In 2006, Yorkshire Terriers became the second most popular purebred dog in America. The year before, they had been number three. Although it seems hard to think that any breed of dog would topple the long reigning Labrador Retriever from the top spot, the tiny Yorkshire Terrier seems poised to do just that. Wondering if you have ever seen a Yorkshire Terrier (most commonly called Yorkies)? Chances are, you have seen a lot of them.

If you are looking for a dog that weighs only a few pounds with a big spirit, the Yorkshire terrier or Yorkie may be just for you. The background of the Yorkie goes back to the 18th century. During the Industrial Revolution in England, Scotsmen left their country and headed south looking for work in England. They brought their families and dogs. Their dogs included Skye Terriers, Paisley Terriers and Clydesdale Terriers. The breeds ranged in size from 6 pounds to 20 pounds. They were all fairly heavily coated. Some had a silky texture to their coat. All carried blue-tan or gray coat colors. A common breed in Yorkshire, England at the time was the Waterside Terrier.

Yorkshire terriers can be quite stubborn when you are trying to train them. My Yorkie does not listen and can become quite defiant when I am working with her. I previously owned a Yorkie and had the same problem. This time around I have learned more about Yorkshire terriers and dogs in general and I want to share what I have learned. Here are 7 tips on how to train your Yorkshire terrier.