Grieving Yorkie?

[dalady25]

Hi Yorkie Lovers ,

I am brand new to this site (my first post). I do not own a Yorkie, but dearly love the ones I do know & have been around. I am considering getting my own after recently losing my own beloved 13-year-old mini-schnauzer.

From time to time I "babysit" a good friend's 3 YO Yorkie & have several friends who own Yorkies. So, I'm trying to learn more about them than what I have found on general internet sites. Also, I feel that what 35,000 true Yorkie owners-lovers have to say about their own personal experiences with Yorkies is the most valuable.

My situation-problem- & question today:

All my friends & most of my neighbors know that I am a true dog lover, so last week when a nice neighbor asked me to help her find a good home for her beloved 3 YO Yorkie, She said & I observed (after several hours) that the dog was a wonderfuI, sweet, loving, well-behaved dog. Therefore, I was only too glad to help. The owner was an older lady who recently divorced; had an adult son with a brain injury who recently came to live with her & was facing a move to another state. She felt that with all of this going on, she could no longer care for her Yorkie. So, I immediately began calling my dog-lover friends. The mother-in-law of one of my very good friends' had recently lost her elderly Shih Tzu & wanted her. She has now had her about 10 days. The dog seems to love the lady, but is very fearful of the owner's husband & has bitten the lady's 7 yo granddaughter. The granddaughter's mother (my friend) says that her daughter did nothing to aggravate the dog, but rather only bent over to pet her. I called the original owner. She was astounded; said the dog had never done anything like that before; had always played with her own young granddaughter & never (to her knowledge) been abused.

Are Yorkies generally just one-person dogs? The new owner is now trying to decide whether to try to find the dog a good home somewhere else or is there hope that the dog will become acclimated to the new owner & new situation?

Any comments or suggestions? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[My lil friend]

This is just my personal observation. Most dogs will not charge a child or snap,unless they have a history of being misstreated by children or the current child is picking in some way on them. Given that this little dog has just been moved to a new home,they should give him some space to get used to all of the new surroundings and new people and not just assume that he is going to behave as he always has. He misses his previous owner,is confused not understanding why the owner that he has knows for 3yrs is suddenly gone. Maybe a gate between children and dog for a short time so he can get used to the new surroundings,people and mostly children in a safe way.

[MandiesMom]

A yorkie can adjust and love a new human. This yorkie is 3 years old and all of the sudden in a new environment and away from the home she knew. She's scared. The new owner is just going to have to be consistent in assuring the pup that it's secure and loved and safe.

Yorkies react to children differently. If this one had never been around a small person, it is probably freaked out by be bent over and reached for. Suggest to the lady that her granddaughter not run and make sudden moves around the dog (even if the child is not interacting with the dog..those movements that children make can freak a small dog out). Maybe have the girl sit down on the floor and have a treat or toy and call the dog to her. Let the girl give play time and treats so the pup understands she is ok. But again..even my yorkie "pees" a little if someone (even an adult..even me) bends down over her and reaches to pick her up. I always get down on the floor to her level and call her to me to pick her up.

Patience is definitely a must in this situation..it's new for everyone and the pup can't voice what it's feeling or thinking like the human can.

[horsnaround]

So much new for this poor little dog. It probably is still scared and wondering what the heck just happened to its life. It will take time to adjust to its new surroundings and people. And maybe have people being around and them not reaching for it. Let the dog come to you. Jmo

[rubymoon2072]

shes probably very scared...shes been rehomes thats a transition she needs to get used to and new owners. my yorkies are very scared of children and run and hide from them.....so imma gonna say maybe the lil girl scared her when going to pet her or something. i hope it all smoothes out but she needs time to trust and obsorb her new surroundings.

[celstu1]

My dogs HATED my nephews and Fletcher used to lunge and snap whenever he was in my lap and my nephew came near him/me. I had to repeatedly put him in another room for fear he'd actually bite my nephew, and usually I would put him away from me if he did that to my nephew because it was a territorial thing. It has taken over a year, but he is coming around. My boys get VERY excited when my nephews come in, wagging like crazy and getting squeaky toys, but they still don't want to be touched by little kids. Which is hard because little kids just LOVE the little dogs!
My boys were never abused or anything, they just grew up in a house with just me. No kids around them, not a lot of commotion/stimulation.

Now this Yorkie just went to a new home with new people, everything is new and I'm sure scarey. Nothing smells like her, and then throw a child in the mix. She's probably a tad depressed, nervous and scared. Tell your friend to let the Yorkie have a few mins smelling her granddaughter, saying hello and then put her in a room with her bed, blanket, food, toys, etc... give them space for 30 mins, then let her back out. Keep doing this over weeks or months giving a little more time every couple weeks with them together. The Yorkie will adjust to the new environment and she'll either love her granddaughter or avoid her at all costs.

[SophieKatesMom]

Sophie Kate has never bitten a child but I can tell you from experience she is not a fan of all kids. I have some rules with kids when it comes to her for both her protection and theirs.

I feel it is very important that with a child (or anyone new) when they approach the dog they give the dog a chance to either ignore them or give them a "sniff". A person should never make an assumption that a dog is friendly and reach for it even if it is to pet. I have that issue a lot with strangers they feel really comfortable petting Sophie Kates head, she prefers her back to be petted.

