Activities For Australian Yorkshire Terriers
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Introduction
Small dogs need to be kept busy to burn off their energy. While a good walk each day will help, even a dog's life must be made more exciting than just the same old thing day after day. Many dogs need mental stimulation and exercise to keep them in form, and the Australian Yorkshire Terrier is no exception. They are curious little dogs who love to get involved in games and fun activities. Ball retrieval, tug of war and just running around after the kids will keep this little fur ball happy. By varying the activity during the day, this action provides much needed variety. If they are left alone for too long and get bored, be prepared to come home to shredded cushions and a dog who will look to blame the cat. While games are fun, they also teach your dog how to take instruction, and how to solve problems. Your pup will gain a sense of achievement when they conquer a task. Instructive tasks can tire a curious dog out faster than a walk in the park. But remember, it must be fun, not just a 'lesson'. The Australian Yorkshire Terrier will lose their focus if the activity becomes boring.
Stack the Rings
Popular
0 Votes
Any Day
Moderate
Hard
60 min
Items needed
Wooden rings colored with natural dyes
Stick on a weighed base
Clicker
Activity description
This game teaches your dog how to coordinate a series of movements to enable them to stack the rings. It is a game of focus and awareness, and will take a while for your dog to learn. The challenge for your dog is to pick up the ring you want them to and carry it to the stick to then slip it on. There are quite a few movements to learn. Once your energetic pup gets the game, they will want to play all the time. Make sure you get a set of rings that suits the size of your dog. Your Australian Yorkshire Terrier is small, so you need rings that they can carry in their mouth. The clicker is used to focus your dog's attention. You can click and treat each time your dog gets it right. Some dogs learn quicker than others, but it will be a game that your dog will enjoy playing. This game will challenge your dog to get the ring you want, and train them to obey your commands.
Step
1
Familiarize your pup
First, allow your dog to become familiar with the rings and the stick. Show them what you would like them to do. Patience and high praise is required; you want your dog to enjoy learning. Set up the stick either inside the home or outside in the fresh air. Place the rings in a variety of places close to the stick. Run through the game and commands a few times before getting into the actual game.
Step
2
Let the game commence
From a "sit, stay" position, tell your dog to fetch the ring and point to the one you want. When they get that right, click and reward. Then, command them to stack the ring, and guide them as they get used to the game. When they slip it over the stick, give a ton of praise and a reward. Then just keep going. They won't want to stop, but don't overdo it.
Step
3
Making it tougher
Once your dog gets the idea, you can vary the game by putting the stick out from a pole. This requires your dog to put the ring onto a horizontal stick rather than the upright one. Once they get that, they you can use two sticks in different positions and make it a real challenge for your smarty pants Terrier.
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Name Game
Popular
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Any Day
Moderate
Normal
30 - 60 min
Items needed
A bag of special treats
Time and patience
Activity description
Training your dog to be aware of their name and to come to you when they are tempted to go explore a new person or place, is a great trick to learn. It builds a level of trust as well as well as a willingness to learn new things. Dogs can get side-tracked especially when out in public, so if they hear their name and come right to you they will learn that they will get a yummy treat. This is perfect training to halt them in their tracks when they really just want to go off and ignore you. But if they know that they will get a yummy treat, well, who needs a distraction? They will be back to you as quick as a wink. This is an invaluable tool that will pay off on busy streets and in chaotic parks.
Step
1
What's your name?
Yes, most dogs do know their name, but they can 'forget' it so easily when they are let off the leash at a busy park or beach. Teaching your dog to love their name (because they get a treat) is an important step in controlling your dog in public. Start out at home. Get the family involved to challenge your tiny Terrier's focus. When they come to you when you say their name instead of playing, they are to be rewarded and praised.
Step
2
Why this is important
When your dog is with you, on a leash, then life is fine. But once they are off the leash, getting the little rascal to return is tougher. When they come to you at the call of their name at home, then take the game to the park. A safely enclosed, secure park is best first, before trying it in an open park.
