Share your experience owning more than 1 yorkie

[Infinity]

Hi!
I don't often post around YT but was curious about everyone's experience owning more than 1 yorkie at a time, specially if same gender.

I am the owner of 3 yorkies, 1 male and 2 females and I'm finding it hard to handle the girls. They grew up together but when they hit adulthood they started to dislike each other. It is mainly Nina (the parti one) who wants to be the alpha dog. Bambi (my boy) ignores them when they're at it and he is just the sweetest teapot. Problem is the fights are escalating as they get older and I am coming to a point where I think the only way is for me to leave 2 of them with my parents (the teapots) and take the troublesome Nina with me and have her live with no other dogs.

I have been reading websites and came across one from a man with 45 years of experience saying you can't raise 2 puppies at the same time because it will always be chaotic and that dogs should be living separated. But I find this kind of thinking extreme so I want to hear from your experiences since many of you have more than 1 baby.

[chachi]

I had 2 pups at the same time and the only thing that was harder was potty training but Im home with mine all day and was able to do it. The only thing probably not good about my situation is my one of my yorkies Jewels will not let you separate her from Chachi the other yorkie. Its so bad that when the groomer grooms Jewels her assistant will have to hold chachi on the table or jewels will bark nonstop. Same thing happens when my Husband takes chachi somewhere in the car with him and doesnt take Jewels she will bark the whole time hes gone. I have 3 cats that came from the same litter and they are really attached to each other like that too. So even though Chachi and Jewels really arent siblings I think they consider themselves siblings by the way they act because there are other things too that let me know what level their bond is

[Cha Cha]

I have two adult females and they get along great! Both of them are fairly submissive though to us and eachother. They never fight over anything and sleep together. My Mylee came along when Moka was about 2.5 years but Mylee has some severe anxiety/behavioral issues. I can tell she uses Moka as her "security." Moka does fine being left alone, but we have problems if Moka leaves and Mylee is left behind. Mylee cries like a child throwing a temper tantrum, pants, paces, etc. We have NEVER left Mylee alone as in really alone. Gosh, I can't imagine what kind of destruction I'd find if we did that! Moka is kind of a Mother dog in that she accepts Mylee's needyness without complaint. Moka is just an all around good dog. If she were any different, our whole situation would be completely different for sure.

[Infinity]

I am home most of the time since I am a freelance designer and work from home so I don't think they lack attention. I do accept I used to pamper/protect Nina more then the other two (both teapots) because she was so tiny as a puppy and she has grown to be really jealous and I don't know how to teach her that they all are on the same level. She thinks she is on top.

I try training her with treats and play but once she sets her mind on attacking Mia (the other girl) nothing stops her and I have to lock her in the room while I take the other out potty and feed. I will never re-home any of them unless it is with my parents whom I see daily and know love my yorkies. It breaks my heart the thought of separating them. *sigh*

Any advice is appreciated.

[Sunny95]

I don't have any info to share but I am very interested in this thread. I have a 3 year old female and want to add another. I really want them to get along!

[ritapatt]

We have two females- Ziva (3 in May)- The busybody, alpha ,runt of the litter, follow the rules Yorkie. We recently added Abby (6 months) a sweet, laidback, nothing is a problem, slightly silly baby. I picked her from a litter of 5 specifically for her personality (not her looks) Abby was just spayed last week so I didn't have any chance of female issues. So far it has been great and has made Ziva "lighten" up a little. Two is more fun and Abby is NEVER a problem, she is soo easy going (not like Ziva as a puppy!)

[Maximo]

I have 2 strong males. Everything is great as long as we balance attention between the 2 and keep them active. Max suffers a little jealousy when he thinks grandpa is paying too much attention to Teddy.

Is there anything you have noted that sets Nina off -- competition over a toy, a treat, or attention?

[SWHouston]

There are so many variables involved, it's hard to set any form of rule/procedure about this, but, here's what I do, and I know that in all instances, it's not possible. Anyway, when adding one to existing...

Same Breed.
Opposite Sex.
New Dog younger than the "resident".
then...
I try to wait at least two years, before another addition keeping a gender balance. ie: alternate gender.

I'm just one of those people, who respects/attempts to maintain the "Pecking Order", though many don't pay much attention to that. It's specially important with Females, allowing immediate and apparent knowledge to the new animal, that there is an Alpha present, and the new guy should wait their turn and observe it's place.

Yorkies are much like Lion Prides, in that the Female does a lot of the "management" within the Pack, and the Males just lay back, wait on the Females to catch something, or something come along where they have to protect the territory or Pack. That's probably why the Male mentioned before, doesn't get involved with the Female "battle".

But, getting back to the point, it's a lot easier if the resident is older, bigger, stronger ect... then there is a LOT less resistance of the new one to accept the others seniority, and...

When it comes to Yorkie Females, there WILL be an Alpha.

[TxVicki]

Mine have all gotten along very well. I have never had a problem, even when I adopted and brought in a new one.
I have been very lucky with all of my Yorkies I have had thru the years.

[Teresa Ford]

I think SWHouston has good advice. I do think personality is the most important ingredient. Rubin got along well with Noah (RIP) they were both neutered, But he did not get along with Zacky (RIP) and they fought off and on. Zacky was not neutered. Rubin is 8 years old, and gets along with 10 month old Abba who is not neutered. I have 4 Yorkies. Gracie is the Alpha or at least accepted as it by all the dogs. All the dogs fight with Ginny Joy, a 9 month old female (she is the youngest and biggest Yorkie, she weights 7 pounds and a few ounces) She does not respect personal space and wants to play all the time. From time to time Gracie (not quite 5 pounds and 3 years old) bites Ginny Joy hard making her yip and do a belly up roll. Then the boys rush in and bite at Ginny Joy too. I always break it up. Our Lab is very good natured and easy going but she growls at Ginny Joy and sometimes holds her down between her paws. I also have fosters in and out and they do not seem to like Ginny Joy either. Dogs don't like Ginny Joy too much. She is the smartest Yorkie and is so easy to train. She is healthy and beautiful, and loves to be fussed over. She would make a perfect only pet for someone.

