Crate training a Yorkie is no laughing matter. They might be little bundles of fun, but these playful canines hide a stubborn streak a mile wide… as you’ll no doubt be aware if you’ve ever tried to get one to do something they don’t want to.
Factor in a highly excitable nature, a love for taking charge (left to their own devices, they’ll rule the roost with an iron fist), and a somewhat ‘challenging’ attitude towards training. And it’s easy to see why so many owners give up on crate training at the first hurdle.
But that’s a mistake.
Of all the dog breeds, Yorkies benefit more than most from the rigors of crate training. They won’t tell you this to your face, but Yorkies secretly love routine.
It gives them a sense of structure and lets them know exactly what is and isn’t acceptable…
Basically, a routine gives them boundaries, and if there’s one thing every excitable, fun-loving Yorkie needs, it’s boundaries.
Far from being a place of punishment (as some people seem to think it is), a crate is a place of calm. Introduce a crate to your home, and you can say hello to a calmer, more relaxed dog and a calmer, more relaxed you.
If your pooch is having trouble with house training (a notorious weak spot for Yorkies), is in a perpetual state of over excitement (another weak spot), or is on the verge of crossing the line from mischievous to troublesome. A crate will let you manage the unwanted behaviors and encourage the good ones.
Simply put, crate training your Yorkie is a must.
Easier said than done, you might be thinking.
And you’d be right… at least to an extent.
Crate training bossy little Yorkies isn’t quite so simple as it is with certain other breeds. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be done.
With perseverance, patience, and the right tricks up your sleeve, you’ll have the job done sooner than you think.
Now, if you want to learn how to quickly crate train your yorkie, the first step is to make sure they’re calm, highly responsive, but more importantly, ready for training.
So before you do anything else, I highly recommend checking Dan Abdelnoor’s (aka Doggy Dan) 5-Step-By-Step Calming exercises in the video link below to give you a headstart.
Here’s the link to take a look: 5 Step-By-Step Calming Exercises To Help Quickly Crate Train Your Yorkie…
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The Benefits of Crate Training a Yorkie
Crate training a Yorkie comes with a heap of benefits. Just take a look at some of these little perks:
Housebreaking
Yorkies have a reputation for being one of the most difficult breeds to housebreak. It’s not ill-deserved.
Having a crate will encourage your pup to learn the difference between where it’s acceptable to eliminate and where it isn’t. It works on a simple premise – dogs don’t like to poop where they sleep.
If they’re sleeping in a confined area and can’t move to a new spot once they’ve done their business, they’re far more likely to try and ‘hold it in’ than they’d be otherwise. As an exercise in willpower and self-control, it’s unbeatable.
To optimize the training, take your pup outside after they’ve spent some time in their crate and issue a command like “potty”.
Once they’ve finished, show how proud you are by rewarding them with plenty of praise and treats. It won’t take too long before they catch on.
Alone Time
Much as you might want to spend 24/7 with your pup, we all have a living to make and a life to lead. The problem is, an unsupervised Yorkie can unleash havoc.
If there’s furniture to scratch, boxes to chew, plates to upset, or plastic balls to swallow, you can bet your life they’re going to do it. Most of the time, it’s just annoying. But sometimes, it can be downright dangerous.
Unless you want to come home to find either your house or your pup in mortal danger, you’re going to need to find a solution.
Obviously, you could try puppy-proofing your entire house, but short of that, try a crate – it’s a lot easier, I promise!
By offering them a safe place to spend unsupervised time, a crate will let you attend to what you need to without worrying about the consequences.
Introducing Routine
Yorkie pups flourish with routine. They’re a bit like kids – they want to know what to expect, when to expect it, and what that requires from them.
A crate will let them know just that.
Because not only does crate tell them when it’s time for bed, when it’s time to get up, when it’s time to play, and when it’s time to rest.
All dogs benefit from that kind of routine to some extent, but for Yorkies, it’s essential.
Related: 5 Step-By-Step Calming Exercises To Help Quickly Crate Train Your Yorkie…
Creating a Refuge
Yorkies are tiny. And tiny little creatures can sometimes feel a little overwhelmed, especially if they live in a house teaming with other pets or children.
A crate can serve as their own little shelter, a safe sanctuary they can escape to when the hustle and bustle of the house become too much.
A crate also offers an excellent place to escape frightening thunderstorms or fireworks. Simply throw a blanket over the top to cancel out some of the noise and let them ride out the storm in peace.
A Lesson in Small Spaces
A long car journey or flight is going to be a hellish experience if your pooch isn’t used to confined spaces.
If you plan on traveling with your Yorkie at some point, then the sooner they get used to spending time in a crate, the better.
If they know a crate is nothing to be feared, they can sit back and enjoy the ride. If they don’t… well, let’s just say I don’t envy you that particular journey.
The same principle applies to vet visits. If your pooch ever needs an operation or on-site treatment, they’ll be expected to spend time in an enclosed space.
If they’re already accustomed to crates, the adjustment will be easy enough. If not, wrestling with the new limitations of their living space is unlikely to do their healing any good.
A Warning
Heads up, this isn’t a benefit. But it’s worth mentioning anyway.
When you start crate training your pup, there’s a chance they’re not going to like it. And there’s an even bigger chance they’re going to tell you about it.
Before they get used to their new environment, there’s going to be a lot of barks, a lot of howls, and a whole heap of yelps. Listening to your little buddy going through that isn’t much fun. Some people are going to crack and let them out.
