to a recent article I read. And if your dog is fat that is also a sign you are not getting enough exercise! One of the greatest things about having a dog is they love to walk, well most of them do. My little Yorkie Muffassa hated to walk, although he loved to go on carryies (that is where I walked and he was carried).

All the books on Yorkies will tell you they love to walk, and except for my spoiled little Muffassa I would say that is true. I take Buddy and Surrobbie for a 45 minute walk every morning. They love it. For them it is an adventure. They get to see and smell all kinds of new things. According to loveyourdog.com "Adventurous Yorkies love a long walk once or twice a day. It's healthy for him to get out and move his muscles. Even if you have a yard, it's important to go for long walks. Exercise will keep your dog's heart strong so that he lives for a long time. Make sure he wears a leash, though, because some Yorkies like to chase things!"

Always have your Yorkie on a leash. Those little guys can run fast and they can be out in the middle of the road and hit by a car before you know it.

Research shows that owning a dog is actually a great way to reduce your weight. People are more likely to keep up an exercise regiment when they have a dog to walk then if they are doing something on their own.

So take a look at your dog and if she is looking a little pudgy, it is time for you to get some exercise!

Love my Yorkie,
Rachelle

Do dogs reincarnate?

I found this article on ezinearticles.com while looking for something entirely different. Although I am not sure I believe it I find it intriguing. If I thought for an instant that Muffassa (that is his picture on the right in his SuperDog Costume), my beloved Yorkie that passed away in 2005, would reincarnate I would travel to the ends of the world to get him. As far as I know he hasn't. Although I did speak to Kelly Kreuger, and Animal Communicator, who said that Muffassa was thinking of coming back and if he did he would let me know. So far I haven't heard anything.

Now here is something out there. I do believe that my father sent Buddy (our rescued Dog that we got after Muffassa died) to me. Buddy is the kind of dog my dad would have loved. A simple easy going dog that just wants to be a dog. My sister has had several dreams where my father appears to her and the first thing he does is give a message to my sister for me about Buddy. My father died before I got Buddy so it seems odd that he would come back and talk about him. That is why I think he sent him to me. Who knows.

What are your thoughts. Let me know what you think about the article. If nothing else it will make you go "Hmmmm."

Love my Yorkies,
Rachelle

Is Your Pet Reincarnated? Animal Angel Reincarnation, Inspiring Hope for Pet Loss Grief Support
By Brent Atwater Platinum Quality Author

My dog died.

I was devastated! My heart experienced gut wrenching pain and loneliness. My life was obliterated. His wiggle wasn't waiting for me, and being in an empty home was more than I could bear.

I watched endless months of weekly photos, daily puppy updates, videos and rescue web cams. Nothing! I really didn't even care because my heart still mourned to my core and my tears still flowed. However, I felt compelled to keep watching the updates no matter how upset they made me feel.

Then this fluffy little fur ball dragging a LARGE stuffed toy in his mouth ran gleefully zoom zoom across my computer screen. My heart quickened. I must have watched, rewatched and memorized that video hundreds of times. I "felt" him in my soul (sign 1). I called, he was available albeit 2500 miles away. I thought too far to fly the little fellow with stopovers. (Sign 2) as the Universe would have it, the airline carrier added a holiday non stop flight from that area to our airport, so now I had no excuses. I had been unencumbered for years now and a new pup, well...

I talked to and questioned the puppy's guardian till she was probably really tired of me. In one conversation, she jokingly referred to him as "bad boy." I asked why. She stated that he had what looked like a B on his right hip and would send me a photo. (Sign 3) the image sent chills up my spine and all my friends into a chorus of "what don't you get?" He was already spoken for at a higher level then any of us knew at that time. It was as if God had assigned an Angel to monogram my signature on his hip so I wouldn't be so "human" as to not understand that this dog was meant to be mine.

With a weary heart, afraid and excited I met him at the airport VERY Apprehensive! What if I had the wrong pup and we didn't connect? I had never picked a puppy from a distance. He launched out of his crate and immediately sat all 7 pounds of 9 weeks old fluff right down in front of me. He looked up and stared directly into my eyes as if to say where have you been? Now let's get on with our life. Then he hopped into my arms and slept all the way to my house that had now become our home.

I named him Friend. He responded to his "old" name without missing a beat. He knew where his bed was, recognized his past life toys and gathered them into his same toy spot where they were supposed to be! He did not even inspect the new toys, he wanted HIS toys! He talks, hugs, and does all the things all my soul dogs "did." When I look into his eyes we never left one another. He is my "baby dog," my best Friend. When my heart asked where have you been, his spirit replied: I had to exchange my old body for this new one so I could be in your life again. At 10 weeks old he knew and responded to all the old dog's commands, no training was necessary. He's my old adult dog with few puppy moments except he runs at "wide open", is learning how to operate those new feet and is a chewing machine!

