New to the board -- with some questions!

[PixieK83]

Hi!!!

I am new here and have some questions!
I posted before, a few hrs ago, but don't see it on the board, so Ill try again. Sorry if it goes through twice..

Well first off, I have a Yorkiepoo that I adopted yesterday. He is a little older, 8 yrs old. I don't know why they got rid of him after 8 yrs -- they claim they are not dog people.

Well since I got him, he has been in his little tent most of the time. He looks sad Im afraid of his getting sick because of a broken heart being older. What can I do to make him feel more comfortable? How can I get him to come out? I want to spoil him, but he wont let me. You can tell he is so not used to it.

Also, I feel like he isnt eating. The gave me very little of the food they had left to go home with him. Well I went to several pet stores looking for that food. I cant find it anywhere. So I am trying to wean him on something similar. But he barely eats. He will eat it if I put a little yorgurt on in, but that is it. He will drink occasionally though.

Please, if you have any ideas, let me know! I want to make this little cutie feel at home!

[Harrysmum]

Firstly, good morning and welcome from the UK!

My heart really goes out to you. Even bringing a new puppy home, it takes time for them to get over the trauma of leaving their mum/litter mates/familiar surroundings. So after 8 years.....Personally I think again it is time and patience and coaxing.

I know others may not agree, but have you tried mixing some chicken breast in with her food? I think at this stage I would be doing anything I could to try to entice her to eat

Please don't lose heart, it will all come good - eventually. Sally + Harry x

[lillymae]

I agree, after having 1 family for 8 yrs he is probably missing them & it will take some time. Also have you had him to your vet for a check up ? he may need a dental cleaning. I would also suggest some blood work & have him check for worms to be sure he is healthy. If all checks out good then just give him Lots of Lovin & he should come around soon. Congrats on your new baby & Welcome to YT.

[dustinleephil]

I think you should just give him time. I had the same experience with my dog from the shelter. He wouldn't eat unless I hand fed him. It only last a week or so, after he got use to being in a new place he was fine. He grew really attached to us quickly. Now he wont leave our side.

[PixieK83]

Thank you for the welcome! I really think I'm going to like it here!
Also, thanks for the advice!
I really appreciate it!

I can't imagine someone giving up a dog after 8 years -- I just can't!
When I asked why they were giving him up they said that they used to be animal ppl, but over the years 'they are not dog people'. Really!? I don't know. But what I do know is that now that I have him, he is in a great home and I can give him a loving, kind, safe home that is filled with attention!

They told me that he was only paper trained -- that he will NOT go to the bathroom outside at all. They said he hates going outside and doesn't know how to even walk on a leash. Well, I didn't really believe that. So when I got home with him (I got him Saturday, late afternoon), I took the collar off, put a step-in harness on him and took him outside. And he actually did great for not having been outside much at all. He was good on the leash -- didn't pull at all. He was a little skiddish and wouldn't walk at times, but I think he just has to get used to it. And he actually peed outside too!! The owner told me he was just paper trained and will actually bark when he goes to the bathroom on the paper to let you know he went. Well, he hasn't done that at all since I have had him. I take him out ever 4ish hours, or if he goes to the door, and he pees outside. I took him out around 2am today, and he actually pooped outside too! So I don't know where they are getting that he won't go to the bathroom outside. I honestly think these people didn't care one bit about him and didn't put any time into him whatsoever -- which makes me really sad! I don't know how people can be like that. It is so cruel.

I haven't tried putting any chix breast into the food. But that may be an idea if he doesn't eat soon. I have tried putting a little warm water to make a 'gravy' and putting a little yogurt in it (which he actually seems to really like). I know part of him not eating is because he is upset about the adoption. And the other part probably has to do with me not having the food he is used to eating. I got him Natural Balance (grain-free) from Petco. They said it was a really good food for him to eat, so hopefully he will come around to it.

Also, I have another question too (this doesn't really make sense to me, but I am just going with what the old owner told me). They claim he has an allergy to corn. Now, I haven't heard of this. I had a purebred Yorkie before, and he was horribly allergic to poultry. But they said this one is allergic to corn. Now is this a common allergy in Yorkies? I bought food and treats that are grain-free, so there is no corn. I asked her how she found this allergy out. And she told me he was real itchy and she went to a local pet store that has been in business forever, and talked to the owner. She described the symptoms and he said he was allergic to the corn. He gave her new food that didn't have corn in it to try and supposedly he did great after switching food. I don't know but it just sounds a little off to me. Any advice? Is there a way to see if it actually is corn and not something else? And is it common in Yorkies to have a corn allergy?

I haven't had a chance to get him to the vets yet since I have only had him since Saturday. I plan on calling today to get him an appointment this wk to be checked out.

