2 year old - Minor issues

[UK_Newbie]

Hieveryone.

1stpost.

Justshy of 2 weeks ago, we re-homed an approx. 2 yr old male Yorkie named Jasper.We think that he had been previously owned by an old lady who had to go intocare, and so had to give him up. Since then, he has been with a number of herrelations who either had other dogs, cats or just were not dog people,until we took him in on the 8th May.

He'sbeen castrated and has received some training as he is fully house trained andloves going in the car. He pretty much comes on command and will sit when itsuits him (.i.e. when waiting for a treat).

Hehas previously been groomed as his body is quite short, but his head is verylong and matted as he HATES having his hair brushed. We are slowly trying toget him used to the brush and he has regular face washes to try and deal witheye-boogers etc. We bathed him once, but he was not a happy bunny!!

Anyway- Monday night, we tried to trim some hair around his head, and he was havingnone of it - growling, biting and squirming - you get the picture. Anyway,after a long walk (1 hr), he was still hyper and started humping his bed andgrowling if we moved his bed. He's never done this before, but after a while,and some soothing talking plus another 5 minutes walk, he calmed down. He wentto bed ok and was fine in the morning.

Rollonto last night and he seemed ok again - nice long walk as usual - but come bedtime, he went outside for his last pee and started staring up into the sky andbarking. I brought him in, and put him to bed, but as soon as the lights went off,he starting yelping, whining and scratching at the door. After 10 mins of this,and fearing that the neighbours would be mad, we let him out of the kitchen andhe settled on his blankie on the sofa. He came upstairs about 10 mins later butthen went back down soon after and slept the night on the sofa.

Sorryfor the background, but wanted to check my trains of thought..

Ishe just anxious that he might get moved on again - 2 weeks seems to the usualtime he got moved on (maybe due to his sudden change in anxiety).

Anytips on getting his head hair sorted - we trying the slowly-slowly approach,but I am so convinced that he will feel better when it’s all cut, that 1/2 ofme wants to just pin him down and shave it all..

Anyother tips on making him feel safe and settled. We fear he is getting a bitbored as we both work days, but make time for a morning walk with me, lunchtime walk with my wife and an evening walk with us both, and fuss him when weare home.

Todaywe left him with full range of the house (except bedrooms) and I have 'hidden'some treats around the house for him to find in the hope that he will be abit more entertained.

Whenwe are home with him all day, he's quite happy to just lay on the sofa andsleep.

Weboth need to work on our dominance patterns as these have been somewhatconfused of late, and I confess we have been giving into his whining lately aswe are worried about him. Maybe he’s making hay while he can, and giving us therun-around.

Anywords of comfort would be welcomed !

Steve
UK

[matese]

Originally Posted by UK_Newbie

Hieveryone.

1stpost.

Justshy of 2 weeks ago, we re-homed an approx. 2 yr old male Yorkie named Jasper.We think that he had been previously owned by an old lady who had to go intocare, and so had to give him up. Since then, he has been with a number of herrelations who either had other dogs, cats or just were not dog people,until we took him in on the 8th May.

He'sbeen castrated and has received some training as he is fully house trained andloves going in the car. He pretty much comes on command and will sit when itsuits him (.i.e. when waiting for a treat).

Hehas previously been groomed as his body is quite short, but his head is verylong and matted as he HATES having his hair brushed. We are slowly trying toget him used to the brush and he has regular face washes to try and deal witheye-boogers etc. We bathed him once, but he was not a happy bunny!!

Anyway- Monday night, we tried to trim some hair around his head, and he was havingnone of it - growling, biting and squirming - you get the picture. Anyway,after a long walk (1 hr), he was still hyper and started humping his bed andgrowling if we moved his bed. He's never done this before, but after a while,and some soothing talking plus another 5 minutes walk, he calmed down. He wentto bed ok and was fine in the morning.