Even Mikey our senior cat recognized this 90 day reincarnate. She had lived with Friend 1 and Electra. She slept on Friend's grave for the longest time. It was like a class reunion. They knew they knew each other before but didn't know how to act now. Mikey instigated head bumps, a game of tag with a playful paw bat, and she nonchalantly weaves back and forth under Friend's stomach before she cleans his ears. They can be seen intertwined in the late afternoon sun napping. Sometime "His puppyhood" is exasperated as how to handle his feline buddy.

I am blessed to have gentle paw pads stroking my face to awaken me each morning. All the eccentric little habits, routines, traits, favorite toys, foods, spots and tricks known only to my soul is back in my world in another earthly "monogrammed" fur form as Friend.

If you've lost your pet, service dog, companion animal, assistance dog, pet therapy dog, soul dog and forever fur baby child, don't lose hope. Listen to your heart urgings, watch your dreams, and follow your soul's knowing and intuition. If you feel that you want to hold onto your pet's beds and toys, there is a reason, some part of your soul knows that they will be back. Each dog's soul is a spirit composed of eternal energy that lives forever in all that is.

When it's your soul pet, animal spirit guide or spiritual teacher in an animal form, God/ the Universe honors his choice to reincarnate to be with you many times in various physical bodies. Know that your pet is not gone forever. Give their spirit time to choose a new body. You'll KNOW when you see them! "Mom, I'm home again!"

Here are some signs that your pet may have reincarnated:

1. Listen to and follow the timing and guidance of your inner urgings to search for their
new body form. You'll "know" whether puppy, rescue dog, animal shelter, newspaper ad,
internet search, just listen and trust!

2. Never overlook the little details and just pass them off as not worthy of attention.
Follow through on the details and trust they are correct. There are no coincidences.

3. Look into your pets eyes the window of their soul, you'll know and recognize your
connection.

4. Ask questions with and listen to the answers with your heart.

5. If you feel that you want to hold onto your pet's beds and toys, there is a reason, some
part of your soul knows that they will be back

Sometimes when they return, they embody a new trait that you had been hoping they would have, in addition to their former traits as a further answer to your prayer. The reincarnation timeframe in which they return can be as short as several hours or longer.

There are many pet bereavement and pet loss groups and books available to assist in your healiing. Just Plain Love books provide further information and a list of signs of pet reincarnation. Pet Grief Counselors, animal communicators, animal angel networks have many books on Amazon and in retail stores. Internet resources can provide pet reincarnation blogs, discussion forums on my space pet reincarnation will help you deal with the loss of your companion. Listen to your heart, you WILL know if your beloved pet is going to reincarnate and say I'm home again!



Contact Information:
Brent Atwater, Pet ExpertPet Medical Intuitive, Pet Energy Healing
ATL, GA Phone: 404.242.9022 USA
NC Phone: 910.692.5206 USA
Website: http://www.brentatwater.com/
Email: Brent@BrentAtwater.com
http://www.myspace.com/petreincarnation

Disclaimer: Brent Atwater collaborates with and participates in ongoing energy medicine and intuitive diagnostic medical research, and independent case studies with the world's leading doctors, physicians, researchers, scientists, and medical facilities, helping to create evidence based research that documents the bridging of traditional and alternative healthcare into integrative medicine. Atwater is not a medical doctor or associated with any branch of medicine. Brent offers her opinions based on her intuition, and her personal energy healing work, which is not a substitute for medical procedures or treatments. Always consult a physician or trained health care professional concerning any medical problem

Remove Temptation

My little fur person, Buddy, decided that chewing on my leather backpack purse that I store in my office closet was fun. I tried scolding him, moving him and even reasoning with him. Nothing seemed to work. Whenever Buddy could get to the backpack, he would start chewing on it. After several days of trying to dissuade him from this behavior, I decided to remove the temptation. I moved the backpack from the bottom shelf in the closet to the top shelf. Now Buddy can't see or reach the backpack, and he has moved on to other things.

The best thing to do if you don't want your Yorkie to chew something is remove it. I call this "Buddy Proofing" the house. Don't leave things like expensive shoes laying around. Your Yorkie doesn't know the difference between a chew toy and a pair of expensive leather shoes.

Make sure you have plenty of Yorkie Toys laying around. This way your Yorkie will have plenty to chew on that is acceptable and not be so tempted by what isn't.

Use the command "Leave it." Anytime your Yorkie starts going for or is chewing on something she shouldn't be say "Leave it." This command can be taught by putting something in front of your Yorkie and saying "Leave it." Practice until they understand the command. When your Yorkie does indeed "Leave it" praise her by saying "Good leave it."

