Adopting a Yorkie

[Paisleyfinn94]

Hi everyone!
I apologize in advanced if these questions have already been discussed as I am new to this website and still trying to figure it out!

I have been wanting a female Yorkie for quite some time, however I am quite picky about where I would get a dog from as I would prefer to adopt. Well, I work at the SPCA and we RARELY get Yorkie's in. I came in for a shift the other day and saw somebody had given up their 5 year old female Yorkie! The past few days I have been getting to know her so I can officially decide if I am going to adopt her; she is going for surgery to get fixed this week then will be available for adoption. However, I did notice some issues which is what I was hoping you guys could help me with!
EXCESSIVE BARKING!
I know this can be a common thing within small breeds, but anyone that walks past, any dog ANYTHING she goes nuts! Since she is already 5, I am thinking it will be a little harder to train her out of it. Any tips on this? Has anyone been in this situation, if so what did you do to train him/her to stop?

I have been reading online about Yorkie's and have learned that they are hard to train to do their business outside. Is this true? She came from a lady that lived in an apartment so I am assuming this might be an issue.

I am hoping to do some socializing with her once I get her so she can be a little more confident as she shy's away a lot.

Sorry for the long thread but thank you so much for taking the time to read it and answer my questions!!

[BunnyGhourl]

Firstly it's so awesome you wanna adopt her. That's amazing!! You'll love having a yorkie, they're fantastic!! ^_^
For the excessive barking, I've never had a dog with excessive barking, i try to teach mine from little but since you couldn't you can still do it. She'll just needs more time, more praise and probably more love. Everytime she barks point at her and in a firm voice tell her to stop barking. If she stop, even just while you are pointing or talking praise her like 10 times more than you would with a puppy. I rhjnk that would work
Any dog is hard to train, i struggled with mine so so so much, i still do but he got the hang of it and things are so much better. To me, they're just as hard to train like any other dog, but it also varies from dog to dog. Some yorkies get trained easier whereas others don't. But all of it will be worth it with her. Adopt her, TRUST ME YOU WILL NOT REGRET THIS. And if you get suck we are all still here to help.

[MissPixi]

There are a few anti bark gadgets out there too. Like a box that emits a distraction tone (only dogs can hear) to discourage barking when she barks louder than you set it...
This might help get you going in the right direction as you are trying to command train her.
Good luck!
Please keep us posted

[Rachael1983]

Good for you to want to adopt this girl! I think you're two concerns you may run into any dog not just a yorkie. And with some dogs you will need to do some extra training and give more attention

* Barking, yorkies do bark but this girl sounds like she's in a kennel setting and has some anxiety about her location. I'd imagine some of this would subside in a home setting but she would alert you to any noises etc. But the anxiety will take some time. My concern with the barking is if she's fearful which could cause biting or ability to be around other dogs, the SPCA should be evaluating her for this so should alleviate some of that concern for you.

* Potty Training, I won't sugar coat this for you. My experience with 2 yorkies from puppy to adult is that it was and has been a struggle with potty training. You'll have to crate train to acclimate her to your home and rules but given she's 5 and may experienced using pottty pads you may want to start having options. If you don't have the patience because it can take some time and consistency on your end this dog may not be for you.

I do hope this helps. Good Luck.

[Wylie's Mom]

Hi and welcome to YT .

I volunteer 3x a week a a large no-kill SPCA shelter here in Phoenix. Personally, I think the way some dogs act in the shelter does not determine how they may act in a home where it's secure, quiet, loving, peaceful. For some dogs, the shelter environment is EXTREMELY stressful and it activates the heck out of them.

If this particular behavior did continue at home, I'd try something like the bark genie which is totally non-harmful but can startle them enough out of their bark trance.

At our shelter, we do allow "slumber parties" in certain cases so that someone can see how it go at home, prior to actually adopting. Is that an option for you...?

[Paisleyfinn94]

Thank you guys so much!
It's a bit difficult for me because my whole life I've grown up with giant breeds! I've always been a big dog person but something about this girl, I fell in love with her the second I looked at her!
I understand that she is in a shelter setting which DEFINITELY changes everything! Unfortunately, (to the last reply) we do not do slumber parties....I WISH we did though! I foster some dogs when they have heartworm, and are undergoing some other treatments and the difference in their personalities from in the shelter vs at home is amazing, it's like a whole other dog sometimes!
Maybe I am doing too much research on Yorkies?! Haha! I keep reading that they are crazy barkers and are extremely difficult to train to go outside! I plan on doing A LOT of socializing with her as I feel she needs to boost her confidence. We do assessments on all of our dogs but have not gotten to her yet! She really is a sweet girl and I will definitely take lots of time to train her! She should be ready to come home with me within the next few days, I'm so excited!

