My Yorkie has lost interest in me.

[tmbroo]

My Yorkie is 4 months old. We have had him now for about 6 weeks. In this time, I have showered him with love, fed him treats, gave him baths, let him SLEEP with me at nights....just a very warm and fuzzy kind of love. I was on CLOUD 9!! ..... then it happened. My husband began to play with him and show him attention and now it's like I don't even exist.


He won't snuggle with me, when I go to reach for him to pick him up or to help him on the couch, he runs. He won't even go to sleep with me at night anymore. When we go to bed he jumps down runs to the door and scratches and whines until I let him back out to my husband.


But the minute my husband is ready for bed.....Rex is ready and willing to go. I'm so sad. I feel like I have lost my lil buddy.

What did I do wrong? What can I do to win his attention back?

[Cha Cha]

Aww your post breaks my heart. Who is the primary care giver? Do you feed him? At 4 months their attention span is still very short, and they go through a lot of "stages" of development. My guess is this is one of those stages. Our dogs will readily go to anyone in the house, but when I am home, they prefer to be by my side, but I am the one they depend on for their basic needs most. I will say though, that it was well over 1 year before either one of them really settled in and attached to me. Don't give up. But if he doesn't change my only suggestion would be that your hubby has to go! jk.....

[Maximo]

I'm sorry you feel like Rex has abandoned you. Don't lose hope. He is young and it is probably a phase.

Be patient and don't try too hard to win his attention or affection. If he feels forced to do anything, he probably won't want to do it. This is especially true of cuddling, I believe.

Although some Yorkies do attach themselves to one person, many more can feel equally bonded to 2 or more people.

Are you the one who feeds Rex's meals or takes him outside? Make sure you are a source of fun and not just the disciplinarian, groomer, and taskmaster.

Don't ever make him feel trapped. For instance, my boys know they can come sit on my lap, but they don't have to stay. They can leave anytime. Throughout the day, I give them quick pats on the head, or a little scratch or rub here and there. That way they aren't scared that every time I look at them means they are going to be trapped.

[tmbroo]

I have to say that hubby may have to go! LOL Totally kidding. That comment made me laugh.


Yes, I am the one who feeds him and takes him outside and plays with him. But we all as a family do that. I guess he is starting to take notice that I am bit of a disciplinary. I am the one who puts him in his pen before leaving for work, I have been the one to take him to the vet for shots, scooping things out of his mouth that shouldn't be there....etc. So maybe he is becoming a little scared of me. LOL


I think I will try giving some of the bad stuff to other family members for awhile and see if that works.

[Cherie6446]

My Gina picked my husband to be "her person" and that never changed. I was ok until he came home and then it was all daddy. They had a wonderful relationship and I was ok with that. When I got Zoey I told my husband that she was going to be my cuddle bug. Luckily, this has happened. They know who their special person is and I don't think anything can change that.

[thelittleyorkie]

Somewhat related, but I think I read somewhere that the female dogs of the house tend to bond with the male figure in the family, and same for vice versa, male dogs tend to bond with the female figure in the family. Is it true? Obviously not in all cases, but in some cases.

[Danni_and_Penny]

Aww this is exactly what happened with me and my Penny. I made a thread a month or so about this and I had exactly the same situation.

She would always go to my fiancé even though I trained her, fed her, walked her, played, everything. I was devastated!

We figured out that I was also doing the things she didn't like, like wiping her eyes, brushing her, wiping her bum if she needed it, telling her off and my other half would just play and do the fun stuff. She was still always obedient for me, I just wanted all the love. She's my dog after all.

So we had a swap, my fiancé took over some of the brushing etc, and and the park I would make sure I played with her more. Made sure I fed her.

I know this sounds harsh, but I ignored her a little bit too, she seemed to come to me more.

But the most important thing we did, which was suggested by someone else here, was keeping happy. I think where I was annoyed about the whole thing as it upset me, she sensed it. They just know. I think it made her avoid me more. Every time I was at home whether fiancé was there or not, I just made sure I was happy and smiling with a happy tome of voice, even if she was with him.

