Help, I am soo bummed right now

[I love Lucy]

Well we have a new Yorkie male! This should be a happy delightled moment for me since I had convinced my husband to get this boy and he only agreed because we could stud him out but instead it is a very confusing time and am constantly worrying about our future with him. I can't even sleep at night.

Basically to make a long long story short we were lied to by the previous owner about several things including, health, temperment, registration papers and his overall care. He was skin and bones, sick with kennel cough, terrible teeth and worst of all unsocialized! He is very scared/aggressive with strangers and men. He has tried to bite my brother in law when he was just walking by my car and barks like crazy to strangers and especially men. I am really bummed because of the fact that I was lied to and I was totally unprepared to take on a rescue type dog. If I would have known I would have been willing to do this kind of work and pay alot less money. I am not sure If I can even bring him to be a well adjusted dog that I had wanted...He barks at my husband all the time and I have only had him less than a week so I know I shouldn't be discouraged etc..yet..but realistically this is not what I bargained for-countless efforts to socialize and take him to socializing/behavioral classes every Sat...and pay more money to work with trainers, buy books etc..I have a little girl and I can't drag her around to do these things all the time..and I am a stay at home mom so some days I am just gonna be home, unable to desensitize him. He loves me and my little girl just fine and follows me around everywhere and I love him but at the same time I am worried...is he always going to be this way...is it a long long hall to recovery? I am just bummed right now...I thought I was getting a well adjusted dog ( like the lady told me) and he can't even be my stud dog because the lady lied about his full registration( its limited)....I am sure I will feel better later on and it will pass I am sure and come monday maybe when I talk to a trainer they will have more positive info..plus went to 2 of the bookstores to look for behavior training books and Petco and didn't find any.. Just wondering if any of you have any advice? He is supposedly 9 months old and an uneutered male. He is very protective and barks at any noise, any person other than me and my little girl. He does however get along well with all other animals no prob. Any advice and sorry for my terrible attitude right now.

[cindy0721]

I'm sorry you are having a hard time... he was probably abused by a male so when he sees a male .... it brings back those emotions.... stay patient... with time it will get better..... good luck... hopefully someone here can help you...

[Patti]

That is too bad about the little guy. Have you talked to the person who sold him to you? Hopefully your patience and love will turn him around, but I would definately talk to the breeder about the limited registration if she knew that you wanted to use hm for stud.

[JeanieK]

Can the limited registration be changed?

It sounds to me like You did not buy from the breeder. So you would have to contact the breeder about that.

Since he is still so young, I'm guessing that he can be better socialized. Ceasar Milan's new book is out titled "Ceasars Way". I haven't read it so I don't know how helpful it is. And another member mentioned fa book titled "Dog Listener"

[Dawn125]

I don't know about the limited registration problem...you may be stuck there. As far as not liking men though, I adopted my mixed breed at a little over a year old and she was definitely wary around men and snapped at my husband and daughters boyfriend a couple of times when we first got her. We didn't know her history and assume she was either never around men or maybe mistreated by one. Anyway, after a couple weeks she completely changed and has become a really loving pet who loves everyone and is completely attached to my husband. If you have only had him a week he is definitely still adjusting and may be just fine.

[I love Lucy]

Hi, thank you guys for all you encouragement. It really does help. Milo is soo sweet and is definately a handsome boy. He is gaining weight already and making so that in itself is making progress. As far as the limited registration and studding-The lady assured me this was a Full registered dog and basically said all the right things to me. She was totally lying! Yes I have thought about contacting the original breeder listed on the paper work since the lady I got Milo from stopped returning my phone calls then disconnected her number. We have called her at work and she hasn't been in. I know I got lied to and taken advantage of but now what? Right? My husband feels like pursuing this more but I don't even want to think about it.
I just need to continue bonding and reassuring Milo that the world is not soo scary. If you have any more advice on socializing or how to control his barking at strangers let me know. So far I have had to just pick him up and hold his mouth down gently to stop him..and I have given him treats..alot for doing good behavior like being quiet or not barking at my hubby..and I give them to my hubby to give to him..to gain trust..but other than that what about other family members that walk up to us or strangers?

Thanks a bunch!

[hunniebunnie]

I'm sorry to hear about all the problems you're having with the seller. It's very disturbing to me that she's taken advantage of unsuspecting YT members (or anyone for that matter, but a YT member is just a bit close to home). I've spoken to the woman before too regarding her dogs and you're right, she had all the right answers, I would have never suspected that the responses were lies.

I'd try to contact the original breeder regarding the registration. If anything at least the breeder would know about the lies the seller was running and refuse to sell her dogs in the future. I would also try to contact the seller at her place of work if you know the phone number to her work or can look it up. Perhaps recoup some of the money you spent on Milo.