If you want to get serious about crate training, you’re going to have to harden your heart. They’re not in pain (even if they sound like it) and if you feel the benefits outweigh a few initial teething pains, stick with it.
But do it wisely….
If you go about training in the wrong way or leave them locked in the crate for excessively long periods (as a general rule, 4 hours of unsupervised time in a crate is more than enough for any puppy). Your pup will wind up seeing the crate as a punishment.
Related Post: Crate Training A Puppy While At Work
Setting Up The Crate For Your Yorkie
If you’re ready and raring to go with crate training, it’s time to set things up.
First of all – location. Ideally, you want to set the crate in a familiar setting around sights and sounds that aren’t going to make your Yorkie panic.
Choose a warm (but not hot) spot free of draughts and direct sunlight. Steer clear of any heating or cooling vents, radiators, fireplaces, or baseboards.
If your dog’s a nibbler, avoid beautifying the area around the crate with any plants that could pose a hazard. Similarly, keep the crate well away from any electric or power cords – it’s not been unknown for dogs to pull the cords through the bars and chew on them.
As to what to put in the crate, you’ll need to consider…
Bedding
We don’t want to sleep on bare floorboards, and neither do our dogs. Lay a soft, comfy blanket on the base of the crate to encourage your Yorkie to snuggle up and get cozy.
If your pup’s still being house trained, look for bedding with a waterproof coating – a chew proof aspect won’t go amiss either.
Senior dogs will benefit from bedding with orthopedic support, while all dogs, whether young, old, or something in between, will need bedding that’s easy to wash.
Food and Water
Typically speaking, leaving water and food in your dog’s crate isn’t a good idea. As well as the mess aspect, constant access to water isn’t going to your house training any favors.
That said, there are going to be times it’s needed.
If your dog suffers from a medical complaint that puts them at increased risk of dehydration related complications. You’ll need to ensure they have access to fresh water at all times. In those cases, a clickable water bottle or a tip-proof bowl are your best options.
Toys
Yorkies love to play. Unless you want them to lose their minds with boredom, keeping a few toys in their crate is a must.
Just bear in mind that not all toys are suitable for unsupervised play.
If your pup’s a voracious chewer, steer clear of stuffed toys and stick to puzzle games and interactive toys.
Most are sturdy enough to stand up to some chewing and, chosen wisely, will provide hours of solo-fun for your pooch.
How to Crate Train a Yorkie
Now you’ve set up your crate, it’s time for the fun and games to start… and yes, sarcasm fully intended!
Crate training isn’t going to be a thrilling ride, not for you and not for your Yorkie. Obviously, I could lie and say it’s going to be easy, but going into the process with false expectations is just going to lead to disappointment.
The first few times you shut the crate door on your Yorkie are going to be tough. But you know the benefits (and if you don’t, scroll up a page), and you know that in the long run, it’s going to be worth the effort.
So, put your emotions to bed and knuckle down to it. But before you do that, a quick word of advice.
Yorkies aren’t exactly the calmest, most sedate of creatures. It’s what makes them so loveable.
It’s also what makes them so hard to train.
Finding ways of dialing the excitement down a notch is a very, very good idea – invaluable, in fact. Trying to teach your dog anything when they’re bouncing off the ceiling is impossible.
As for shutting them in a crate when there’s furniture to be jumped on… forget it.
Before you get too far down the road with crate training, I’d highly recommend checking out these 5 step-by-step calming exercises from the Online Dog Trainer, Doggy Dan.
Running through the calming exercises before you start a training session will reign your Yorkie’s natural exuberance in and make them far more receptive to instruction.
They’re also a great trick to have up your sleeve in any situation which threatens to send your Yorkie into a fever pitch of excitement. Which, as you’ll probably know by now, is basically everything!
So, you have your crate, you have your calming exercises, and unless they’re out terrorizing the neighbors, you have your Yorkie… what’s next?
Step 1:
Introduce your dog to the crate in an upbeat tone. Let them sniff around it to their heart’s content.
Scatter some treats and a few of their favorite toys inside by way of encouragement.
For the first few days, avoid shutting the door – you want them to be able to come and go happily at this stage.
Step 2:
Settle yourself down outside the crate. If your Yorkie’s already inside, great. If not, encourage them in with some treats. Stay outside the crate, talking quietly to your dog.
If they show signs of wanting to come out, see if another treat will entice them to stay a few more moments.
Step 3:
Once your pup is accustomed enough to the crate to settle down in it, get up and leave them.
Leave the door open, so they know they’re free to leave if they want to.
Step 4:
Continue to practice leaving your pup inside the crate as often as possible.
Use rewards were necessary to encourage them in, and once they’ve settled, get on with whatever you need to do.
Continue to leave the door open until they feel completely safe and secure inside.
Step 5:
After a few days, start shutting the crate door at bedtime or if you need to leave the house.
The first few times you close the door, your dog may respond by whining or even scratching at the crate.
If they do, try extending their playtime a little before putting them away – a sleepy Yorkie will make much less fuss than a wide-awake one.
Running through these 5 step-by-step calming exercises before bedtime is also a great way of encouraging them to settle.
Final Thoughts
A well-behaved dog is the dream of every pet owner. But it doesn’t happen by chance. Neither does it come easy… especially when you’re dealing with a bossy-boots like the Yorkie.
When it comes to curbing any unwanted behaviors, crate training is an invaluable tool.
It might take a bit of work getting your Yorkie used to the new set up, but once they do, they’ll flourish under the new routine.
