Question about our adopted Yorkie

[cburkha1]

Hello, I'm new to this website. My family and I have had a silky terrier,Sydney, for 5 1/2 years. We recently adopted a 7 year old (7 pound) yorkie, Bailey, because hiw owner was unable to care for him. We have only had him for about 2 1/2 weeks. When we got him, his ears were so infected that they were swollen shut, they are doing better now that he has medicine, but still infected. His previous owner had also bathed him in Head and Shoulders once a week, of course we don't do that, but his skin was a mess after she did that. Bailey has been on a steroid to take care of that, and he is doing much better with his skin.

I guess our main problem right now is that Sydney, our silky terrier, has always been free fed. She doesn't overeat and she is a healthy weight. Bailey was fed twice a day, very small abounts, with his previous owner and is not used to free food. We tried it, but he overeats. Recently, he has been shaking (could it be his ear infection causing this), yipping when you touch his sides, and a little bloated. We took him to the vet and had an x-ray done and the vet told us it was gas. My husband and I are at a loss of what to do about feeding the two dogs because Sydney is used to free feeding and Bailey is not. We have tried feeding them once in the morning and once in the evening for a week now, but Bailey eats all of his food and then goes for Sydney's. I'm worried Sydney isn't getting enough because Bailey is eating it all. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Also, Bailey goes potty outside, but he has been peeing on the carpet. We'll take him outside and he'll pee and then he'll come inside and pee on the carpet two minutes later. There are also a lot of times, especially in the morning, when Bailey doesn't want to go outside. He'll stand there and shake until we pick him up and carry him out. A lot of times, he will just stand outside and not do anything but shake and then come inside and poop on the carpet. He is trained to go potty outside, but he's not wanting to do it.

If anyone has any suggestions, they would be greatly appreciated! We really like him, we have had him to the vet 3 times now with no real good anwers. We have already spent $350.00 in less than a month on vet bills so we can't afford to take him for everything, especially when the answer is that he just has gas, so any thoughts on his problems will be helpful.

Thank you!!

[CouversMom]

I would feed them separately so that each dog gets their own food. Maybe try feeding them 3 small meals so that Bailey doesn't eat too much at once.

With potty training, consistency is key. Keep him contained in a small area (exercise pen in the kitchen, bathroom etc) unless you can keep an eye on him. Take him out frequently and praise him for going potty outside. He will soon learn that he is not allowed to potty inside and you can eventually give him more space.

[yorkietalkjilly]

A lot of dogs that aren't housebroken or change homes find pottying outside a little intimidating at first and are just more comfortable "going" indoors. Slowly, you can change that. I start with a good schedule, predicting when he needs to go and taking him out every 15-30 minutes all day and all evening long for a month. I just give over to housebreaking the dog and all else kind of goes on hold.

In addition to the very frequent sessions he can come to count on, give him longer sessions outside if he doesn't go right away, watch him like a hawk once he is inside again & once he starts sniffing around or looking about - whatever his normal body language is B4 going, that's your signal to take him out, even if you've just come in from outside. If he doesn't start playing right away or go lie down and if he's still up and walking around after a trip outside, you must watch his every move & take him out again before he starts to go inside. Make a regular feeding, grooming, exercise, play schedule for him so you can know when he'll likely want to go and take him in advance of his need by a couple of minutes.

Lots of patience is required when waiting outside for a new puppy or new adoptee to go. No doubt about it, if you wait with him outside until he has to go, he will. This is where your determination to housebreak at all costs vs. someone who is trying hard will tell the tale! Only the truly determined can hold out for the 3-hour "go" session! I'm one of the first kind - I'll wait all night for a dog to go outside. And then we treat/celebrate big, big time! A few of those sessions and the dog comes to know we are going to be out there no matter what so he might as well go and get it over with sooner rather than later. Even a puppy will eventually get bored outside & want his toys, his water, his bed - in short, he'll want back inside, if nothing else, for the change. Uh-uh! Not until he goes! I'm far more determined than my dog is so eventually he learns this. And, in the end, these dogs come to love to do their business outside where it's more natural for them to go.

But he's likely trying to hold it until he's more secure and things are more familiar with him so you are just going to have to take a book or your iPad out with you and stay out there until he goes. Then give him a lovely treat and celebrate his big achievement, take him in and watch him until he settles down. I crate-trained my last two Yorkies very successfully using this method and both were totally clean in the house. I only put them in the crate when I couldn't have my eyes right on them as when I had to leave the room, do some chores or run an errand; otherwise, the dog was out in the house with me and being watched, taken out every 15 - 30 minutes all day and all evening long until he got the idea the outside yard was friendly and the best place to go potty, leaving all the "lovely" odors out there for the whole world to enjoy sniffing!!!! Once they prefer to potty outdoors, they will hold it for hours for the high privilege of getting to mark their outdoor territory for other dogs in the 'hood to smell! So this part requires a whole lot of time and patience but in time he'll get the idea where he needs to go and will also highly desire to go there.

I think your freefeed guy is going to have to have his food taken up to prevent new brother from eating it for now, otherwise your new guy will weigh twice his weight soon, unless you want to work your bottom off trying to teach the new guy to stay away from that full bowl and good luck with that! In time, maybe you can gradually work it out that both become freefeeders without the newbie overeating as he adjusts to how his brother is doing it. Some dogs do learn to free feed if another in the house who is the leader freefeeds and they want to follow in kind. Only time will tell that.

[cburkha1]

Thank you for the responses; I appreciate the help! He's done really well today!

[DBlain]

I had the same problem when I got a second yorkie, only my older was eating all the food, it was a pain but when I fed them I poured two bowls and put them on opposite sides of the room and then watched and kept them away from the other bowls. You can also separate them in different rooms, my older did not like it at first, but he got use to it. for housebreaking it will take patience, I would use a hanging jingle bell at the door ring it each time you take him out via leash and reward immediately after success. Eventually touch his paw to the bell, then before you know it, he will ring it himself. BTW welcome to YT

[Verbena]

You can also use a baby gate to separate them. Put their food on either side so they can see each other and be next to each other but can not get at each others food. I agree that maybe feed them three smaller meals 3 times a day might help. Good luck. Keep us posted

[Teresa Ford]

We have five Yorkies at different life stages, a senior,young adults and a puppy. I feed my dogs in their crates. That way I know who eats what and how much. No fights or food stealing.
We do this with fosters when Retraining where to potty, most get it in a few days.
If you work, start this lesson on the week-end.
The potty training will take time. I have found it is important to take them out on a leash, to a pre selected spot. If they don't go in about 2 or 3 minuets, go back in do not try to out wait him or make him stay out until he goes. Instead LEAVE the leash on his harness and your wrist inside the house. Doggies that are not fully potty trained do not have free run of the house. Continue to take him out every 1/2 hour or so until he goes. When he goes outside praise like crazy. If your yard is fenced, let him off the leash as a reward sniff and play time and let him follow you back inside. Best wishes, congrats on your new dog and Welcome to YT.