Puppy Training Must Start From Day One

When it comes to training your new Yorkshire Terrier, Cavachon or Yorkie mix puppy you want to start right from day one.  It is very important to decide what behaviors you approve or disapprove of from your puppy and have a plan of how to address these behaviors.  If you allow them to do a particular behavior one day and then scold them for doing the same behavior the next day they will become very confused and not know what you are expecting of them.

When I picked up my terrier, Lizzie, the first thing I decided was that she was not going to beg for food.  I know many dogs who have to be placed outside, in a cage or are just plain obnoxious when their family is eating a meal.  I did not want that to be an issue in my home. 

I am the type of person that eats most of my meals on my couch while watching TV.  It is particularly easy for a dog to hop onto a couch when they are very small.  The first night I brought my puppy home she jumped on the couch while I was eating dinner.  I gently placed her back on the floor.  This process continued over and over for a few weeks.  She would jump and I would put her on the ground.  She would jump up again and I would put her back on the ground again.  After a few weeks she realized that while we were eating dinner she was to sit quietly on the ground.

Training a new puppy, or even an older dog, is all about repetition.  You have to decide what you want them to do and show them by repeating the process over and over again.  It also helps to have treats handy!