A blog post by Josiah, the barking Yorkie puppy
There’s a myth that Yorkies bark too much, and I want to set the record straight. Some humans think we are just tiny, loud, yipping dogs. That we bark because we are high-strung, out-of-control, misbehaving.
While it’s true we Yorkies do bark, there are reasons for our barking. When you understand why we bark, you’ll have an easier time working with us. And you’ll appreciate who we are.
We Yorkies are working dogs. We were bred to hunt for rodents in factories and mines. We feel responsible for alerting our humans to rodent intruders. If we see or hear a rodent-squirrel outside, we will bark a rodent alert.
To quiet us down, you’ll have to acknowledge our report and show us you are handling the problem. Tell us, “Thank you for alerting me. I hear it.” Tell us the problem is “All gone.” Cuddle us or redirect us with another activity.
Some humans get confused about Yorkies because they assume we are tiny lap dogs. We are not. Because we are working dogs, we don’t just sit on a pillow and look cute. We need tasks to work on.
If you don’t give us a specific task, we will spend our time running perimeter checks and bark to alert you of everything that goes on outside. If that’s not a daily service you need, then please give us a project that requires us to work.
Lick mats are great for giving us something to focus on. Or hide some treats so we have to seek them out. Anything that allows us to use our complex Yorkie brains and our tracking and hunting instincts is great.
It also helps to understand that we will bark if we sense a threat. Recently, someone came into our home to do a repair. Miss Janet put me in my playpen to keep me safe. But I couldn’t see the repair work from that angle. I had no idea what damage was being done to the property I am guarding. So I barked.
Finally, Miss Janet realized what was happening. She picked me up and carried me to the workspace, holding me so I could safely supervise and see what was going on. When I saw the repair work hadn’t caused a security breach, I settled down. After I calmed down, she put me back in my playpen.
Because of our high-alert, rodent-hunting, working nature, being a Yorkie puppy isn’t always easy. Sometimes the alerts take over my puppy brain, which is still developing, and I can’t get them to stop. I get caught in a high-alert feedback loop.
Like the other day, a leaf blower was making a loud noise outside. It sounded very threatening, so I started barking and zooming. Then I couldn’t stop. I wanted to stop, but I couldn’t find the off switch.
As I get older, I’ll be able to switch gears better. But right now, as a puppy, I sometimes get stuck in that alert loop. I run in circles, barking, and can’t settle.
I’m told this is when many humans decide we Yorkies are out of control, loud, and misbehaving. But that’s not true. It’s just an alert loop that got stuck in the on position. And it’s hard for us as teenage puppies to get out of that loop by ourselves.
Miss Janet has learned all about this, so she knows what to do. When I start frantically running and barking and can’t make myself stop, she calmly and quietly gives me my settle command, which means I’m supposed to lie down and hold still. She doesn’t chase me because that would just keep the frantic loop going.
I try very hard to obey, but it takes a few tries. She has to be persistent. When I finally settle, she tells me to stay. She holds out a high-value treat so I can smell it. That immediately distracts me from the loop. But she doesn’t give me the treat till after she picks me up. If I get antsy and move, she tells me to settle and stay again until she can actually pick me up.
It may sound like she is rewarding me for bad behavior, but really I’m not misbehaving. I’m just stuck in that Yorkie threat-alert loop. I can’t shut it off by myself. I’m a puppy, so my complex Yorkie brain is still forming. My teenage body is growing stronger, and my brain is playing catchup.
After I settle and stay, Miss Janet picks me up, gives me the treat, and relocates me to my playpen. This relocation cuts off the frantic alert loop. I’m no longer focused on a possible threat, and I’m no longer stuck in my reaction.
I settle down in my playpen and either play with my toys or take a nap. No more barking. The sentry is off duty.
The other day when the leaf blower was making such a loud noise outside, Miss Janet helped me stop the alert loop. She put me in my playpen, so the leaf blower was no longer my responsibility. I was able to calm down and rest. When the noise finally stopped, she let me out of my playpen, and I found a quiet activity to focus on.
We Yorkies are small, and we do have high-pitched voices. We are not afraid to speak up when something is amiss. That’s our job, and we take it seriously. We are working dogs.
We are also very smart, loyal, highly focused on the task in front of us, and protective of our humans and our homes. When you can appreciate our good qualities, and help us redirect when our behavior causes us to get loud, we can work really well together. And I think you’ll appreciate and admire us for who we are.
I hope I’ve helped you understand the Yorkie personality a little more. We Yorkies require a lot of understanding. But we are worth it.
Barks and snoozies,
Josiah
*****
Josiah’s Favorites from this story:
Lick Mat — This lick mat helps Josiah redirect and calm down whenever he is on high alert. It’s helpful for working dogs, like Yorkies, to have a project to focus on. (Link opens in Amazon.)
Hurley Bone-Shaped Chew Toy — Josiah carries this puppy toy with him everywhere. His aggressive chewing hasn’t put a single dent in the toy. I was so glad to find something that attracts him but also stands up to his chewing. (Link opens in Amazon.)
Playpen — Josiah’s playpen is his safe haven, where he can relax after a high-alert activity. It’s a calming space where a highly functioning Yorkie puppy can be off duty. This playpen is designed for a small Yorkie puppy like Josiah. (Link opens in Amazon.)
Josiah’s toys are for a small-breed puppy. Always check sizes and age limits. Some toys have larger adult dog versions too. No pet toy or lick mat is indestructible. Toy and lick mat use should be supervised and damaged items removed.
Want to see more of Josiah’s favorite things? Visit Josiah’s Favorites page.
From time to time, I might highlight a few items, when referred to in a blog post, that have been helpful to Josiah and me (his human). As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
The Inquisitive Yorkie 