I have had a Yorkie before and I am totally crazy about the breed! I love EVERYTHING about them! Plus they are just so stinking cute! Lol! But this YORKIEPOO thing is new to me (the name is a little funny too)! Haha! He looks way more like a Yorkie than a Poodle though. His face looks just like my old Buddy!

Anyways, sorry for the BOOK! HAHA!
Thanks in advance!

Love Hugs and Pawprints
Keri and Lucky

[bellemarie]

awk, bless him! he is probably pretty scared at everything new around him... when i got Dexx (a 2.5?yr old chi) he hid in the bed for a fair while, but i lay on the floor near him (not starring at him though, that would also be scary) and any time he came near me i gave him a bit of boiled chicken breast... by the next day he was sleeping on my knee watching animal planet with me- when not playing with the puppies!
also, when dexx looked scarred, a soft, slightly higher pitched voice always seems to get his attention focused on happy thing a lot quicker than my ordinary voice, so that might help with your little boy?

you'll need to be patient, although i know you already know that; and just accept that he needs time to get used to people who actually want him there- you don't know what he has been through in his 8 years living with 'non-dog people'- love may be a whole new concept to him... did thwy give you much of a back story to him (although how much you can trust what they say is unknown)?

people like that should be strung up!

whats his name- you changing it? do you have pics?
and welcome to yorkietalk both of you!

[shodanusmc]

Welcome and thanks so much for taking him in. Just give him time. He will do just fine and learn to love you!

[LunasMomma]

Welcome

Yes, dogs can be allergic to corn; my two are. And wheat, poultry, and who knows what else I feed them the same food, the Natural Balance LID formulas (I switch up flavors once in a while, but stick with the LID foods). They've done much better on that.

I'm sure that in no time, he'll be the spoiled little brat of the manor

[Beamers Mom]

Pixie
I have always fostered senior dogs (some I have ended up adopting).
Give the little one time. He will come around. Everything is strange to him.
As for him being in his tent most of the time, he feels safe there.
The ones I fostered would stay in the pen (the gate was always open) and eventually they would wander out in their own good time.
You have only had the little one a couple of days, not really long enough for him to realize he has a new good home. In a few days he will probably act like he owns the house and you

Thank you for rescuing him.

Welcome to YorkieTalk and please check out this thread and find out how you can help other Yorkies in need.

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/off...-help-yhr.html

[southernbelle04]

I just wanted to say Welcome to you! Congratulations on your new addition! I hope he starts to warm up and feel better! I'm sure you'll get lots of good advice here! YT'ers are great! I'm still kind of a newbie to Yorkie mommyhood and they help me everyday! Love it here! Welcome!

[Patti]

I bet in no time at all he will be your best pal. I took in Nikki when his owner had a stroke and later passed on. He was thought to be about 16 years old. I had known his owner for about 6 months so he was familiar with me. But I brought him in to a strange house with 3 younger females and he adjusted pretty quickly. That was almost 2 years ago. These little ones adapt quickly to a loving home. Bless you for taking him. Corn is a pretty common food allergy.

[R_Z]

Very cool of you to adopt him. As everyone said, he's sad because he still remembers his previous family. It's all new and fresh for you, but not for him. It's nothing you have done or didn't do. It will take time. With Bailey, it took about a week for him to begin to settle in as part of the family.

if you continue to show him love, spend as much time as you can with him, make sure he gets plenty of food and water, you'll have a mate for the rest of his life.

Enjoy!

[maci_mace]

My maci was with her family for 2 years, it took her a week to eat her normal amount and to really warm up to us. She spent A LOT of time sleeping and ignoring us... we let her do this! Don't force him to like you or to be with you at all times this could scare him.

make sure to give him a treat when he does approach you, or exit his tent. and lots of little treats on walks too. i find my yorkie LOVES something tasty and will do just about anything for a good treat haha.

goodluck! i'm sure he will grow to really love and appreciate you!

[gracielove]

I wonder if the people you got him from actually owned him for all his life? It kind of sounds like they don't even know the dog. Maybe a family member could have had him for some of those years?
Anyway chicken is a friend to most dogs. Mixing a little in with the new food should help. I feed grain free as well and am pretty much against feeding grain to dogs. I don't know if her really is allergic to corn but it certainly is not the best ingredient to put in dog food. It's great for cows though!

I can't imagine how upset that dog must be. I'm sure it will take a while for him to come around but he will learn to trust you. If they were not taking him outside he may learn to love the experience of going out and enjoying the sights and exercise.

Maybe try to hold him on your lap when you are watching TV or something. Most dogs love to be physically close to someone and he will become accustomed to your scent and start to trust. Does he have toys? Maybe play fetch with him inside for a while. He is still at an age where he should enjoy doing doggy things and I'm sure he will appreciate you introducing them to him. Some healthy dog treats may help also.

Best wishes on this new adventure. I have seen so many mixed breed dogs like this in shelters, it's just heartbreaking. I'm so glad you have him and he's not sitting in a cold cell at the pound.