i need help with an abused yorkie

[lifesaverRN]

hello. i bought a yorkie from a breeder sunday. he came with all his papers and had a very nice temperment. when i brought him home , strange occurences started to get me thinking. the little guy,whos name is rocco, doesnt know how to use steps. he doesnt know how to go for walks. he doesnt know how to play with toys. for the first 3 days all he did was lay around. he is almost 8 months old. he should act like an energetic puppy! on tuesday he barked and nipped at my 6 year old son without provoktion and then went potty in his room at nite. we have a cage now for the little man to sleep in over nite and he loves it. yesterday we trained him to go up and down steps and he is begining to be a pro. his tail is starting to wag non stop now also. he is getting neutered today so im thinkiing that will curtail the aggressive behavior he showed. now why do i say abused you might ask?? i called the breeder. this dog has never gone up steps. ever. the kennels are in a garage. they get out at 8 am, get feed and left alone to play with each other in the garage and then its back to there kennel. no socialazation with children or adults. no toys. they dont play with them there. no security blanket that smellls like mom. and no walks. they dont even go on the grass outside! it was the first time rocco has seen grass in his whole life!!!! my questions is how can i get this dog to play with his toys?? how can i get him used to my children 6 and 3. basically how can i make this puppy act like a puppy?? im not giving up on him. he has had a cruel first part of life and i WILL make him happy! sorry for the long post , thanks for taking time to help me out!

[BunnysMommy]

Originally Posted by lifesaverRN

hello. i bought a yorkie from a breeder sunday. he came with all his papers and had a very nice temperment. when i brought him home , strange occurences started to get me thinking. the little guy,whos name is rocco, doesnt know how to use steps. he doesnt know how to go for walks. he doesnt know how to play with toys. for the first 3 days all he did was lay around. he is almost 8 months old. he should act like an energetic puppy! on tuesday he barked and nipped at my 6 year old son without provoktion and then went potty in his room at nite. we have a cage now for the little man to sleep in over nite and he loves it. yesterday we trained him to go up and down steps and he is begining to be a pro. his tail is starting to wag non stop now also. he is getting neutered today so im thinkiing that will curtail the aggressive behavior he showed. now why do i say abused you might ask?? i called the breeder. this dog has never gone up steps. ever. the kennels are in a garage. they get out at 8 am, get feed and left alone to play with each other in the garage and then its back to there kennel. no socialazation with children or adults. no toys. they dont play with them there. no security blanket that smellls like mom. and no walks. they dont even go on the grass outside! it was the first time rocco has seen grass in his whole life!!!! my questions is how can i get this dog to play with his toys?? how can i get him used to my children 6 and 3. basically how can i make this puppy act like a puppy?? im not giving up on him. he has had a cruel first part of life and i WILL make him happy! sorry for the long post , thanks for taking time to help me out!

wow what a horrible breeder smfh it makes me so angry. shes acting like a frikin pet store im so mad how can she not care about her baby. barely human contact no toys security blanket or walks or course the dog gonna get messed up.

ur doing great. keep on training him. this dog is smart very smart look he did his business in ur sons room after snapping at him. im sure he knew what he was doing exactly. ur so responsible spaying will deff curb the agressisve behavior

bunny (Unfortunately) came from a pet store she was another one who didnt know how to walk. when i took her out she just layed on the floor would not move if i pulled the harness she would just drag i had to encourage her with treats, just walk him every day give him lots of attention and treats enticing him to move forward. hanndball and treats worked for bunny, he will get used to it believe me now bunny is so used to it (after like 1 week) that im starting to teach her heal cuz shes starting to want to walk in front of me

i love how devoted u are thanks for not giving up ur so sweet. when u take him to vet ask him what to do about the agressiveness. give him toys but play with him and get hyper im sure hell get use to it just like the walks. handballs are fun or start with a kong since no dog can resist treats

keep us posted plz

[jencar98]

First off, you've had this puppy not even a week, adjusting to a new life takes time. Many of my foster dogs are older breeders that were surrendered, they never really learn to play with toys. But they still make wonderful, adoring pets and love to receive affection, so that is what I focus on with them.