Gradually she started choosing to sit with me instead, I was overjoyed! Anyway now she's 7 months old and it's so much better.

I guess it just takes time. Puppies are puppies I guess

[KeeganRiley]

Not to discount the experiences of others in any way--I have heard many people say that their Yorkies have a stronger attachment to one person than another--but your pup is so young, I'd hesitate to think that any particular preferences he shows now are necessarily permanent. Two of my three have been with me since they were infants and they have gone through so many phases of likes and dislikes--even food tastes can change suddenly. Just like there are times in a Yorkie's development when fears may be more likely to manifest, there are bound to be changes in other feelings as well. One of my Yorkies has "issues" but the other two have grown to be just as eager to be with either me or my spouse--15 months old and a 5 yr old recent rescue.
Don't give up! Even human babies can be temporarily a one-parent child.

[Lisa and Pic]

Have you tried a little clicker training? Piccolo loved that as a puppy and it really helped us form a bond.

[Verbena]

Originally Posted by Maximo

I'm sorry you feel like Rex has abandoned you. Don't lose hope. He is young and it is probably a phase.

Be patient and don't try too hard to win his attention or affection. If he feels forced to do anything, he probably won't want to do it. This is especially true of cuddling, I believe.

Although some Yorkies do attach themselves to one person, many more can feel equally bonded to 2 or more people.

Are you the one who feeds Rex's meals or takes him outside? Make sure you are a source of fun and not just the disciplinarian, groomer, and taskmaster.

Don't ever make him feel trapped. For instance, my boys know they can come sit on my lap, but they don't have to stay. They can leave anytime. Throughout the day, I give them quick pats on the head, or a little scratch or rub here and there. That way they aren't scared that every time I look at them means they are going to be trapped.

I agree with Kristin . . Keep your head up

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by tmbroo

I have to say that hubby may have to go! LOL Totally kidding. That comment made me laugh.


Yes, I am the one who feeds him and takes him outside and plays with him. But we all as a family do that. I guess he is starting to take notice that I am bit of a disciplinary. I am the one who puts him in his pen before leaving for work, I have been the one to take him to the vet for shots, scooping things out of his mouth that shouldn't be there....etc. So maybe he is becoming a little scared of me. LOL


I think I will try giving some of the bad stuff to other family members for awhile and see if that works.

I did not see Cha Cha's post until now, lol.

I like Lisa and Pic's idea too of clicker training to help form a bond. Yorkies love doing constructive things and feeling like they accomplished something. My boys feel important if I ask them to go to our mailbox to get the mail.

I also want to assure you that it is possible for a dog to bond to more than one person. My doggies are equally bonded to me and their grandpa who lives with us. In addition, I think Max would be thrilled to have my brother move in with us.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Here's a couple of suggestions to read, think over and use if you think it might work for you and your dog:

For starters, he's linking you to making him do things he dislikes and you probably don't like doing them much either. Maybe try getting very upbeat when you pen him - get really excited and happy, clap your hands, laugh and smile, and use the old "You Won The Prize!" anti-dog-barking technique to make it a happy time for him when he goes into the pen or goes to the vet, has his mouth cleaned of bits of things, nails done, bath, etc.

Make it hugely fun for him - dogs get excited and happy when we do - just fake it! Become a cheerleader! Cheerleaers may be breaking up with the star quarterback and their parents divorcing but there they are out on the football field cheering, clapping, jumping around wildly, whipping up enthusiasm, so you can, too! Make it believable - laugh, smile, act silly when you do the things he hates. He'll come to look at them differently. Dogs can't read us as readily as we think apparently because I can excite Tibbe greatly when doing things I just hate doing by acting happy and excited!

I hated doing Tibbe's toenails and so did he. Finally, I started calling his Gentle Paws machine a "Treat Machine", saying it's "Treat Machine Time!", while laughing, clapping, acting so excited and happy and he came to run to me after a while. He'd get his treat, we'd get his toenails done - which he still didn't love that much(because I hate it!) but at least now we're both in a much better frame of mind when we start it and finish and he's treated before and after and we both act happy about it.

