How To Train Yorkshire Terrier To Do Neat Tricks
Yorkies are clever little dogs, and once the basics like sit, stay, and come are solid, teaching tricks is one of the most fun ways to keep that sharp terrier brain busy. It also happens to be a great bonding activity — your Yorkie gets to show off, and you get to feel like a proud trainer.
All Yorkies are individuals. This means that the socialization and training you provide are the crucial ingredients in determining the temperament and behavior habits of your dog. Without proper socialization, Yorkies can be a little standoffish, suspicious, and even snappy toward other dogs and people (the breeder of your Yorkshire Terrier has the important task of beginning this socialization process).
For the most part, Yorkies are bubbly, outgoing, and gregarious — they have a typical terrier-like temperament and personality. They forge a strong bond with their human family, which is exactly why trick training tends to go so well with this breed. They're eager to engage with you and quick to pick up on patterns.
Yorkies are ever alert and can be a bit territorial. For this reason, they make excellent little watchdogs who will sound the alarm at the slightest disturbance. They possess a surprisingly loud bark for such a small package!
Unfortunately, there are many Yorkshire Terrier rescue facilities kept busy because people encounter problems (which are preventable) with their Yorkies. The two biggest issues seem to be trouble controlling excessive barking and difficulties with Yorkie potty training. With some guidance and training, these issues can be managed effectively — and trick training is a great way to build the same focus and communication skills that help with those bigger challenges too.
Yorkies do become very closely attached to their human family members. It is great for us to share such a strong bond, but it can develop into a problem if separation anxiety occurs when we're away from home. I have written an article discussing some techniques you can use to minimize this problem - Separation Anxiety. Source: Dog Obedience Training Review
Getting Started: Trick Training Basics
Before jumping into tricks, make sure your Yorkie already has a handle on sit, stay, and come. Tricks build on those foundations, so a little groundwork now makes everything after it go much smoother.
Keep training sessions short — five minutes is plenty for a small dog with a small attention span. End on a win, and always make it feel like a game rather than a chore.
1. Start With "Shake" or "Paw"
This is usually the easiest trick to teach and a great confidence builder for both of you.
- Hold a treat in a closed fist near your Yorkie.
- Wait for them to paw at your hand out of curiosity.
- The moment they touch your hand with their paw, say "Shake" and reward.
- Repeat until they offer the paw on cue, without needing the treat in hand first.
2. Teach "Spin"
Hold a treat near your Yorkie's nose and slowly guide it in a circle. As they follow the treat and turn their body, say "Spin" and reward once they complete the circle. Break it into smaller turns at first if a full spin feels like too much too soon.
3. Move on to "Roll Over"
Start with your Yorkie in a "down" position. Guide a treat from their nose toward their shoulder, encouraging them to roll onto their side and then all the way over. Say "Roll over" as they complete the motion, and reward generously — this one takes a bit more coordination, so patience matters here.
4. Reward Timing Matters More Than You'd Think
The reward needs to land within a second or two of the correct behavior, or your Yorkie won't connect the dots. If your timing feels off, a clicker can help mark the exact right moment — more on that below.
What Works, And What Doesn't
Many dog training methods are based on what makes the OWNER feel good, rather than on what actually makes sense to the DOG. For example...
👉 Click here to learn more about the dog training program
With "positive only" dog training, you bribe your dog to do something with food or a toy. If he does the desired behavior, he receives the reward.
If he refuses to do it... nothing happens. You don't give him the reward, you don't show him how to do the behavior, you just stand and wait... and hope.
That's where a clicker can make a real difference — a little metal tab that makes a clicking sound when pressed with your thumb. Clicker training is a form of "operant conditioning" (a term some of you may recognize from your college psych classes).
Here's how it works: You click the clicker at the precise instant your dog is doing some desired behavior. You then immediately give a treat. The dog thus learns that whenever he hears the clicking sound, whatever behavior he was doing at that instant will bring him food.
For trick training especially, that precision makes a huge difference — your Yorkie learns faster because there's no guesswork about which exact movement earned the reward.
Source: Your Pure Bred Puppy
Keep It Fun and Keep It Short
Yorkies are smart, but they're also small dogs with small dog attention spans. A few short sessions spread across the week will get you further than one long one. Celebrate the small wins, and don't be afraid to go back a step if a trick isn't clicking yet.
Want a Shortcut to Faster Results?
Trick training is a fun bonus once the fundamentals are solid — but if barking, potty training, or basic obedience still need work, tackling tricks first can feel like building on shaky ground.
A structured, step-by-step training program can help you cover the essentials and the fun stuff, all with a consistent approach built specifically for small, clever breeds like Yorkies.
👉 Click here to learn more about the dog training program
Affiliate Disclosure: This article may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through one of these links, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Final Thoughts
Teaching your Yorkie tricks is a wonderful way to deepen your bond, keep their sharp mind busy, and show off just how clever these little dogs really are. Start simple, keep sessions short and upbeat, and build one trick at a time.
With the right approach and a bit of patience, you'll have a Yorkie full of neat tricks — and a training partnership you both enjoy.
