Help with my new Yorkie

[Cherwood]

I've had my rescued yorkie about a month now. This was posted elsewhere on the board and I'll repost it here to give you a bit of background:

"This guy was in terrible shape (matted, ticks, burrs) and skinny as a rail when my sister found him running out in the country where she lived. She thought he would make a good dog for mom, but he's too young and active to suit her, so he's now with me and my two dogs.

We took him straight to the vet (the works) and then to the groomers and he's putting on weight and seems to be coming along really well. He was scared to death when we got him. I'm sure he had been abused, vet said he had a broken femur that had healed on it's own, so he has a slight limp, but he said it wouldn't be any problem."

And now for the problem........

Every time I let him outside, he wants to run up and down the fence and yap at the dogs on either side of me. They aren't even barking back at him anymore. They just sit there and look at him like they think he's stupid.

He gets so wound up he sometimes forgets to go to the bathroom, plus it's dirt there so he gets his feet all dirty. And he ignores when I try to call him in if he's busy barking at them and I have to go out and pick him up. My other two dogs may go up to the fence to say hello (just sniff) but they don't carry on like that, and then they go about their business and they come when called.

Any ideas on how to get him to stop that, and to come in when I call him in?

Oh, and here's his pic.......I think he's adorable!

[susansmom]

Don't have a solution for your problem, but bless you for being a haven for this little guy!

[SilverStarShado]

He's handsome....Try using a tasty treat to get him to come when you call him

[alaskayorkie]

Originally Posted by SilverStarShado

He's handsome....Try using a tasty treat to get him to come when you call him

I like SilverStarShado's suggestion. If you can get him to come when he's called, you can at least stop the barking after it's started. If treats don't work, try to find a squeaky toy or something that drives him wild. You want to teach him that coming when you call is fun and rewarding.

Looks like you've done a terrific job cleaning him up. He's adorable. What fool would abuse and abandon a dog like that?

[Cherwood]

Originally Posted by alaskayorkie

I like SilverStarShado's suggestion. If you can get him to come when he's called, you can at least stop the barking after it's started. If treats don't work, try to find a squeaky toy or something that drives him wild. You want to teach him that coming when you call is fun and rewarding.

Looks like you've done a terrific job cleaning him up. He's adorable. What fool would abuse and abandon a dog like that?

Thanks everyone for the compliments. He has come a long way in just a month......I wish I had a before picture.

Anyway, the biggest problem with finding something that is more fun and rewarding to get him to come, I think tormenting the neighbor dogs is more fun and rewarding than anything else to him!

He does that to my two dogs as well (Skipper - pom/spitz, and Toby, terrier mix - both rescues as well).....he likes to bite at their feet and he sounds so ferocious, it's pretty comical. They seem to know he's just little and they tolerate it very well, and Toby likes playing with him.

Here's my other two dogs:

[yorkieusa]

He's having the time of his life.

[whispersmom2]

He must learn to come when you call. There are no options for that. It is for his safety..I don't mean to preach but I have such a thing about that.
Now, I would suggest that you take him out on a very long leash/cord. Leave the others inside. Let him start his shenanigans and call him can start reeling him in to you. When he get up to your side and quietens down, give him a small treat! Treat him everytime at first. Call him from different places in the yard and insist he come including your reeling him in. That counr=ts as a come so treat him. After a while alternate the times you treat but heap the praise on him. I forgot to say to do that all the time. That is why you need to leave the others inside for this training sessions. Eventually, he will get the idea that coming to mom means treats and will be more obedient. Then when he is more attentative and comes you can start re-introducing the others to the play times. Each time he starts barking make him come to you and put the leash on him andd start again if need be.
Good Luck in your efforts. You have such a heart for taking him into your family..

[HisNameIsHarley]

I agree that he definately MUST learn to come to his name. It's for his own safety and also so he learns who's the boss. But I would start walking him w/ a harness on and a leash and do this by himself for a while so you can learn his spots of where he tends to like to "do his business". Kinda make a plan/schedule for him. And after a while I would begin taking him out w/ the other dogs (while he's still on the leash and harness) and whenever you notice him starting to act anxious/aggressive/ any behavior you find obnoxious and innapropriate just tug his leash a little bit, make him sit and focus on you.(keep eye contact). Once he quiets down you can start walking him again. (You can use small treats as praise or use clicker training.. very cool btw) And everytime he acts out make him sit and focus on you and just keep on correcting him. And eventually you will be able to let him out w/ the other dogs but no matter what I would always suggest staying out w/ them to make sure he doesn't revert back to his old habits. Good luck!

[alaskayorkie]

Originally Posted by Cherwood

the biggest problem with finding something that is more fun and rewarding to get him to come, I think tormenting the neighbor dogs is more fun and rewarding than anything else to him!

He does that to my two dogs as well (Skipper - pom/spitz, and Toby, terrier mix - both rescues as well).....he likes to bite at their feet and he sounds so ferocious, it's pretty comical. They seem to know he's just little and they tolerate it very well, and Toby likes playing with him.

Here's my other two dogs:

Too funny. I can certainly relate. Love your other dogs too. I'll bet the Yorkie and Toby get along like brothers!

Whispersmom and Hisnameisharley have great advice too. Let us know how it works.

[Cherwood]

Thanks for the advice, but I need a bit of clarification. I have a long nylon tie-out that I can use, but are you saying never take him out with the other dogs until he learns to come when called?