Your yorkie is still a puppy though and should be able to learn to play with toys and adjust to your children. Have patience and try not to expose him to so many new things at once. Let him get used to you all, have your children sit on the floor to interact with him, and don't let them grab at Rocco or hold him against his will. At first make play with toys a gentle time, rolling a ball in front of him, gently shaking a small stuffed toy.

I'm sure you'll be posting soon about how playful and loving Rocco has become.

[Roccosmommy]

First, WELCOME to YT (I have a Rocco too)! Second, I think your screen name "lifesaver" says it all. Rocco has found his lifesaver in you...it angers me to no end when I hear about these so-called 'breeders' that are so cruel to these babies. Shower him with love while also respecting his space and I'm sure Rocco will be a loving playful member of the family in no time

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by jencar98

First off, you've had this puppy not even a week, adjusting to a new life takes time. Many of my foster dogs are older breeders that were surrendered, they never really learn to play with toys. But they still make wonderful, adoring pets and love to receive affection, so that is what I focus on with them.

Your yorkie is still a puppy though and should be able to learn to play with toys and adjust to your children. Have patience and try not to expose him to so many new things at once. Let him get used to you all, have your children sit on the floor to interact with him, and don't let them grab at Rocco or hold him against his will. At first make play with toys a gentle time, rolling a ball in front of him, gently shaking a small stuffed toy.

I'm sure you'll be posting soon about how playful and loving Rocco has become.

Wonderful advice.

I inherited my mother's yorkie. Abused, maybe, as my family is from the old school of a dog is a dog. There methods in their interaction/discipline with this little girl may have caused her to be aggressive, unable to understand how to play and interact with other dogs. I've had her since my mother passed away, now going on three years in August. It's been a long haul, but she now plays with other dogs without agression, loves toys and of course loves sleeping in bed with me. The most wonderful thing is that she now sleeps side by side, cuddled up to the female she had the most aggression towards. These two girls are now inseperable.

[Lilyshuman]

Congrats on your new puppy!

I think you are on the right track, time is the best cure here. He will begin to understand you are his pack (including your kids) and will feel more and more secure to wag his little tail

One suggestion I have is to take some time everyday to sit with him and your kids and teach both how to play. Teach your kids that they are the owners too, taking ownership and having a "job" is very important to my kids (plus they love telling Lily to drop her toy, she's the only one they can boss around like that lol). You could also get the kids to feed him if he doesn't have any food aggression ??

anyway good luck and pls let us know how it goes!

[DamSweet]

Hi - I am certainly no expert as I've only had Bridget 3 months, but I did at one time have a chinese shar pei who I got from a breeder who decided SueLee was pet quality, and gave her to me without papers but with the understanding I have her spayed which I did. Anyway - when I got this sweet girl home she showed aggression toward my then 8 year old daughter - to the point that my daughter sat on the couch and SueLee in front just growling. I called the breeder who very casually said - "oh - that makes sense - I had a foster daughter around that age that was abusive to her!" I also didn't want to return her and decided to try to help her feel comfortable around children - I HAD to try- I didn't know what would happen if someone else got her and didn't want to take the time to help her. I phoned a trainer who told me to make sure that the only person to feed and water this dog would be my daughter - that she would associate good things with my daughter and she would soon begin to trust her. Well - it worked, in a short matter of time - they became best buds. I don't know that it will work for everyone, but that was my experience. I'm sure your baby will come around with time once he realizes he is in a safe and loving environment. Good luck and welcome - you are in the best place you can be for great advice if someone can't help - they will point you in the right direction. Welcome to the family!!!

[livingdustmops]

This puppy was not abused. Many backyardbreeders (BYB) view their dogs as a way of making an income and while I total disagree with the way this animal lived it is not illegal and is not considered abuse.

You have a wonderful opportunity to open up a whole new world for this little one and you can easily teach it to go up and down stairs and look to walk with a harness on.

In regards to your children, please tell me what has been happening when this little one bite? Were the kids sitting down on the floor and letting the little one come up to them...Many Yorkies do not like children and are afraid of them so hopefully all of you wil have patience with the dog..

