In order to go out to retrieve, your yorky has to learn to take an article off the ground without you handing it to him.

Sit your yorky in front of you and hold the article to be retrieved close to the ground just ahead of him. Make sure it is something he can pick up easily and not have to struggle to get his mouth around.

If the yorky shows no interest, jerk the leash until he does. Once he takes it from your hand when held close to the ground, actually place the article on the ground just ahead of him and tell him “take it”.

If you insist he comply, soon he should pick up any article you drop on the ground. If your yorky is stubborn about picking up, a series of snaps on the leash will sometimes work where one snap failed.

You could even drag the article in question along ahead of your yorky and give a number of short jerks on the leash while pointing to the article and telling him “take it”.

Your yorky thus learns that you pointing to an article and telling him “take it” means for him to pick it up, hold, and carry it until you tell him to drop it.

When your yorky is good, praise him and make him think he is doing something wonderful. Your dog needs this kind of reinforcement to understand that “take it” means taking whatever from wherever you ask him.

During this latter part of training, use an assortment of articles, not just one or two. Otherwise your yorky will learn to hold just those few articles and will be restricted. Have him hold articles made of different materials such as wood, leather, and paper.

But do so only after you are positive he’s so well-trained that he would never chew anything. This familiarity with various objects and textures will prepare your yorky for more advanced retrieving work, such as seeking out lost articles and scent discrimination.

Use the word, “take it” whenever you give anything to your yorky, even a cookie. This will ensure he understands the command.

Once your yorky is taking articles from the ground on command, it’s time to get him interested in running after the same articles.

Lunging at passerby or other dogs in either friendly or aggression is annoying and dangerous. Whenever you see your teacup yorky showing interest in an approaching person, immediately jerk hard on the leash as a warning.

This should stop him fast. You should not allow him to bark and pull uncontrollably. The moment he starts, turning in the opposite direction and snapping hard on the leash is another method of coping with the problem.

In his excitement, he may not be listening to you, so you must use physical means to control him. Flipping the end of the leash sharply across his nose can help; having a second person throw something at him can also work.

If your teacup yorky shows extreme aggressive tendencies, corrections must be done.

While walking on a leash, some dogs grab playfully at their owner’s arms or at the leash itself. If your teacup yorky does this, don’t pull away. That will only encourage him to grip harder and perhaps accidentally tear your clothing.

Hold still and bring the end of the leash down across his nose immediately. If he doesn’t listen, tap him firmly on the side of his muzzle. He must back off. When he lets go, praise him. One or two such lessons should teach him not to play this way.

Simply being restrained by a leash and asked to walk by your side can cause some dogs to get hysterical. They growl and jump around, climbing all over the person holding the leash, even lunging and trying to bite.

Handle the problem immediately and firmly with a tap on the nose, or firm nudge in the behind. Your teacup yorky should allow you to pass through a doorway or other departure without rushing through and knocking you down.

To teach your teacup yorky not to rush ahead, make him sit and wait for a moment after the door is opened. Then quietly pass through, with him by your side.

For a teacup yorky that loves to tear ahead through every opening he sees, an excellent cure is to crack the door ajar just enough to admit his head. Have a second person stand on the other side of the door and throw something in front of your teacup yorky if he goes through first.

He will soon learn to avoid this by letting you go first or by staying right by your side as you go through.