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Formal Training for Your Yorkshire Terrier
When you get a Yorkshire Terrier, you may be surprised to find out just how intelligent he is. You may be delighted to find that you can housebreak him, and teach him basic commands and simple tricks, all on your own. However, if you intend to enter him into shows, including specialty shows, your Yorkshire Terrier probably needs formal training.
Formal training may be held privately, which can be quite expensive, or in a group setting, which is typically a great deal cheaper. Classes may be held daily, weekly, or twice a week, but you will be instructed to work daily with your Yorkshire Terrier at home, between classes, as well so that he doesn't forget what he has learned before the next class takes place.
Some people think that they can send their dog off for formal training. While there are facilities that do this, where the owner need not be present, this is not recommended. Your dog needs to be trained with you in command – even if it is someone else telling you how to do it. Sending your dog off for training is much like sending your child off to boarding school. While it is an acceptable practice, it means that the trainer is in greater control than you are.
While you will find many training courses when you start looking, you should start your search for formal Yorkshire Terrier training through the American Kennel Club (AKC). Here, you will find direction to local training programs that are in line with what is expected from you and your dog at the various AKC sanctioned dog shows and competitions. Through the AKC, you can find sources for obedience training, agility training, rally training, tracking, and even pet therapy training.
No matter what your long term interests are for your Yorkshire Terrier, you should definitely start with obedience training, as all other training will depend on your Yorkie being very obedient. In obedience training, the dog and the owner learn how to work together. Your dog will learn basic commands and good manners. There are also different levels of obedience training, from beginner to advance. With obedience training through the AKC, your Yorkie can earn titles such as Companion Dog (CD), Companion Dog Excellent (CDX), Utility Dog (UD), and Obedience Trial Champion (OTCH).
With Rally training, your Yorkshire Terrier can earn titles in Rally Novice (RN), Rally Advanced (RA), Rally Excellent (RE), and Rally Advanced Excellent (RAE). Through agility training, your Yorkie will earn titles in Novice Agility (NA), Open Agility (OA), Agility Excellent (AX), Master Agility Excellent (MX), Novice Jumpers with Weaves (NAJ), Open Jumpers with Weaves (OAJ), Agility Excellent Jumper with Weaves (AXJ), Master Excellent Jumper with Weaves (MXJ), and Master Agility Champion (MACH).
Tracking titles include Tracking Dog (TD), Tracking Dog Excellent (TDX), Variable Surface Tracker (VST), and Champion Tracker (CT). Companion Dog training results in titles that include Versatile Companion Dog (VCD), but there are also Companion Dog titles that include other forms of trials as well.
While some owners want their dogs to have titles on their pedigrees, other owners participate in these training courses simply to have a better behaved dog, or simply because the training is fun for both the dog and the owner.
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Next Article: Spaying and Neutering for Yorkshire Terriers
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