I would let the dog approach the child with adult supervision, let them both see if they want to build a relationship.

[sganow]

Our 3 yr old yorkie Maggie changed after we moved. Her daddy got a new job out of state and was away for a couple months until the house sold. Maggie was in a very deep depression and changed damatically. When we moved to Texas, she was SO glad to be back with her daddy, but has never really been back to the way she was before. She used to love everyone and now she freaks out and tries to bite anyone she has seen or met here and always tries to bite strangers, even adults and kids that come over frequently. We have to put her away whenever someone comes over. She still remembers people she knew before we moved and is fine with them, even some people that she barely knew. We have been here in Texas now for 2 years and she still hasn't been quite the same as she was before.

This is a life changing event for that poor little dog. She will need time to adjust and will need a lot of patience. They will need to work with her carefully and let her know that this is her new home and that it is ok. As mentioned before, kids make these little dogs nervous. They have to be careful to not move too quickly and not to just reach for the dog. I agree that letting the child help feed the dog and offer treats, etc may help. I think they need to give it a little more time and work with the dog more. They need to try to understand the dog. Her whole world has been turned upside down and she may actually never be the same, just like our little Maggie.

[chestermama]

I would to say she is scared, they react just like people do, she needs patience and time to adjust

[gracielove]

Yorkies are very sensitive creatures. But any dog would be overwhelmed by being taken from the home it has known all it's life and placed with strangers. Not knowing the actual history of both families it is hard to say what is actually going on. Sometimes we think we know people but at home the story may be quite different than what we assume.

Some small dogs do not like children and some do. They ones that are a bit nervous probably should not be around kids. Who knows what had actually taken place before the dog bite the child? I would suspect it was not out of the blue as it has been presented.

[navillusc]

I quite agree with what's been said. Brody and Mia are both very personable, well adjusted, well socialized, and love love love people and attention. However, Mia is a bit more easy going at times with strangers, especially children, shying back with some of them...the louder, shriekier, rowdier ones. Brody has a 'line' he's established for himself as "King" of his "universe" and 'some' dare not cross. So far, he's been wagging the whole time and his body language is not one of aggression...warning, rather, that 'there are rules'...Brody's rules...which must be obeyed. He has been absolutely great with some children who come running up and just reach out to pet...other children he seems to distrust and perhaps 'dislike' from a distance...he's shown the same behavior with some adults, too...with no observable provocation on their part. Perhaps it just something he alone 'senses' from their presence...dunno.

Just because the 'doggie' is little and cute is no reason to assume or treat the dog as if you are 'old friends' with the pup...you could come away with quite a bruise or puncture.

I think there is a good chance that they just got off on the wrong foot due to all the upset in the Yorkie's life. However it goes...adjustment or second re-home, I hope the Yorkie's life reaches a new normal quickly. That poor baby's life is completely upside down at present...I cannot even imagine how awful it'd be for them if Brody and Mia were uprooted now.

My heart also goes out to the lady who had to give up her 3-year-old Yorkie. That alone had to be a horrible experience, but on top of everything else she's going through, seems like only the tip of a nasty iceberg.

[BellarousasMom]

Originally Posted by celstu1

My dogs HATED my nephews and Fletcher used to lunge and snap whenever he was in my lap and my nephew came near him/me. I had to repeatedly put him in another room for fear he'd actually bite my nephew, and usually I would put him away from me if he did that to my nephew because it was a territorial thing. It has taken over a year, but he is coming around. My boys get VERY excited when my nephews come in, wagging like crazy and getting squeaky toys, but they still don't want to be touched by little kids. Which is hard because little kids just LOVE the little dogs!
My boys were never abused or anything, they just grew up in a house with just me. No kids around them, not a lot of commotion/stimulation.

Now this Yorkie just went to a new home with new people, everything is new and I'm sure scarey. Nothing smells like her, and then throw a child in the mix. She's probably a tad depressed, nervous and scared. Tell your friend to let the Yorkie have a few mins smelling her granddaughter, saying hello and then put her in a room with her bed, blanket, food, toys, etc... give them space for 30 mins, then let her back out. Keep doing this over weeks or months giving a little more time every couple weeks with them together. The Yorkie will adjust to the new environment and she'll either love her granddaughter or avoid her at all costs.

Bella does the same thing. She's all over my grands and after about an hour or two, she will lunge and snap at them and she will literally for no reason charge at them. I too will put her in the bedroom until she calms. She also came from a house with a two year old, and I don't the treatment she got from her. One of my grands usually keeps her distance while the other tries to play with her. Last night I caught giving a Bella a swat with a fly swatter so I, yes, being Mimi swatted her back with it and explained she mustn't do that or she will be swatted. So the fly swatter was put up.

[dalady25]

I've been around animals all my life & couldn't agree with you more. But, I know this child's mother (a VERY good, long-time friend), the child & the whole family. I truly believe the child didn't pick at the dog. Your suggestion about giving the little dog time & space and to put a gate between the dog & the child sounds like another excellent idea.

Thanks so much for your input!

DAlady25

[MandiesMom]

Yeah, the child probably did nothing wrong..it's just small people and their normal movements and such that freak out little dogs sometimes..nothing she did wrong or picking at the dog.

[dalady25]

Hi MandiesMom,

Very good suggestions. I'll be sure to pass them along. Thanks so much!

DALady25