Are you struggling to train your Yorkie to sit and don’t really know what to do?
Then you’re probably looking for some fantastic Yorkie training strategies to help you.
Fortunately, we’re here with 3 easy methods to train your Yorkie to sit.
Just keep on reading.
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3 Easy Methods to Teach a Yorkie to Sit
When it comes to popular toy breeds, Yorkshire Terriers are often on top of the lists.
That’s because they’re adorable, bold, and affectionate. Moreover, few people can resist their glamour appearance and charming personality.
However, owners often forget that Yorkies are terriers despite their small bodies.
In other words, Yorkies have a stubborn side and can be bossy if you give in to their cute faces and adorable puppy eyes.
All Yorkies need proper training to curb excessive barking, stop biting, and behave well towards other dogs.
Fortunately, most Yorkies are quite smart and eager to obey as long as you use positive reinforcement and treat them fairly.
What Do You Need to Train Your Yorkie to Sit?
Before we talk about the suitable training methods to teach a Yorkie to sit, you need to prepare a couple of things.
Don’t worry. You won’t need any special training tools to accomplish the task.
First, you need to think about a training location with minimal distractions.
You want your Yorkie’s attention to focus on you, not what’s happening outside the window.
Choose a room in the house or a secured yard where it’s unlikely someone will disturb you.
Next, you have to prepare high-value training treats that you’re going to use only for training.
It should be something so irresistible that your Yorkie will do anything to get the reward.
For example, you can try chicken, liver, or some peanut butter.
You also have to think about your cue word. You can use “sit” or “sit down.”
The important thing is that you shouldn’t change your cue during training to avoid confusing your pet.
Some owners like to use a clicker to mark the desired behavior. However, don’t panic if you don’t have one lying around the house.
You can use verbal praise or a smartphone training app instead.
How to Train a Yorkie to Sit
There’s a reason why most owners teach “sit” first.
It’s a basic command that most dogs learn quickly, and it doesn’t require any prior training experience.
Many other commands also require that your Yorkie knows how to sit.
So, how do you train a Yorkie to sit?
Let’s look at three proven methods that are perfect for first-time owners who want to gain confidence in training.
You’ll notice that some of them have a lot in common with strategies to train your Yorkie to come!
#1 The Lure Method
The principle of the lure method is simple. You use a treat to lure your Yorkie into position and then reward them for a job well done. Here’s how it goes:
- Prepare lots of small, tasty treats and get your Yorkie to the training spot you’ve chosen.
- Stand in front of your dog and attract their attention. Your Yorkie should be focused on you before you start.
- Show your Yorkie that you’ve got something delicious in your hand but don’t allow your dog to grab it.
- Place the treat close to your Yorkie’s nose and move it behind their head.
- The dog should follow the motion and sit on their bottom to reach the food.
- When the dog’s bottom is on the floor, say “sit,” mark the behavior with praise, and reward your dog.
- Release your Yorkie from the sitting position by taking a step backward and saying “free,” for example.
- Keep practicing until your dog sits the moment they hear the command. Then you can offer a reward every other time and slowly phase out the treats.
If your Yorkie tries to grab the treat, you can do the exercise in a corner to limit your dog’s opportunity to move backward.
#2 The Capture Method
Some Yorkies might be too enthusiastic about food and far too impatient to sit when you’re holding something delicious.
Then you can teach your Yorkie to sit by capturing the behavior and rewarding it.
- Get to a distraction-free area and let your Yorkie move around freely.
- Observe your Yorkie. Don’t make anything to force your dog to sit. Just watch and wait.
- When your dog’s bottom hits the floor, say “sit” and reward with a treat. The goal is to make your Yorkie associate the word with the action.
- Keep practicing the above routine every day for a couple of minutes.
- Ask your Yorkie to sit after a few days of repetition, and if they do, reward and praise immediately.
- Continue to practice.
#3 The Gentle Sit Method
Another way to train your Yorkie to sit is to encourage your dog into the position gently.
Since Yorkies are very delicate, you have to be extremely careful not to hurt your pet by accident:
- Get your Yorkie comfortable with being touched around the base of the tail and under the chin. If your dog shows signs of aggression, don’t use this method.
- To make your dog sit, grab their chin, and place your fingers at the tail’s base.
- Lift your Yorkie’s chin, apply gentle pressure at the base of the tail, and say “sit.” You want to encourage your Yorkie to sit without being too forceful.
- When your dog’s bottom is on the ground, praise to mark the behavior and remove your hands. Then give your Yorkie a tasty treat.
- Repeat the exercise a few times and then say “sit,” but don’t apply pressure. Wait to see if your dog obeys and reward them if they do.
- Keep practicing until your dog sits when they hear the command without intervention on your part.
3 Extra Tips on How to Teach a Yorkie to Sit
It’s a good idea to have some training tricks up your sleeves when you’re teaching your Yorkie to sit. So, here are three tips that will make your job easier.
1. Plan Short Sessions
Dogs can’t focus for more than a couple of minutes, and they get bored quickly.
Once your Yorkie loses interest, there’s no point in continuing the lesson.
It’s better to plan short sessions throughout the day with a duration of around 3-5 minutes.
It also helps if your dog is slightly hungry before the session to be motivated to obey.
2. Take Your Dog’s Mood in Account
If your Yorkie seems to be in a bad mood, it’s better to postpone the training.
You want your dog to be happy, relax, and content so that they can focus on what you’re teaching them.
The same advice is valid for you. If you’re in a hurry or feel under the weather, it’s best not to train your Yorkie.
The lessons are a way to bond with your dog, and your Yorkie deserves your full attention.
3. End on a Positive
It’s tempting to keep the training when your Yorkie is doing well, but your dog will tire and start making mistakes.
It might dampen your Yorkie’s enthusiasm if they keep failing.
End things while your dog is still having fun, and your Yorkie will look forward to the next training session.
Training your Yorkie to sit might take a couple of days or a couple of weeks. Yorkies are smart small dogs, but each learns at an individual pace.
Don’t rush your dog, or you risk losing any progress you’ve made.
Moreover, be patient with your Yorkie during training and remember that they’re sensitive dogs.
Punishments and yelling are only going to make your dog hate the lessons and won’t yield results.