Love my Yorkie
Rachelle

"No, Buddy, this isn't heaven; it's Aurora"

"No, Buddy, this isn't heaven; it's Aurora"

Heaven on earth can be anywhere we want it to be. Many people are searching for that perfect place when, if they would just look around, they would realize they are already there. My favorite movie, "Field of Dreams," has a great scene where Ray Kinsella and his father are having a conversation and Ray's dad asks, "Is this Heaven?" Ray responds, "No, it's Iowa." Then Ray looks around at his surroundings and sees the beauty, love and family that surround him and he smiles, knowing that it may not be heaven, but it is a little piece of it right here on earth.

The newest member of our family, Buddy, is a rescue Yorkie, at best guess, about four years old when we got him. Although we don't know very much about his former life, what we do know leads us to believe it wasn't an easy one. Now that he is with our family, he is safe, secure and well fed. At times Buddy looks up at me as if to say, "Is this heaven?" Several times I have answered him out loud, "No, Buddy, this isn't heaven; it's Aurora." To Buddy it most likely seems like heaven on earth. Buddy so appreciates everything he now has -- and if there were ever a dog that could say, "Thank You," it would be our Yorkie Buddy. He knows that wherever this place is, it is a good place to be.

Yorkies are the best
Rachelle

Training is Key

Buddy is a great example of how training is key. My husband and I rescued Buddy and although Buddy was 4 plus years old when we got him, he had never been trained to do basic dog things, like go potty outside. I have had people ask me "How can a dog that is four years old not know to go outside?" Easy! No one ever trained him.

Buddy worked with a private trainer for about six months and the results were amazing. He now knows what to do when he meets the Queen (he bows) and then he dances. He can shake hands, sit pretty and fall over on his side when I say bang. All of this training has assisted Buddy with his focus and has helped him calm down. As for the potty training he shows improvement every day and I am confident with continued training that will not be an issue soon. The key here is the training. Buddy isn't a dumb dog although he does have some challenges. He was never taught what to do, therefore, he doesn't know.

Here are a few tips I picked up from Buddy’s trainer that helped me help Buddy

Be consistent. Work with your Yorkie every day. The more you can get into a routine with the training the faster and easier it will be to get your Yorkie trained.

When training use treats, in the beginning the yummier the better. When I first started training Buddy we used Hot Dogs. Believe me I had his attention. As the training progressed I began using regular doggie biscuits.

Speak in a firm tone when giving commands. When I first started working with Buddy I would say “Staaaaaayyyyy?” like I was asking a question. Instead the command should be given firm and stated as a fact, “Stay.” Also when correcting your Yorkie do so in a firm voice. I would correct Buddy in my lovey dovey Mommy voice. All Buddy heard was “Bla, bla, bla, Buddy.” When you use an authoritative tone your Yorkie will know you mean business and pay attention.

Your training sessions with your Yorkie should be private. Just you and your Yorkie (and a trainer if you have one). Other people and fur children are too distracting. I tried to train Buddy when Surrobbie was around but she wanted all the attention and simply got in the way. When Buddy was in training my husband would take Surrobbie and entertain her.

Teach one trick or command at a time. Work with that trick or command until your Yorkie has it down and then move on to the next. Buddy was a quick study and could learn a trick in just a couple of days. If your Yorkie needs more time don’t rush. Just keep working on one trick or command until she has it down and then add the next trick or command.

You can teach your Yorkie to key on any word for any trick you want to however always use the same word for that particular trick. For example I taught Buddy to bow when he hears the word Queen. I taught his to shake paws with the word President. I actually did this so it would be more fun when Buddy is showing off his tricks to others. I will say to Buddy, “What do you do when you meet the President?” Buddy hears “Bla, Bla, Bla, President” and responds to President. Also after your Yorkie has performed the trick or command you say “Good President” or whatever the word for the trick or command is. That way she knows what she is being praised for.

Yorkies are the best
Rachelle

What I Learned from Buddy

Adopting a fur child after the death of Muffassa, my first and most beloved fur child was not my idea. My husband, however, thought getting a companion for Surrobbie, our female Yorkie, was a good idea. We decided to adopt a rescue animal knowing that there would be issues to contend with, but feeling like that was a better way to go. After several months of searching, Buddy found us. I say Buddy found us because I never actually applied for Buddy. I had applied for a different Yorkie, but someone else adopted him. The woman who fostered that Yorkie notified me that she had Buddy and, after meeting him, we decided to adopt him. Buddy isn't the perfect Yorkie I had imagined. He doesn't have very good manners and he spends hours chasing his tail. The unexpected gift Buddy has given me is acceptance. No, Buddy isn't perfect. He is just Buddy.

