Hi, there. Clutch, the Yorkie, here. Thanks for stopping by.
If you’re a new or aspiring Yorkie parent, Miss Janet (my human) suggested I share the traffic safety talk right away. Personally, I think she’s a little fixated on the issue. She probably needs one of my calming chews. Nevertheless, here’s what she wants me to say (and it’s true).
My natural inclination is to run after a car. It’s moving, it’s loud, it’s exciting, it’s different. And my favorite people drive up in cars when they come to visit me. So, what’s not to chase? Cars are also those things I get to enjoy rides in. Cars seem great to me. Hence, the problem.
I’m a small dog with a big attitude. I have no concept that a car could hurt me. When I see a car, I will run toward it. If the car honks its horn, I’ll double my speed. I have to get there.
Let’s say there’s no car in the road, and a cat runs by. Oh, my goodness, I love chasing cats. I will run after that creature wherever it goes. If it runs into the road, there I go. If a car comes along, I won’t pay it the least attention. I’m all about catching up with that cat.
Do you see the problem?
Walking Your Yorkie with a Harness and Leash
As Miss Janet sees it, there are two solutions. The easier one is to keep me away from cars. We live off a busy street. In the other direction are fenced-in fields with large animals that could trample me. So, when I go outside, I’m on a harness and leash.
Why a harness and not just a leash? For one thing, my throat is very sensitive, so a leash can hurt my trachea. A harness is better — keeps the pressure off my neck and distributes it better across my body.
The other reason is those cats. If a cat runs by, you’d be amazed how small my head really is, and I can slip that leash and collar faster than you can blink, and I’m off running.
So, a harness and leash combo is the answer. Everyone got that? And the harness needs to be fastened correctly, or I can slip that as well. I’ve done it before.
Even with my harness fastened correctly, Miss Janet keeps me away from the part of the yard that’s near the road. She distracts me from looking over there, especially since there’s another dog across the street. She tries to draw my attention to something in the other direction.
The other dogs on the farm where I live were scared away from the street when they were young. Their humans clanged loud objects near the open front gate to train them. Now they don’t go anywhere near it. But they also aren’t as inquisitive as I am. I’m not sure that technique would have worked on me. It might have made me more curious.
Giving Your Yorkie a Place to Run
Very close to my current home is the farm where I grew up. I’ll tell you that story some day. When I visit that farm, I can run around freely, at least in the parts away from the road. It’s on a private street, so not a lot of traffic goes by. But if I see a car coming, I’ll run toward the car as fast as my legs can carry me. So, even at that huge farm, I have to stay away from the actual street.
One time, a horse came walking down that road with a human on its back. That got my attention, and I ran out to see the horse. Miss Janet came running after me, afraid the horse would kick me or squash me. I don’t see things that way. I feel like I’m as big as that horse, and my attitude is even bigger. A car was following slowly behind the horse. The driver had to sit still while Miss Janet collected me from underneath the car. That’s when her rule started that I couldn’t run free in the area near that quiet street.
When I was growing up on that farm, I was so untrustworthy, or so I’m told, that my pet parent had to put up a large painted sign near the road that said, “Please slow down. My puppy is not smart.” I think I’m very smart, but I’m told that sign saved my life. It also started a new yard art hobby for my pet parent that she enjoys to this day. She paints new motivational signs and puts them by the road for the enjoyment of her neighbors. Yes, I sparked a creative trend.
I love having a safe place where I can run free, away from the road, like the back acres of my puppyhood farm. I think every Yorkie needs a place like that, even a fenced-in park where they can run around. You should see how fast I can run. It’s fun! And it’s great exercise for me.
Yorkies Can Be Trained But . . .
Miss Janet says the other solution is to train me. (I laugh.) Why in the world would I allow myself to be trained to do what a human wants me to do, when it goes against everything ingrained in me? I’m just not that cooperative.
Yorkies are difficult to train. We’re stubborn, easily distracted and excited, and frankly we’re just not that interested in being told what to do. You can try to train your Yorkie if you want, especially when the pup is young. I’ve heard that some Yorkies have caved and allowed themselves to be trained. But if your Yorkie is stubborn like me, well, good luck with that!
I have to admit, I do know how to sit (and I expect a treat for my effort). I do know the words “stop” and “no.” Sometimes I might even listen, and maybe even obey. But if that cat runs along, all bets are off. Maybe Miss Janet is right. Keeping me away from trouble is probably the best option.
There’s a Doodle dog in my neighborhood named Beauregard, the one I talked about in my previous post after staying with him last weekend. Beauregard has learned very well not to mess with passing cars. He is well trained, as the humans would say. But he’s not a Yorkie. He is not as easily distracted as I am, and he is less high-strung.
I guess you might conclude that training can be effective in keeping dogs like Beauregard away from cars, especially if you start young. But it’ll take time and consistent effort. Even Beauregard has his weakness when it comes to training, though. When the car drives up that carries his girlfriend Doodle, he forgets everything he learned in his training.
As for me, the better you know my inclinations, like running after cats at all costs, the safer I’ll be. Just know you can’t really trust a Yorkie like me around cars, so proceed with caution, despite my protests.
Walking Your Yorkie in Town
That being said, I’m a good sidewalk walker. Mostly. We sometimes visit a family member who lives in a sidewalk neighborhood, and I do very well on my harness and leash. The key is to keep the leash short and at a consistent length, right next to you, and to keep me moving on pace. If I can find flowers and insects to investigate at the inner edge of the sidewalk, I don’t pay attention to passing cars.
I don’t like walking on hot sidewalks, though. It burns my feet. So, in the summer, keep me walking in the shade or on the grass.
However, I’m not one of those dogs you’d want to take into town during a crowded festival. There’s just no telling what I would do. It probably wouldn’t end well for anybody. And I would get very stressed.
I don’t love being harnessed, but I can tolerate it okay. I know the harness means Miss Janet loves me and wants me to be safe. (Rolling my eyes now.) I’m just glad she drives me to my puppyhood farm where I can run free sometimes. It’s so much fun.
Thanks for visiting. Stay safe out there!
Clutch
The Inquisitive Yorkie 