How to Train a Yorkshire Terrier to Not Bark

Yorkshire Terriers are little dogs with huge personalities. With those huge personalities come a fierce territorial bark. Any time your phone rings, someone speaks or knocks on your door, or your doorbell chimes, your Yorkshire Terrier will likely bark. Outside noises aren’t even required for barking for some Yorkies.

When your Yorkie barks at you he is trying to communicate something. Many times dogs vocalize a potential danger or their fears. When your little guy barks, it might simply be because compared to the world and the wealth of noises around him, he is tiny. But he also wants to make sure you are safe as well. Training him not to bark will start by making him feel safe when he hears common noises and other times he typically barks. 

Helping your Yorkshire Terrier feel secure is key in training him to stop barking. When he feels secure and understands common noises he may hear, such as the phone or the doorbell ringing, don't always require incessant barking, he won't bark as much as he does now. At first, you will need to pay attention to when your Yorkshire Terrier barks, and then teach him a command so he understands when it’s time to stop barking. Repetition and rewards will be key as you teach him to stop barking or to not bark during certain occasions. Give this lots of time as your dog mixes his safety and security with natural instincts to bark and the redirection you are training him. This is a training opportunity that will work really well for a puppy but will be more difficult for an adult Yorkshire terrier who has spent much of his life barking whenever he wishes.

Plan on replicating events when your Yorkie barks most often such as a knock at the door. If you have clicker trained your Terrier in the past, have your clicker and treats handy for opportunities when he barks and needs redirection. Even without clicker training, be sure always to have lots of tasty treats to reward as he learns new behaviors. Training your Yorkshire Terrier not to bark will become more about catching him in the act and redirecting his behavior, so you don’t necessarily need scheduled training times.