Rollonto last night and he seemed ok again - nice long walk as usual - but come bedtime, he went outside for his last pee and started staring up into the sky andbarking. I brought him in, and put him to bed, but as soon as the lights went off,he starting yelping, whining and scratching at the door. After 10 mins of this,and fearing that the neighbours would be mad, we let him out of the kitchen andhe settled on his blankie on the sofa. He came upstairs about 10 mins later butthen went back down soon after and slept the night on the sofa.

Sorryfor the background, but wanted to check my trains of thought..

Ishe just anxious that he might get moved on again - 2 weeks seems to the usualtime he got moved on (maybe due to his sudden change in anxiety).

Anytips on getting his head hair sorted - we trying the slowly-slowly approach,but I am so convinced that he will feel better when it’s all cut, that 1/2 ofme wants to just pin him down and shave it all..

Anyother tips on making him feel safe and settled. We fear he is getting a bitbored as we both work days, but make time for a morning walk with me, lunchtime walk with my wife and an evening walk with us both, and fuss him when weare home.

Todaywe left him with full range of the house (except bedrooms) and I have 'hidden'some treats around the house for him to find in the hope that he will be abit more entertained.

Whenwe are home with him all day, he's quite happy to just lay on the sofa andsleep.

Weboth need to work on our dominance patterns as these have been somewhatconfused of late, and I confess we have been giving into his whining lately aswe are worried about him. Maybe he’s making hay while he can, and giving us therun-around.

Anywords of comfort would be welcomed !

Steve
UK

I would first like to welcome you to YT, keep in mind this poor lil baby lost his momma that he spent several years with, and am sure he was doted on by this elderly lady, then was re-homed several times for what ever reason. Re-homing several times makes any animal insecure, and could take months for them to trust the ppl they are now with. You have him less then 2 weeks, not enough time for him to gain trust that he is in his forever home (if in fact that he is). You know nothing of his back ground as far as grooming, brushing, if he had this daily. Many dogs if not trained very early do not like brushing, and will fight it off, especially if it is coming from ppl they do not know. Time and lots of patience, praise & yummy treats help in trust and co-operation in grooming. You will get much advise from members that have adopted and ran into issues, but on behalf of lil Jasper I would like to send this poem to you, for you to remember, and work with a lil furbutt that needs / wants a secure loving, understanding mommy & daddy. Thank you for taking this lil troubled boy.
A Poem

Now that I'm all home, bathed, settled and fed,
All nicely tucked in my warm new bed,
I'd like to open my baggage lest I forget,
There is so much to carry, so much to regret.

Hmmmmm, Yes, there it is right on the top,
Let's unpack Loneliness, Heartache and Loss,
And there by my leash hides Fear and Shame,
As I look on these things I tried so hard to leave,
I still have to unpack my baggage called Pain.

I loved them, the others, the ones who left me,
But I wasn't good enough; for they didn't want me.
Will you add to my baggage? Will you help me unpack?
Or will you just look at my things and take me right back?
Do you have the time to help me unpack?
To put away my baggage,
To never repack?
I pray that you do; I'm so tired, you see. But I do come with baggage; will you still want me?


Help him unpack this baggage he needs love, security and most of all, TRUST, trust in you that he will be yours furever.

[langley yorkie]

What a beautiful poem, so poignant and true. I agree he is insecure and does not know this is his forever home. Time, patience and training will help him. You need to build your relationship with him. I definitely would suggest Companion Dog training, which is really obediance training. You definitely want to hook up with a Behaviorist and/or a no force trainer. All the best to you. You have done a wonderful thing.

[UK_Newbie]

Originally Posted by matese

he is in his forever home (if in fact that he is). .

He sure is! No way are we going to let him down in his time of need

Many thanks for the words of comfort and the warm welcome.

He's settled a little more over the last days, but still is finding his place in the pack - my wife had a 'stand and stare' off yesterday with him which helped tell him his position.

This is our first dog, we are in training as much as he is, but together as a pack, we can get through it ..