[Infinity]

Bambi is the eldest resident. I got him October, 2009 and I went crazy in love over yorkies and added Nina on March, 2010. Then I fell in love again and brought Mia in November, 2010. Enough yorkie hoarding. lol

At the beginning everything was fine but I admit I was overprotecting Nina from Bambi and Mia's rough play. Bambi and Mia are both teapots and they often were too rough when playing with Nina. Everything continued to be OK until a couple of weeks after I got Mia, she got parvo (she did have her first shot but she got ill just a couple of days before her next vaccine was given). She "died" for some minutes before I got to the vet and he checked and she had no vitals signs, so he injected adrenaline into her heart and as a miracle she started to breathe again and after a week at the vet she was almost back to health. Over the next days you will understand I was over now protective of Mia and I think that's when Nina felt misplaced and started to grow a hatred.

Nina would push Mia with her front legs if she saw my father patting her head. At first we found it funny and ignored it until she started to growl at Mia whenever someone gave her love and I would *hush* at Nina but she just walked away or pretended to submit.

I started to keep them separated fearing they could fight when I wasn't home and that made it worse because Nina would find a way to jump the fence to the other side and fight Mia just for being in another side of the house. When I finally got tired of separating them for feeding, potty and walking, I just let both loose together and waited to see what happened. Nina approached Mia aggressively and Mia growled back, they pushed each other back and that was the end of the fight. I was impressed because I feared a bloody end but on the contrary, Nina just wanted Mia back in her side of the fence.

It has been more recent that Nina just goes up to Mia and starts a fight and I have to separate them because I fear they hurt each other. Mia is double the size of Nina and I fear that if she decides to really defend herself, she could kill Nina. So far Mia only growls and pushes Nina back but doesn't bite her, it is Nina who bites her hard and I know because she got my hand when I pulled Mia away.

As time goes on Nina gets harsher with Mia and since past week I have kept them separated because they had a very bad fight where Nina injured Mia's eye but gladly I was there to avoid something serious. I had to push my finger inside Nina's mouth and open it with my hand because she didn't let go. I got one finger chewed instead but it could have been Mia's eyeball out, if I hadn't done that.

I'm just desperate to find a way to make them friendly with each other again. I've tried treats, love and a strong voice but nothing distracts Nina once she's after something. Mia is easy with food and I can train her but not Nina. She won't listen.

[SWHouston]

Infinity,

My heart was absolutely SINKING as I read your first two paragraphs, and was SO relieved that you were able to save Mia....WHEW !

But, when you have one like Nina, who is h*ll bent on being the Alpha, you don't have too many choices. It is possible that your are not giving her enough recognition, that is, IF you are ok with her being the Alpha ?

What I mean by that is...
If you want to go along with Nina's roll, then you should start feeding Nina first, petting her first, greeting her first, letting her lead the Pack on walks and just anything else you can think of, which will reassure her of her Alpha roll.

I KNOW how tough that's going to be, actually more on you than it will be on Mia, but having you as Pack Leader, "approve" of Nina's position, may settle things down between the two. Just to be sure NOT to let Nina see you petting Mia or paying too much attention to her for a while. You can take her aside out of site of Nina, and catch up on the lovin, but DON'T let Nina see that.

Your other choice if this doesn't settle down, is re-homing one of them...sorry.

Note:
I'm wondering how many reading this, can/will appreciate the distinction between Pack Leader, and Alpha Dog, and that there can be both ?

Note2:
Also, You need to get Nina aside, train her or practice training stuff... sit, roll over whatever, but your MUST enforce your dominance over her.
You MUST be the Pack Leader in her mind (a much stronger position) or the next time you attempt to intervene, you may get bit seriously.
Remember, "please" doesn't work in these situations, your word must be law !

[SWHouston]

Teresa,

There are many very well informed people on this Forum, but, when you speak... I listen ! So having said that, I have a question for you, and it's "sorta" in line with the Topic here. I've owned many Breeds and even more Dogs in my life, and as I've said before, Yorkies stand out SO far above the rest, I'm just amazed by it. But, I've noticed something, which it will take someone with considerable experience to comment on.
So here goes...

I think, IF you Spay a Female Yorkie, before she has her first heat, that the probability of her being "aggressively" dominant is very likely.

Conversely, if you wait and Spay after she heats, she will be MUCH more passive in the Pack, and allow another Female to be Alpha with no or few problems.

I know this sounds reversed, but, I think that a Female recognizes the loss of being able to reproduce, and it sets her back psychologically, causing a more passive nature.
Whereas, the one who never knows, isn't effected by having had that ability taken away, and steps up and is much more likely to want the Alpha Roll.

Your opinion ?

PS:
This has nothing to do with the abilities/desires of an intact Female.
I've been accused of "over thinking" things by the best !

[Donnainohio63]

I have had Thor and Little Bit since they were born and I disagree with this man. The only problem we ever have is that they tear into a fight once in awhile and we are working on that and it is getting better.

[celstu1]

My 2 boys have been with me since they were 9 weeks old, they are brothers from the same liter. I seriously don't think they can function without each other.... but they are boys, boys are much more mellow than girls. They are always side by side. They look for each other, they both seem to need to lay on the same lap, lay in the same bed, eat dinner at the same time, chase squirrels at the time, they are partners in crime and best friends. When 1 is not around, the other is very anxious until they get back. Only 2x in almost 7 years have them been separated, the days they were neutered.