Yorkies are a generally very high-energy breed so they can be hyperactive. In this article, we will give you information on your Yorkie puppy including how to rein in the hyperactivity and at what age they start to mellow out.
Table of Contents
- How Do You Get Your Yorkie Puppy to Calm Down?
- What Not to Do When Your Yorkie Exhibits HyperActive Behavior
- At What Age Will Your Yorkie Calm Down?
- Will Spaying or Neutering Your Yorkie Help Him/Her to Calm Down?
- Are Yorkies Prone to Aggression?
- How Do You Help Counteract Your Yorkie’s Aggression?
- Are Yorkies Easy to Train?
- Are Yorkie Puppies Smart?
- Why Do Yorkie Puppies Cry a Lot?
- Are Yorkies Hard to Potty Train?
- How Long Can You Leave Your Yorkie Alone?
- Do Yorkies Get Separation Anxiety?
- How to Treat Your Yorkie’s Separation Anxiety?
- How Do Yorkies Show Affection?
- Is a Yorkie a Good First Time Dog?
How Do You Get Your Yorkie Puppy to Calm Down?
Exercising your Yorkie regularly with short walks will help your pup burn off energy (Countryside Veterinary Clinic). Crate training and positive reinforcement training are other ways to lower the hyperactivity of your Yorkie. Reward your pup when he/she takes a break from running around the house and keep them in a crate when guests are over to encourage calm behavior.
What Not to Do When Your Yorkie Exhibits HyperActive Behavior
As frustrating as it may be to have your Yorkie bouncing off the walls and yapping up a storm, the last thing you want to do is yell at him/her to stop. This may only feed into hyperactivity. Keep calm and ignore him/her. When your Yorkie calms down, reward the calm behavior.
At What Age Will Your Yorkie Calm Down?
You’ll start to see your Yorkie calm down around 2 or 3 years of age, although this is still a high-energy breed so hyperactivity is not off the table (Embora Pets). Some Yorkies remain just as hyper as other puppies, especially if not trained or exercised regularly. Around age 8, they may mellow out more and become calmer dogs.
Will Spaying or Neutering Your Yorkie Help Him/Her to Calm Down?
Getting your Yorkie fixed is another way to help stem the hyperactivity. Without the biological need to look for a mate once they’ve matured, fixed Yorkies will have one less reason to bounce off the walls. Spaying and neutering can also help curb any aggression your Yorkie may exhibit.
Are Yorkies Prone to Aggression?
Yorkies may be a toy dog breed, but that doesn’t mean they are cuddly and lovable all the time. Your Yorkie may be prone to aggression for several reasons including the frustration of not getting enough exercise, loneliness from not getting enough attention, or fear and anxiety of larger dogs.
How Do You Help Counteract Your Yorkie’s Aggression?
Don’t let your Yorkie’s aggression control him/her; find the source and correct it. Make sure your Yorkie is getting regular exercise and you’re giving him/her the attention he/she needs. When taking your Yorkie on walks, don’t force social interactions if he/she doesn’t seem comfortable with other dogs. Find another dog for him/her to get comfortable with to ease into socialization.
Are Yorkies Easy to Train?
Yorkies are fast learners and respond favorably to positive reinforcement. Trainability is in their nature as they were originally bred to hunt mice in coal mines and factories. Definitely take advantage of this innate trait so that you can cut down on your pest control service!
Are Yorkie Puppies Smart?
According to dog psychologist Stanley Coren, Yorkies are highly intelligent ranking 34th out of 138 breeds. His assessment is measured by the success rate of obeying a command the first time and how long it takes to learn new commands. Yorkies obeyed the first-time commands 70% of the time and only took 15-20 tries to learn a new command.
Why Do Yorkie Puppies Cry a Lot?
Brand new Yorkie puppies tend to cry a lot because they’ve been separated from their mother and littermates. It may take them a little while to get used to their new surroundings especially without the comfort of their family. Give them lots of love – soon enough they will bond with you and be a loyal life companion.
Are Yorkies Hard to Potty Train?
Yorkies can be very difficult to potty train because they have extremely small bladders and need to urinate frequently. They also tend more toward the diva side and would rather be carried outside to use the bathroom than take the initiative themselves. Clearly, puddles on your hardwood floor bother you more than it does your Yorkie.
How Long Can You Leave Your Yorkie Alone?
Yorkie puppies younger than 18 months old should not be left alone for more than 2-3 hours – think of them as toddlers and all the trouble they can get into! Adults can be left for 4-6 hours, but not more than that. Because of their attachment to humans, leaving your Yorkie alone for too long can have negative consequences.
Do Yorkies Get Separation Anxiety?
Yorkies are very loyal pups and usually bond with one person – most commonly their primary caretaker. However, they can suffer from separation anxiety if their “person” dotes on them and spends a lot of time and attention on them (Merck Veterinary Guide). Be sure to keep a healthy balance with your Yorkie to avoid him/her developing separation anxiety.
How to Treat Your Yorkie’s Separation Anxiety?
Leaving your Yorkie alone is inevitable, but there are strategies to help with his/her separation anxiety when you do have to go somewhere sans pup. Establish a leaving and coming home routine that your pup can get used to, give them a comfort toy, and if absolutely needed, talk to your vet about calming medications.
How Do Yorkies Show Affection?
Yorkies are very lovable and will show you in a variety of ways including, face licks, leaning on you, sniffing your butt, bringing you their toys, staring at you, snuggling with you, and following you around. It’s not hard to mistake those signs of puppy love and Yorkies are very good at letting you know they love you.
Is a Yorkie a Good First Time Dog?
Overall, Yorkies are a great choice for a first-time dog owner (Canna Pets). They are very affectionate, loyal, and, aside from housebreaking, don’t require a lot of work. They get along well with older children and usually make good companions for other household pets.
My name is Ken and I’m one of the staff writers at Petloverguy.com. I’ve cared for pets most of my life starting with hamsters, turtles, and snakes. Then moving up to parakeets, guinea pigs, and even ducks.
I currently live with two yorkies and a chihuahua mix.