Step
3
Practice often
By calling your dog's name, they will recognize the sound and know that a treat is imminent. It is a way of stopping them from a certain action, like following a new dog friend. At the sound of their name, they will immediately register you want them to come and are willing to treat them for it. Practice this activity several times a week in various situations and soon your pup will come when called no matter what exciting things are taking place nearby.
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Mini Obstacle Course
Popular
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Any Day
Expensive
Hard
30 - 60 min
Items needed
Flexible chute or tunnel prop
Low lightweight jumps
Activity description
A fun game for a weekend afternoon is to teach your Australian Yorkshire Terrier how to navigate an obstacle course. Keep in mind that these dogs are low to the ground, so you want a low course. The jumps should be low so that they don't hurt themselves attempting jumps that are too high. Safety is paramount for your pooch. Because your dog is small, it is an ideal wet or cold day form of entertainment that can be set up in a hallway in the home or on a patio. First, you have to teach your dog to go through a long chute. This activity builds trust as your dog can't see you and the chute is scary. Your dog may take a while to learn this trick, perhaps you or your five year old can crawl through with them at first (just don't get stuck). Before long everyone will be having a wonderful time.
Step
1
Begin with the basics
No doubt your little Terrier will want to help you as you set up the jumps and the chute. Take time to teach them to jump on command over each small jump. It doesn't matter if they knock it over, give them the praise and treat for trying. Then comes the fun bit, teaching them to go trough the chute.
Step
2
The tunnel adventure begins
Get your dog to sit and stay. Then go to the far end of the chute and get down and peer through the chute as you call them to come. Hopefully they will come through the chute, not alongside it! Once they get the idea (and the treat) then just stand normally and call them. Or you could run along side them as they go, talking to them for reassurance.
Step
3
Doing the whole course
When your spunky little Terrier has mastered the jumps and chute, you just put it all together and get them to do the whole thing. This may not happen on the first go, so don't expect too much from your dog. Let them learn to figure it out and to build trust running through the chute. But once they get it, they will enjoy the attention and the treats as they jump and shimmy along the obstacle course.
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More Fun Ideas...
Training Class
While this may not seem like an exciting activity for us, your dog will thrive on the activity and the sense of pride. Especially if it is fun. Whether you take your dog for a solo class with a certified professional or just with a relaxed community group, you dog will learn to focus in a busy environment full of of distractions. From basic obedience training to trick training, your dog (and you) can learn a whole host of new ideas that you can follow up on at home. The benefits for your Aussie Yorkie are many; from learning to focus, to taking instruction, to socializing and learning what type of behavior is expected of them. This lesson will tire your little turbo out and will be well worth the money spent on the class.
Beach Stroll
The beach is a great place to take your dog for an outing. Provide fresh water and the occasional treat to replenish the energy that will be spent as your pup socializes and plays. Once your dog gets used to it all, you can wander along the beach and toss a ball for them to chase. You might as well wear your 'terror-ier' out completely. Then, they will be happy to relax in the sun as long as the heat isn't too intense. Once home, the house will reverberate to the sound of snoring and muffled woofs as your little companion relives their outing in their dreams.
Treat in Hand
Get down on the floor with your pup and teach them how to touch the hand that contains the treat with their paw or their nose. Changing treats from hand to hand will confuse your dog as both your hands will end up with scent on them. They will have to watch and focus as you change the treat. While you do this they have to sit obediently, no reaching out or jumping around. Praise them highly when they touch their nose to the hand with the treat, and then reward them with the treat. Needless to say, your Australian Yorkshire Terrier will LOVE this game. At the end of the game you can reward them with a new toy, a chewy one, which will keep them busy for hours.
Conclusion
If you want to eliminate bad behavior and pave the way for your dog to become the well behaved pet of your dreams then here's the plan. The best way to achieve this is to give your deputy dawg something constructive (not destructive) to do. Tire those little eager beavers out and they will stop tormenting the cat or getting under your feet. A dog with a job is a busy happy dog. Whether indoors or out, there is always something that you can do with your dog to test their focus, speed, or ability to solve a puzzle. A simple game of hide and seek with the dog finding family members will be awesome for this little munchkin. The Australian Yorkshire Terrier is born to be nosy, they have to find out how things work. If you provide activities to prevent boredom through activity you will have one happy little Terrier.