As for Milo's behavior, I would just suggest taking him out for walks often and socialize as much as possible. I have a rescue dog of my own and with some strangers, he'll growl and bark as well. I'd just give his harness and tug and say NO. if he continues, i partially pick him up by his harness to get his attention and say NO. when he redirects his attention to me and stops growling and barking, i'll give him praises and a treat. so far that's worked out really well so far. He also growled and barked at my husband the first day they met, but stopped the next morning and now he loves to cuddle on couch with hubby.

Hopefully the trainer will be able to give you more ideas on how to socialize him more. Good luck and keep us posted!

[SnowWa]

Don't breed!!!

My personal opinion -- your husband's reason for letting you have a dog "to stud him out" isn't a good reason at all. You'd be surprised how many people have told me to breed my dog. He has a full registration and could be bred, but he is too large (8 1/2 pounds).... Besides, I don't want to breed and and only wanted a pet. He's going to be neutered soon......

If you are seriously considering breeding a little Yorkie, you should have gone out and really carefully checked the little boy. He should be a good example (usually more expensive) of Yorkie standards, etc.

The fact that your papers were limited, means that he was probably sold as a "pet only" and not a dog that should be bred.

Also - let the breeders say more about this. But, I think a dog's temperment should be considered when breeding as well as its looks. The things that you mentioned about your little pup don't sound like breeding material to me....sick, bad teeth, unsocialized, aggressive, etc.

I would tell your husband "oops" and get your little guy neutered and work on helping him become the happy, healthy, little pet you want him to be.

Good luck!

Carol Jean

[Sugar's Mom]

I would tell your husband "oops" and get your little guy neutered and work on helping him become the happy, healthy, little pet you want him to be.


Either what Carol said above or you can register him CKC and full registration. But, you would be very wise to forget about studding him out at this time.

[I love Lucy]

I really appreciate all of your suggestions...I look for them every couple hrs...I would definately not stud him out anytime soon if at all. His temperment could have been formed because he didn't have any socialization when it was crucial. His teeth are full of tartar! And he has kennel cough, which we are working on. You guys may be right and not to breed him, you have a point but gosh how will 2 males get along if in the future if I get another...??? I actually wanted another little girl later on..ofcourse hubby does not know that yet..hee hee but I sure hope Milo turns around or else I will be in big turmoil. Please if any of you had similar experiences with this kind of behavior let me know...just hearing some positive feedback makes me more determined. Or even any action that you guys have taken if you were lied to?
Thanks again

[artierae]

I have no opinion as to whether you shoud"stud him out" or not, but I do have an experience to tell you about. When Sue bought Parker, she bought him to use for stud purposes. She took him to the vet and discovered he had an "upper respiratory infection", very bad teeth, and the vet gave her some medication and said if he lasted 3 days she would be lucky. He was also very thin. The vet weighed him and he weighed just over 3 lbs. Well, she doctored him, brought him to my house that weekend (to get him away from her others so they would not be subjected to the infection) and I continued to doctor him. This was a real fight! He didn't want to take the medicine and would clamp his jaws shut so hard you could hardly get them open. And as small and weak as he was, he still had strong jaws!! Oh, and he was also very insecure and didn't want to have anything to do with ANYBODY! Sue was the only one he was half-way friendly with, but all animals have a good rapport with her. (I think she speaks animal. With ESP.) After a week or so of good food, good medicine, and a little TLC, he started coming around. He started sleeping on my bed (on the pillows, on the other side of the bed.) I had the vet clean and check his teeth (several had to be pulled) and he soon decided he was in a good place. He has gained weight...as a matter of fact he may be a little overweight now, he is almost 6#. He no longer has any sign of his respiratory infection and he is very friendly with a lot of people. Not all, yet. He never will be compleltely sure of any strangers, I don't think. He is very suspicious. But he gets along with all the dogs, even Chester, our neutered male, who thinks that next to Ginger he is the boss.

Sorry this is so long, but I thought you might like to know they will turn around given the proper care and love.

[SnowWa]

Two males, two females, or one of each can get along very well together.
(I am talking about neutered and spayed pets - because I have had them all and have never had any problems.)

I have two boys right now - the 4-year old Bichon is neutered - and the 9-month-old Yorkie will be neutered soon. Believe me, they are the best of friends. Prior to my getting my Yorkie - my Bichon was best friends with a female pet of mine.

The sex of your pets shouldn't be an issue as far as their getting along.

Before you breed (since your husband thinks this may be the way to go) - be sure and print out some of the threads on "breeding expenses" and all the "knowledge" you need to acquire before you take on breeding. I think both of these --- expenses and knowledge ---- are especially critical when it comes to breeding these little guys.

Good luck! Carol Jean