At first, there was a lot of comparing Buddy to Muffassa. Of course, Buddy wasn't going to win that game. I quickly realized that comparing someone to anyone else, especially someone departed, isn't fair. Buddy will never be Muffassa, but he will always be Buddy. He has his own personality and is unique in his own way. What I learned from Buddy is that everyone is special. Instead of comparing I can appreciate the gifts Buddy has to offer and still love and treasure my memories of Muffassa.

I had a hard time loving Buddy at first. I felt that somehow that was going to diminish my love for Muffassa. That simply isn't true. Love is unlimited. There is more than enough to go around. I can love Buddy without feeling guilty and without worrying that it makes me love Muffassa any less. Muffassa will always have a special place in my heart, and so will Buddy.

The greatest gift I have received from Buddy is that of acceptance. Accepting others as they are with their gifts and quirks is amazing. Once I got over wanting Buddy to be something he wasn't I felt better and more open to allowing Buddy into my life. As long as you want someone to be anything but who they are, there is no opportunity to embrace that person and let them into your life. Acceptance is the greatest gift you can give anyone. Once you accept someone for who they are - gifts and quirks - you can create an opportunity for a deep and caring relationship.

Yorkies are the best
Rachelle

Everyone deserves a birthday

In April we celebrated our rescued Yorkieish (more ish than Yorkie) fur child's birthday. Actually we have no idea when Buddy's birthday is but everyone needs a birthday so we decided to celebrate his birthday on the day we adopted him. Buddy is around five years old and was very excited to celebrate his birthday, or maybe he was just excited to eat his birthday cookie and open presents.

My friend Judith sent me a great website about traveling with your small dog. I have never taken the fur children on a trip but have always thought it would be fun. The website is http://www.mysmalldog.com/. Lots of fun info and cute pictures.


Another friend of mine, Steve, told me about Dogster a website devoted to dogs and their owners. It is a community website where people can share information about their beloved pet, exchange ideas and share tips.

If you don't have a dog, you can always borrow one, no kidding. Many local SPCA's and Animal Shelters allow people to take the dogs for walks and even home for the weekend. So if you don't want a full time pet, borrowing one might be ideal. Check with your local shelter.

Here's to loving Yorkies
Rachelle

Yorkies are the best

When I was ten years old my family got our first dog, a Manapoo. He was part Manchester and part Poodle. Today he would be a designer breed, then he was a mutt and my dad’s friend begged him to come get one of the eight puppies. I picked him out and named him Sandy, his fur was a light sandy color. He was an amazing dog and I loved him dearly. I still remember the day he died 14 years after we got him. I still miss that dog and he has been gone over 20 years.

When I was in my twenties I married a man whose family raised Yorkies. He had a Yorkie, Chessed, which was a larger Yorkie. Chessed died a year after we were married. The year Chessed died we received a Yorkie puppy from my husband’s sister as a Christmas gift. I just adored that little guy. I named him Christopher because he had to travel from Texas to Florida to live with us ( I thought of him as being an explorer). Unfortunately the husband got custody of Christopher in the divorce. I still miss him, the dog not the husband!

I didn’t have a dog for years, just too much going on in my life. In 1995 I felt the yearnings for a little something to take care of. Not a baby, but something. I decided it was time to get a Yorkie. My husband however put his foot down and said no dogs. I convinced him to just go look at a Yorkie puppy I found advertised in the paper. Of course we all know you can’t just go look at a puppy. One look and we both fell in love. I named him Muffassa after the Simba’s father in the Lion King. Muffassa was an amazing dog, so smart. He was also a pretty mean Yorkie and would bite when he didn’t get his way.

Three years after we got Muffassa I decided Muffassa needed a little friend. Muffassa didn’t agree however he learned to put up with Surrobbie, a little female we got from a breeder in Kansas. She was so ugly when we got her that I was convinced we were the only people on earth to ever have an ugly Yorkie puppy. She however grew to be the cutest thing ever born and I just adore her.

Sadly in 2005 we lost Muffassa to cancer. My husband and I were in Florida visiting my sister and her family during the Christmas holiday. Both my parents died in 2005 and my sister wanted me to be with her during our first Christmas without our parents. Two days after Christmas we got a call from the boarder that Muffassa had been rushed to the Animal emergency hospital. He was in critical condition and died later that day. We didn’t even know he was sick. To this day I can hardly think about him without crying. Sure do miss that little guy.

Four months after Muffassa died we decided to rescue a Yorkie so that Surrobbie would have a friend. She seemed so lost without Muffassa. It is a very long story but we ended up getting Lionel, a Yorkieish (more ish than Yorkie) male who had been saved from being put down at the local Dog Pound. We changed Lionel’s name to Buddy and he really is a Buddy. Buddy has issues that as I go along in my blog I will explain. However after two years he is doing much better and we have come to love him dearly.

We call our dogs Fur Children and treat them better than many non-fur children get treated. Both my husband and I adore them and they are part of our family.

Here’s to Yorkies
Rachelle