Ask your family to put him in the pen the normal way whereas you are crazily happy, upbeat and smiling when he goes in. Toss in a small piece of luscious chicken or turkey hot dog, peanut butter in a kong every time you pen him or anytime possible when you something he doesn't like. I'd also try putting him in the pen for very short two-minute periods acting all happy and upbeat several times during the weekend and evenings when the family is home for a couple of weeks - you doing it all upbeat as if the dog just won the lottery and asking the others to just do it in the routine way.

Smiling, laughing, acting as if ya'll had just won a trip around the world on a luxury cruiser and inherited a billion. "Yahoo - Oh, BOY! Yes, yes, yes!!!! Time for the PEN! Yea! Yessssirreeeee!!!! Wahoo!!!!" Get really silly happy, handclapping, smiling at him as you go to lift him, laughing out loud. Keep up the happy banter all the way until he's penned and the kong tossed in and you walk away.

He'll have his kong(s) to keep him busy for up to 45 minutes when you go to work as you can feed him his breakfast in a series of kong toys, placing a portion of his food in each of several kongs. I usually feed Tibbe at least one of his daily meals in his kong toys and he loves working to get his dinner! He'll chose three kongs over a bowl of food anyday, given a choice!

Try to let up on the discipline and just use obedience training x3 minutes x2 or 3 daily working in an upbeat, happy manner training him to learn how to do obedience such as come, sit, stay, lie down, leave it, stop, bark on command, quieten on command, etc. He'll love the training if you give him loads of positive reinforcement when he gets it right and he'll begin to bond with you, respect you and look to you as a benevolent pack leader. Be confident, firm, matter-of-fact and upbeat/happy during the training - no military tones of voice but giving his commands in an upbeat voice, making him love the learning, eager for the work and the result of it - his "paycheck" - a treat and your smiling praise when he does it right. In time, and it will take some time for him to learn the "new you", you two will be a real team, firmly in love again.

Play hard to get - make him seek you out for the next few weeks. Don't initiate snuggling, kisses, picking him up unless necessary, etc. He needs to want to approach you and if you'll just ignore him for a while as you try these other things, he should begin to wonder why you are suddenly somewhat different, aloof and as soon as he begins to see a pattern of that, he will begin to approach you for affection.

ClickerSolutions Training Articles -- "You Won the Prize!"

[fifeandshaffer]

I've had my yorkie cooper almost four years I rescued him from a bad situation. I live alone but I have a boyfriend whom I see often. Cooper is 100% in love with him. When he comes I'm invisible. Ironically he won't let the bf walk him. In my mind cooper feels he should relax I should do the work lol
I think it super cute he loves my bf so much to be honest, but can understand your frustration. Coop is my third yorkie my first was clearly my dog, I could do no wrong and he was like Velcro to me, the second was great but was just as happy with others as me. I think cooper was abused by a woman and likes men much better. I have hardwood floors, it cracks me up when I walk in he stops to say hi but then sees the bf behind me he tries to get traction to get to him as fast as he can.
I agree with the other lady that said he is young and maybe if you share the not so fun tasks he will be your buddy again. I hope things get better.
Maybe try an obidence class or agility when he is a bit older.

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by Maximo

I did not see Cha Cha's post until now, lol.

I like Lisa and Pic's idea too of clicker training to help form a bond. Yorkies love doing constructive things and feeling like they accomplished something. My boys feel important if I ask them to go to our mailbox to get the mail.

I also want to assure you that it is possible for a dog to bond to more than one person. My doggies are equally bonded to me and their grandpa who lives with us. In addition, I think Max would be thrilled to have my brother move in with us.

I meant that the dogs come with me to get the mail. They are not talented or tall enough to get the mail out of the box themselves, lol.

[Nichelle02]

Originally Posted by Maximo

I meant that the dogs come with me to get the mail. They are not talented or tall enough to get the mail out of the box themselves, lol.

I was really impressed there for a minute!