Rescue need help with some issues... Thanks

[lacrosseboss18]

Hello,
I have a 2 year old female that i rescued. She is a little girl, 4.5 lbs

I work at a vets office and a client who runs a cat rescue brought her in. She found her running around the streets, the owner was trying to get her but she was running away from them. She came to me a huge fluff ball, her undercoat was a complete mess and she needed to be shaved down. For atleast the first 48 hours she wouldn't move, she would sleep and sit in whatever place you put her.

This brings me to the current problems that im havin with her now.
1. She runs away from me when i try and pick her up. My house is 3 floors and she needs to be carried from floor to floor. She cant get down the stairs but just this week started going up. very exciting :-D She likes to run in circles and by the time i get to pick her up she is already gone. Fast little thing.
2. She is becoming knotted cause she wont let me brush her. I try every night but she just runs away when i try.
3. She is aggressive to my other dog a 70 lb black lab mix. She growls at her and barks at her and tries to be the boss of her. The lab becomes depressed when she does that. When i walk up the stairs with the lab the yorkie is right at the top of the stairs growling and barking at her, the labs head goes right down. I also have a maltese that is starting to do the same thing to the lab. The yorkie and Maltese get along great they are always playing and running after one another.
Lab - 3 years in November, spayed
Maltese - 2 1/2 years old neutered

Ive had my yorkie for about 5 months now.
I would really like to get her past some of these issues. She really is a great dog otherwise.

Thanks
Joseph

[TLC]

Welcome to YT

I am in Eastern Long Island - She sounds like a cutie, and she probably WILL be the boss of all 3 dogs (hahahahahaha)

Seriously, YOU need to step up and be the Alpha Leader of YOUR house - there are books out there that can help you 'train' all 3 of your dogs. Check out dogwise.com

Also, check out Use the Internet to get off the Internet! - Meetup.com - there is a Suffolk County Yorkie Meetup - this may be an opportunity to 'socialize' her and it may bring her down off her high horse (hahahahahaha)

Would love to see pics

P.S. I have 1 male who has longer legs. He will go up stairs, not down (except outside on my patio, he'll do both up and down). I have 1 female who has short legs. She will go up the first 2 steps (and down them if she has too). But that's it, nothing more. Except outside on the patio, she'll go up them, but not down. Who Knows.....

[Yorkiedaze]

First off welcome to YT. So glad you joined us. The terrier breed sometimes need to be put in their place. I suppose she's taking on the alpha roll because there are no alpha's in your house. You need to show her that "YOU" are the boss and correct this unwanted behavior. I think sometimes that the really little dogs think they have to show an dominate side to keep the larger ones from hurting them. It's out of fear really that they do this.

[dogbert]

We adopted a 4 year old female 3 months ago. She had never had a family before or been taught anything. The cat really threw her for a loop! Just this week I caught her trying to play with the cat twice. That is a MAJOR step for her, she used to cower and yelp if the cat just looked at her. She whips up and down the stairs now, she used to stand at the top and wait. She is housebroken now and will eat from our hand if we offer food or a treat. She is still afraid of strangers and strange places, she only likes my husband and I to hold and pet her. She has come a long way since we brought her home but still has alot to learn. It has taken alot of time patience and repetition. The cat was very sad for awhile even though I tried to give her extra attention. I knew she missed out last dog who passed away, they used to play all the time. The cat is starting to act more like her old self these days and as the new dog learns more and is less afraid that makes us all happy. Good luck to you!

[YorkieMother]

Here are some ideas that may help.

1 for picking up are you bending down over top of her or getting low and turning side ways and letting her come to you.
Bending over a dog in their minds is rude and can be very scary.
Reaching out for them as well is concerning if hands have hit her before.
So try to get low even just sit on a step and have her come to you and if she comes make it worth he while by feeding some really good treats.
Also at feeding time to help her bond.. feed her her supper by hand.
You become the giver of all good things and a little less scary.
2. What about cutting her short until you and she become a team.. it a pick your battle thing.. if you can get her to trust you then you can groom. right now she not trusting anyone.
If you want to leave her long brush her at one meal.. so one food treat for one stroke of the brush. Only one meal as you want to work bonding at the other. Bonding really needs to be first.
Lad not depressed that head drop is hay brat I not looking for no fight cool her little jets and be nice.. it dog talk... only in body not words.
5 Months is not that long in a life of a little dog to get over all the hurt and bad stuff tossed at her before you got her. It going to take time.
The tough ones are the ones that teach us the most.

You live in New york and have a great many really really good dog trainers available to you what about having one come and help you get on the right track and help everyone settle in. Have a look at the dog trainers list for NY and see if anyone is close to you or you can have come. Truly Dog Friendly » Truly Dog-Friendly Trainers

If your up to some reading try Turid rugrass book on talking terms with dogs and learn a little body language of dogs it will help all the dogs.

JL