|
Welcome to the YorkieTalk.com Forums Community - the community for Yorkshire Terriers. You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. You will be able to chat with over 35,000 YorkieTalk members, read over 2,000,000 posted discussions, and view more than 15,000 Yorkie photos in the YorkieTalk Photo Gallery after you register. We would love to have you as a member! Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today! If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please click here to contact us. |
|
| LinkBack | Thread Tools |
12-23-2013, 09:02 PM | #1 |
YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Las Vegas, nv, USA
Posts: 9
| Help with a traumatic experience! My little yorkie, Jax,is almost 4 months old. Last night we went to dinner at a friends and when we came home 2 and 1/2 hours later he had his collar stuck in his mouth. We immediately got it unclipped, but he had been going crazy for a while trying to get it off, because the poor little baby's whole face and paws were soaked with slobber and/or tears. Even though we tried to follow the one to two finger rule for tightness, we feel horrible that it was too loose and got caught for who knows how long! (Needless to say we will either be getting a break away collar and/or not be using one at all in the house.) My problem is that my little guy is completely traumatized and subdued and even bit and growled at my baby when he touched the puppy's neck area. He has always had a very soft mouth and never acted the least bit aggressive or defensive before. He seems completely distrustful of us now, even though we had a great relationship established before. I'm worried that he just snapped, and I don't blame him. I can't have him growling at and biting my kids. How do I help him get over this traumatizing event? Any suggestions to help him trust us again? he is very treat motivated. Help me please! |
Welcome Guest! | |
12-24-2013, 06:57 AM | #2 |
Furbutts = LOVE Donating Member Moderator | First, WELCOME ! Give it some time, and I think he'll heal. What I might do is, while petting/massaging him inch my way up toward his neck and massage/pet/comfort that area until he gets more comfortable. See how he reacts when you're massaging that area, and keep trying. You want to have him associate that area of his body w/ positive things/actions again. You may want to create an association btwn his collar and treats too - that may help.
__________________ ~ A friend told me I was delusional. I nearly fell off my unicorn. ~ °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨° Ann | Pfeiffer | Marcel Verdel Purcell | Wylie | Artie °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨° |
12-24-2013, 08:12 AM | #3 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Where the deer and the antelope play
Posts: 7,069
| Welcome to YT. I'm sorry you went through this terrible and scary event with your puppy. I don't know how old your kids are and what they understand, but if your puppy is in pain or has a sore neck and muscles, his only way to communicate is to growl and bite to protect that region when touched. I think it would be good to give your puppy some time away from the children to heal, then maybe reintroduce them when he's feeling better. If your kids are older they should understand the importance of giving him some time and space as he heals.
__________________ Shelly and the girls Moka Mylee |
12-24-2013, 12:48 PM | #4 |
I♥PeekTinkySaph&Finny Donating Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Posts: 18,866
| Hi and Welcome to YT! I'm sure his neck is sore from this trauma, the skin may be chafed along with neck and mouth pain. If he does not show improvement, or has trouble eating, I would have the vet take a look at him, or if he continues to react painfully to handling by growling and biting. It will take time for him to heal, he should return to his normal loving self once he's feeling better. I wouldn't put him in situations around children until he's completely healed. He needs your support, protection, understanding, and extra TLC now and until he recovers.
__________________ Kat Chloe Lizzy PeekABooTinkerbell SapphireInfinity |
12-24-2013, 02:20 PM | #5 |
YT 1000 Club Member | Welcome to the Forum Mgraves04 I see some very intelligent in a informative recommendations here, but, that's the nature of this great Forum, and the People who frequent it. Our little ones are SO resilient, and their love for us overcomes just about anything that can happen. Just be patient and your little one will get past this, and be his normal loving self before long.
__________________ Dogs know that you love them, weather you own them or not Mbrs of YT Teapot Club: SNEAKERS since Apr 2011, Ichabod SOON ! RIP my darling Becca. |
12-24-2013, 03:02 PM | #6 |
Donating YT 30K Club Member | Like the others said, his neck may be sore and he's stressed from his ordeal. Im betting he will be back to his usual self in a few days. Maybe some extra treats will help.
__________________ Cali Pixie Roxie : RIP Nikki; RIP Maya;RIP my sweet Dixie girl 1/17/08 http://callipuppyscastle.bravehost.com/index.html |
12-24-2013, 04:36 PM | #7 |
Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2013 Location: Bear, Delaware, new castle county
Posts: 21
| Hope he is ok! Been in the same spot with scarves! I only put them on when we are around now! It's scarey! |
12-24-2013, 05:34 PM | #8 |
and Khloe Mae's too! Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Eastern Washington
Posts: 14,732
| I am so sorry your puppy had to go through with that. So scary. I would definitely give it some time... Try positive reinforcement by petting him and giving him treats. Also, have your children do the same so he associates them with positive things.
