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03-06-2013, 04:43 PM | #1 |
Yorkie Talker | Gaining trust and Security of older Yorkie??? Hello: I posted a few weeks ago about adopting an older 7 1/2 year old Yorkie. We have been together a little over three (3) months and I feel as if she has some issues w/noises or movements in the house. I do understand that she is still getting used to her new surroundings. I am her 5th Mom!!! And I believe that this has a lot to do w/some of her issues. I want so much to somehow assure her of my love and care for her, make her comfortable to be here, and relax more. She gets startled at so much, such as a doorbell or a knock on a door on TV. In both of these cases I have tried talking to her and knocking on the table by my chair to show her all is ok. No help there. All but 2 of our previous pets were pups that we raised from birth and things just came naturally for pets and us. I am willing to attempt almost anything that any of you may have to suggest for our daily encounters. Anything??? |
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03-06-2013, 08:51 PM | #2 |
Donating YT 30K Club Member | Welcome! That's great you adopted her. She needs time to adjust since she has been in so many different homes. I would give her lots of love and patience. Maybe a treat instead of banging on the table would be better. Hopefully others will have more advice.
__________________ Cali Pixie Roxie : RIP Nikki; RIP Maya;RIP my sweet Dixie girl 1/17/08 http://callipuppyscastle.bravehost.com/index.html |
03-07-2013, 12:17 AM | #3 |
Yorkie Talker | Oh I am so sorry...I didn't mean to give the impression that I 'bang' on the table..I meant to imply that while the 'knocking' is going on the TV, I talk to Ginger and tell her that all is OK and gently knock on the table where she can see me doing it so that hopefully she will put it together and realize, maybe, that all is ok. She is sitting on my lap at times like this. I do know wat you mean about the treats tho'. I offer them to Ginger for many things. Ad I thank you for your remarks about love and patience. I have that in abundance for Ginger. |
03-07-2013, 08:57 AM | #4 |
YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Miami, FL,USA
Posts: 1,005
| Good for you that you have helped your dog have a secure home I think as time goes on this skiddishness will lessen but sorry to say given her history won't go away completely Yorkies are very excitable to start with Mine always go nuts ANYTIME there is a loud noise If I drop anything on the floor it's either run for the hills or they scamper over to investigate But give her love ... when she gets scared try and calm her by picking her up and talk to her calmly With all those changing homes she probably doesn't know who to trust
__________________ Mike and Zach's Dadd |
03-07-2013, 09:47 AM | #5 |
Yorkie Talker | Thank you, JoeyP, for your reply. I am still doing as much research as I can about Yorkies and still have much to learn. But I will hold and cuddle her and give her as much a sense of security and love that she deserves and I can give. She is a sweetie. I get aq kick out of how she stares at me while on my lap and also all of those licks!!! lol Again, thank you. |
03-07-2013, 11:16 AM | #6 |
♥ Love My Tibbe! ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: D/FW, Texas
Posts: 22,140
| Mostly dogs that are fearful of loud or sudden, unfamiliar sounds are usually not comforted from fears and anxiety like humans are. Soothing words and words of love, comforting touches when they are afraid, perhaps even shaking or trembling, usually links that current reaction of anxiety to your positive reinforcement of it. It is likely teaching her you think her fear is good and the thing to do. As canines aren't the same species as we, sometimes we have to adapt our training and correction of certain behavior to those things a canine can better use to reshape its behavior. Instead of soothing her, comforting her during fear reaction, redirect her "nerves" by each time there is a noise she reacts to by getting up and getting her busy focusing on something else. Go to the frig and get her some boiled chicken or other high-value treat and hold it in your closed hand, allow her to smell it. Try to get her to follow your hand as you move it around her head and walk her into the back yard or into another room, keeping her focused on the food for as long as she will focus, then let her have it. Don't talk to her when she is afraid except to say positive things that make you feel upbeat, courageous, such as "Hero!" "Atta, Girl!" "Way To Go!", when she takes the chicken. Alternatively, keep a bag of high-value treats nearby when sitting on the couch with her and be prepared to distract her from sudden noises with food or activity, rather than soothing her in a human way. Believe me, she will react to activity and action a lot more positively than she will to coddling of the anxiety in an attempt to soothe her in the way humans prefer. You can use a nearby pile of squeaky toys or tennis balls stacked in a basket - any number of things to toss or try to distract and redirect those nerves to the act of playing and getting her mind off the fear of the noise she doesn't like. Desensitize her slowly to the doorbell ringing by having a family member or yourself ring the doorbell and immediately stick a piece of boiled chicken out for her to eat. Ring, ring! Chicken within 3 seconds. Ring, ring! Chicken within 3 seconds. Repeat 3 times and that is all. Take her outside or get her very physically active after these desensitization sessions as her nerves will be twanging so she will need to go for a good fast walk or run or play session to work the nerves out. Later in the day, repeat the doorbell ringing or door-knocking session with the chicken treats and then the outing to work her neves out. By evening, do another session. If you will repeat these sessions in a very, very short episode and then it is over and she can have a good outing or exercise session, she will begin to see the doorbell or door-knocking as something far less scary and threatening and in time, begin to link it with pleasure instead. That is a better way to deal with her anxiety than trying to humanly soothe her. Instead, when she is focusing on activity or playing and you give her an "Atta, Girl!", she will get that upbeat, happy message and it will help her become less unsure. You are positively reinforcing good, happy and active behavior that way. In time, she will learn to be far less fearful and become more secure in her new environment.
__________________ Jeanie and Tibbe One must do the best one can. You may get some marks for a very imperfect answer: you will certainly get none for leaving the question alone. C. S. Lewis |
03-07-2013, 01:51 PM | #7 | |
Donating YT 30K Club Member | Quote:
__________________ Cali Pixie Roxie : RIP Nikki; RIP Maya;RIP my sweet Dixie girl 1/17/08 http://callipuppyscastle.bravehost.com/index.html | |
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