I also raise parrots and my dogs always go out with me when I go out in the yard to the bird building to feed twice a day, and believe me they know this routine very well (including the new Yorkie). Since he's always at the fence barking by the time I get done with the birds, should I tie him to the porch post so he can't get to the fence while I'm doing the bird chores, or make him stay inside by himself?

[HisNameIsHarley]

He should learn to behave himself and stay on the porch w/o being tied up while you take care of your birds. I doubt it would hurt him to come along w/ you but it would be another excellent chance for you to teach him and very important command.. Sit.. Stay.(And besides imagine if one of your birds got loose and he got in the way and he was hurt or imagine if he got a hold of one! Yike! ) It will probably take him quite a while to learn this for a couple of reasons. One he loves you so much he wants to be w/ you 24/7, he's a hyper little Yorkie and bc it's a very hard command for our fur babies to learn. You must speak very firmly when you give him his commands (in a voice you would normally never use around him any other time. Basically so he knows you mean business) And keeping a focused eye contact will increase your ability to prove to him that you're the boss and he needs to listen! Just remember that when you're speaking to someone it's only a common courtesy for them to look you right in the eye so you know they're listening. If they were just staring glancing around the whole time and even talking to passersby and fidgeting wouldn't you feel offended bc they were'nt listening? Well, it's the same idea w/ our pups. Harley caught on very quickly to his sit and stay command bc I used his favorite treat, carrots, as a positive reinforcer and reward once he correctly obeyed my commands. I hope this helps! Good luck w/ him! He's just too adorable!

<3 LeeAnn & Harley

[Cherwood]

Well, the problem may get better soon, because unfortunately the neighbors next door moved and abandoned their two dogs. (I forgot to tell you this before.) I've been feeding them for the last week, but I can't afford to feed two more (big) dogs, and the city police are supposed to come get them, hopefully today. This is a small town and we don't have animal control. They said they will take them to a no-kill shelter if they are adoptable. I feel so bad for them, but I have no choice. And the owner is moving back into the house and she doesn't want them.

I hate it because I doubt they can adopt out the mother (it's mother and son dog) because she is afraid of everything, and I imagine they'll have a real hard time catching her. I'm the only one she'll come to, but I can only touch her nose.........they are used to me giving treats over the fence. The younger dog is very friendly and he won't be a problem, but I'm worried about her.

Sometimes it's tough when you care so much.

[HisNameIsHarley]

Originally Posted by Cherwood

Well, the problem may get better soon, because unfortunately the neighbors next door moved and abandoned their two dogs. (I forgot to tell you this before.) I've been feeding them for the last week, but I can't afford to feed two more (big) dogs, and the city police are supposed to come get them, hopefully today. This is a small town and we don't have animal control. They said they will take them to a no-kill shelter if they are adoptable. I feel so bad for them, but I have no choice. And the owner is moving back into the house and she doesn't want them.

I hate it because I doubt they can adopt out the mother (it's mother and son dog) because she is afraid of everything, and I imagine they'll have a real hard time catching her. I'm the only one she'll come to, but I can only touch her nose.........they are used to me giving treats over the fence. The younger dog is very friendly and he won't be a problem, but I'm worried about her.

Sometimes it's tough when you care so much.

Oh man that's so awful! I could never even imagine leaving my pups behind! Those people should be charged w/ neglect and abuse to those poor dogs. That's very good of you to be feeding them and making the necessary steps to getting them in a better home. I have five dogs and Harley's the only dog I've actually bought and who is pure bred. The other four are all abandoned rescues that either walked in our yard or we found at a pound on death row! It makes me truly sick to know that people can be so heartless. Don't get down on yourself bc it does take a lot of money to support these animals and you've done your part by giving them a chance at getting a better home. I hope things work out well for them and you too.

[YorkieGurl228]

My dog has the same problem! And yes i HAVE to go get him away from our neighbors fence. But i normally just draw him in w/a tasty treat. Try it! it really works. GOOD LUCK!!!

[yorkiegold]

Originally Posted by Cherwood

I've had my rescued yorkie about a month now. This was posted elsewhere on the board and I'll repost it here to give you a bit of background:

"This guy was in terrible shape (matted, ticks, burrs) and skinny as a rail when my sister found him running out in the country where she lived. She thought he would make a good dog for mom, but he's too young and active to suit her, so he's now with me and my two dogs.

We took him straight to the vet (the works) and then to the groomers and he's putting on weight and seems to be coming along really well. He was scared to death when we got him. I'm sure he had been abused, vet said he had a broken femur that had healed on it's own, so he has a slight limp, but he said it wouldn't be any problem."

And now for the problem........

Every time I let him outside, he wants to run up and down the fence and yap at the dogs on either side of me. They aren't even barking back at him anymore. They just sit there and look at him like they think he's stupid.

He gets so wound up he sometimes forgets to go to the bathroom, plus it's dirt there so he gets his feet all dirty. And he ignores when I try to call him in if he's busy barking at them and I have to go out and pick him up. My other two dogs may go up to the fence to say hello (just sniff) but they don't carry on like that, and then they go about their business and they come when called.

Any ideas on how to get him to stop that, and to come in when I call him in?

Oh, and here's his pic.......I think he's adorable!

What a lucky little man for having found you. It's hard to listen to any story about an abused dog, but I get weepy hearing about an abused Yorkie in particular.

I agree that he needs to learn to come to you. Thank goodness the dogs are gone. They are a big distraction and he needs to learn to come when called first without any distractions. They are really good at learning the "come" game for a treat and a lot of praise. Then you start adding small distractions and playing the game in different places.

Good luck. I love all of my Yorkies, but I love my little man the most. I can admit that only here as they still haven't learned to read!

CJ