__________________ |
12-24-2013, 11:35 PM | #9 |
Rosehill Yorkies Donating YT Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Houston Texas
Posts: 9,462
| This very same experience is what taught me to never put a collar on my babies and leave them unattended again....all my dogs were immediately microchipped for ID purposes, and all their halters were personalized.....the dog involved in my experience, was older, but the trauma was worse. Mouth, jaws, neck, and front legs were so sore and bloody from the struggle this poor baby of mine put up, trying to get that collar out of his mouth, I cried for weeks over the event. It took several months before I could examine his mouth and teeth and neck area without him struggling....he had even abraided the inside surface of both front legs, where the poor soul had tried to grasp that collar and get it out of his mouth, all to no avail. From that day forward, I do not use collars on my babies, break away or otherwise. I caution my new owners if they insist on a collar for whatever reason, cat collors that break away are the only safe option. My cousin's little chihuahua hung himself in his crate when the rabies tag actually slipped thru the slit in the side of the carrier, and he struggled and twisted around, trying to get unhung. I never understood why she had a collar on her little dog, because I had already told her about what had happened to me and Dandee. I told her to pull collars off, and never put a dog in a carrier with a collar/tags on....unfortunately, she did not listen/learn, and it cost her little man his life. All we can do is learn from all out experiences with these babies...things can happen that would never occur to us. Your baby will eventually recover from this event, but it will take a while. Just go slowly...I used to kiss Dande on his cheek and face before his accident....for about two weeks after the incident, he would not allow that....but he slowly came around.....just take your time and cuddle and love and kiss on baby's face and cheeks, until he again associates pleasure and security with touching/feeling around on these areas. |
12-24-2013, 11:38 PM | #10 |
YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Las Vegas, nv, USA
Posts: 9
| Thanks everyone for all of the great info! Jax is doing better I think, but still not feeling 100% yet. He hasn't had anymore trouble nipping or growling thank goodness, and my kids have been very gentle with him. He is still crate training, and he has spent lots of time resting. He is still definitely not himself though, and is still subdued and skiddish. He is playing a little more though and I'm relieved to see small improvements. His mouth still hurts because the corners of his mouth got rubbed raw, and softening his kibble a bit has helped him eat. I really appreciate everyone's reassurances. |
12-25-2013, 02:57 AM | #11 |
YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: King County, WA
Posts: 3,817
| I was unaware of a collar issue... Thanks for the info.... We only put Gucci's collar on for walks..... he associates it with going "bye bye." He doesn't mind it but when we first got him a few months ago, he seemed to appreciate having it taken off. Now, I'm really glad we did. Thanks! |
12-25-2013, 11:03 AM | #12 |
YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Redondo beach
Posts: 675
| I would just be very gentle and soothing. Let him have his space and reward with treats when he does positive behaviors. I would also avoid collars all together. Like one of the other posters suggested, get a microchip, and for walks only use a halter such as the buddy belt or something that stays away from his trachea. That would be my main fear, is the trachea as yorkes are prone for collapsed trachea. You might want to have him checked by a vet just to make sure all is ok with your babies neck and trachea if he continues to not be himself. I have a friend that warned me of the issue after her pup died from someone putting a collar on him, and the trachea collapsing. Last edited by Sunnydayz; 12-25-2013 at 11:04 AM. |
12-27-2013, 11:51 AM | #13 |
YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Deer Park New York
Posts: 1,586
| I learned my lesson the hard way when my little yorkie and my shorkie were playing in the backyard. Our shorkie got her teeth caught in our yorkie's collar and almost killed him. Thank God we were right next to them and we were able to seperate them. We had to cut the collar off and it was a breakaway collar. I will never use a collar on any of our dogs again. When they go out we use a harness. The breakaway collars sometimes don't work and I would never trust one agin. |
12-27-2013, 06:55 PM | #14 |
YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: NY
Posts: 6,582
| He very likely is in a lot of pain not to mention the trauma. A dog that is in pain can react defensively so keep your little one away from him until he is doing much better. We keep a cat collar on Gracie that breaks away easily. I have it only to hold her ID tags. It is best never to put a regular collar on a Yorkie as they have a very delicate trachea. If you are going to walk your little guy find a good harness that does not touch the throat area for him. Hopefully his reactions have been due to the pain he is in and once he is feeling better he will be back to his usual loving disposition. Is he able to eat without any problem? |
12-28-2013, 11:17 AM | #15 |
YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Las Vegas, nv, USA
Posts: 9
| Jax seems fully recovered and back to his normal, loving, obedient self. Thanks so much for the great suggestions and help! |
Bookmarks |
Tags |
behavior issues, collar stuck, traumatized puppy |
|
|
| |
|
|
SHOP NOW: Amazon :: eBay :: Buy.com :: Newegg :: PetStore :: Petco :: PetSmart