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!

Fun Fact: Superior Hearing

Humans have the ability to hear from a range of about 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz.  Our dogs have the ability to hear a range of about 40 Hz to 60,000 Hz.

Daily activities that we may not find irritating or scary have the ability to affect our dogs differently, especially when they are puppies.  They may chase the vacuum cleaner, bark when we are drying our hair, become scared if a motorcycle drives by while out on a walk and bark when we do not hear or see a thing.

Yorkshire Terriers, Cavachons and Yorkie mixes will use their keen sense of hearing to alert their loved ones when they hear noises that they are not familiar with.

Dog Food Allergies

Your Yorkshire Terrier, Cavachon or Yorkie mix puppy may need some special attention in their early years when it comes to choosing the right food and diet. 

My dog Lizzie, who is a little over a year old, has had issues with the food that we have been feeding her.  As a puppy she was given a Chicken and Rice formula.  We noticed over the past year that she has been in our family that she is always scratching.  She scratches her ears, her belly and her armpits all of the time. 

 We decided to switch her to a Lamb and Rice formula a few months back and the same thing was happening.  Three weeks ago we decided to switch Lizzie to a Fish and Potato formula.  At first she was still scratching but now the redness and irritation has started to go away and she is not scratching nearly as much as she was. 

Scratching and itching is a major sign of a food allergy and it is something that you want to keep an eye on as your puppy is growing.  The key to switching to a different food is to do it slowly over about two weeks.  You want to start with 3/4 old food to 1/4 new food.  Do that for a few days then go to 1/2 and 1/2.  After a few more days you can go to 1/4 old food and 3/4 new food.  Wait a few more days and then you can switch completely to the new food. 

This is just an example of the type of issue that you will have to keep an eye on over the first year of your puppy’s life.  They have allergies and irritations just like we do.  You may have to experiment with a few different types of food and brands of food but when you find the right one your dog will be happy and fulfilled!

Cavachon: A Bundle of Love and Affection

A Cavachon is what is known as a “designer” breed.  This breed is a mix between a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a Bichon Frise.  When you mix two breeds you end up with a mixture of looks and personality.

A Cavachon can range in size from 10 to 20 pounds.  Their coat can be silky and slightly wavy or loosely curled.  Their coat comes in a variety of colors which are;

• Peach
• Peach and White
• Buff and White
• Sable and White
• Black and tan; OR
• Tri-colored

Their coat is a medium length and they shed very little which makes them perfect for individuals suffering from allergies.  You do want to make sure that they are brushed regularly or professionally groomed.

Just like a Yorkie the Cavachon is a perfect apartment dog.  They require regular exercise but most of this can be accomplished indoors.

Cavachons are friendly, intelligent, gentle, playful and social.  They do not like to be alone for long periods of time since they are very family oriented.  They are very non-aggressive but they will let you know if they see a stranger or hear an unfamiliar sound.

Overall, the Cavachon has a cheerful attitude which is gained from the Cavalier and the Bichon.