[DamSweet]

Sorry - I didn't mean to incinuate that her puppy was abused - I was just commenting on the attitude toward her son and how we handled a similar situation. I'm certainly not giving advise, I'm not that knowledgeable - just a comment.

[BellaDonna]

Even though I agree the dog didn't come from the ideal situation, I can't call it abuse without a lot more evidence.

Some dogs just don't play with toys. Of the 7 dogs I have, 3 of them could care less about toys. They only want attention, they don't fetch, play with fuzzy things etc. They wait for me to sit so they can be on my lap.

Some dogs have issues with stairs and smooth floors etc. It all boils down to what they are use to. My house doesn't have stairs so my dogs get very little experience with stairs. They only stairs they see on a regular basis is the 2 sets of steps I have for my runt Chihuahua.

Make sure the kids don't over power him in the beginning. Tell them to let the dog come to them and not to HOLD ON to the dog until he is more comfortable.

The best thing is that you are now ready to be a great mom to your new baby and he will slowly open up and become your dog. Thankfully he has landed in a soft spot.

[livingdustmops]

Originally Posted by DamSweet

Sorry - I didn't mean to incinuate that her puppy was abused - I was just commenting on the attitude toward her son and how we handled a similar situation. I'm certainly not giving advise, I'm not that knowledgeable - just a comment.

Oh no, I didn't mean you...I meant the OP...

While I think it is wrong I just think it is important we keep thing a little in perceptive on what is abuse and what is not. I do not agree gepping dogs kenneled all day but many members do because they work. Almost all members who got a puppy have had to train their dogs to go up stairs and to walk on a lead...This is normal.

In regards to the children ...it should be a very slow process and the kids should only be touching the dog when they are sitting on the floor for the safety of the dog.

[Woogie Man]

Just to add on a bit... An 8 month old pup is going to have a longer transition period than a younger pup. Even if that pup didn't come from an ideal situation, he was comfortable with and misses the only world he has known. Plus, he was obviously around other dogs and misses their company.

He will adapt but give him time. He is in a completely new environment and needs some time to adjust. Try to not overwhelm him with too many things and people at once. He needs to find one person to bond with so he will have some sense of security. Once you make that connection with him, things will go more smoothly.

[livingdustmops]

Originally Posted by Woogie Man

Just to add on a bit... An 8 month old pup is going to have a longer transition period than a younger pup. Even if that pup didn't come from an ideal situation, he was comfortable with and misses the only world he has known. Plus, he was obviously around other dogs and misses their company.

He will adapt but give him time. He is in a completely new environment and needs some time to adjust. Try to not overwhelm him with too many things and people at once. He needs to find one person to bond with so he will have some sense of security. Once you make that connection with him, things will go more smoothly.

Everything you said

[DamSweet]

[QUOTE=livingdustmops;3108598]Oh no, I didn't mean you...I meant the OP...

Whew - as a new member I didn't want to start off on the wrong foot...Thanks

[BunnysMommy]

Originally Posted by DamSweet

Hi - I am certainly no expert as I've only had Bridget 3 months, but I did at one time have a chinese shar pei who I got from a breeder who decided SueLee was pet quality, and gave her to me without papers but with the understanding I have her spayed which I did. Anyway - when I got this sweet girl home she showed aggression toward my then 8 year old daughter - to the point that my daughter sat on the couch and SueLee in front just growling. I called the breeder who very casually said - "oh - that makes sense - I had a foster daughter around that age that was abusive to her!" I also didn't want to return her and decided to try to help her feel comfortable around children - I HAD to try- I didn't know what would happen if someone else got her and didn't want to take the time to help her. I phoned a trainer who told me to make sure that the only person to feed and water this dog would be my daughter - that she would associate good things with my daughter and she would soon begin to trust her. Well - it worked, in a short matter of time - they became best buds. I don't know that it will work for everyone, but that was my experience. I'm sure your baby will come around with time once he realizes he is in a safe and loving environment. Good luck and welcome - you are in the best place you can be for great advice if someone can't help - they will point you in the right direction. Welcome to the family!!!

thats gr8 advice