[gracielove]

It IS difficult to gauge what a dog's behavior will be when they are in a kennel. I'm sure she is desperate to get out of there. I can't imagine how terrified she must be having been abandoned by the person that raised her. Some little dogs get passed around though. Did they interview the owner to find out why the person was giving the dog up?

It is great that you want to adopt but please keep in mind that a dog that has been left at a shelter may indeed have some issues. She may need some extra love and some training to get her to the point of being the perfect pet.

I don't think Yorkies are any harder to train than other breeds BUT keep in mind that there are many disreputable breeders of small dogs these days that do not take into consideration that temperament can be effected by careless breeding.

When adopting a dog that you have little background on you are always taking a chance but most dogs are trainable with the right kind of love and patience. It may be a breeze or it may take some time. It is up to you to decide if you want to take a chance and put that kind of time and care into helping her adjust to a new life.

Yorkies are terriers that were bred to kill rodents in small areas. They have feisty temperaments. If you like a feisty temperament you will like the Yorkie but it may take time for her true personality to show through after what she has been through.

If you have never trained or lived with a Yorkie you may want to read up on them. Terriers are somewhat different to train. You have to work with their strong temperament and not against it. I hope all goes well for you.

[Paisleyfinn94]

A bit of an update:

I went into work today for a staff meeting and of course to see her and found out she was in surgery which means she's ready to come home tomorrow!
Big problem though, we have a "crazy man" I guess you could say that's been coming in every single day giving the adoption staff coffee and donuts and all that and coming to visit her and he's ready to come get her tomorrow....unfortunately I don't think they give staff first pick which kind of sucks for me because I have a bad feeling that he's going to end up getting her. I'm hoping for the best, I really want her!

[matese]

Welcome to YT, as for potty training, my experience with now 4 passed yorkies that I raised from 8 week old pups, they were 100% pad trained by 5 months old, at 7 months old they were 100% house broken. I have had poodles and mini Schnauzers, house breaking yorkies I found no diff. then the two other breeds.
This girl is 5 y/o, was an indoor baby. I would keep a pad down for her for just in case. Dogs prefer to potty out doors. Consistency is the key word for house breaking any dog. If fed twice a day, they must be fed every day the same time in the morning and evening, you cannot deviate from feeding time. Every dog is diff. as to after eating how soon they will have to go out, my dog needs to go out 10 minutes after he eats, some dogs 20 minutes some 30 minutes, so this will be a hit and miss until you figure how long it takes after she eats. If it was me, 15 minutes after eating I would take her out, if you leash walk her, walk her 15 minutes. If you have a yard that you choose to let her use, I would take her to the yard supervised by you 15 minutes after she eats, keep her out side for 15 minutes, they like to sniff everything. This is NOT play time for her so no playing, tell her what you want her to do, pee-pee or poo-poo what ever word you choose is what you tell her to do. After 15 minutes and she has not pottied bring her back in the house, wait 15 minutes and start all over again. You need to know your dogs clock, once you do be consistent with out time to potty. Feed same time every feeding, walk same times every day after eating, If you can walk in the afternoon, again it MUST be the same time every day. Schedule and Consistency is a MUST. You CAN house break an older dog. Dogs are creatures of habit, they get used to doing things like walks or outside time they have built in alarm clocks lol. When ever she does her business make sure you have treats on you when you take her out , give her a treat and praise like crazy, make a big happy fuss.
Sorry, I have no help for barking, I have never had a dog that was an excessive barker. I do hope you adopt her, if you LOVE her now that love will only grow deeper for her when she is yours. Good luck in your decision, and please keep us up-dated.

[Paisleyfinn94]

Hi everyone! Just wanted to say that I just brought Amelia home! Originally I was going to change her name to Paisley but I figured she's always been called Amelia so I might as well keep it

I was hoping I could get some advice on introducing her to my other dogs.
I have a 13 year old Sheltie/Collie and a Bichon/Shih Tzu , she barks insanely at them and lunges at them. I've been sitting them all beside each other for treats which seems to be working and I plan on taking them for a good walk together to kind of get used to each other but I was hoping you guys might have some other ways to introduce them a bit better?
Thanks!

-Alicia and Amelia

[lovestiny]

oh my gosh, how exciting~
as for the potty training, are you going to crate train? for me, we trained both our maltese and yorkie from the beginning with the crate and they were completely trained to go only outside within weeks. I know it might be a bit harder for a five year old. Has the barking slowed down since she is home?

[matese]

Happy dance on the mountain today, how wonderful you were able to get her. If I remember correctly you have BIG dogs, sounds like lining them up for treats is working. Walking all together is an excellent way to get her use to them. Keep in mind, everything is new to her, you will need a lot of patience with her until she gets use to her new home and new sisters and brothers, lots of praise and treats when she does good, no scolding when she doesn't do what she's supposed to, correction only. It can a few weeks for her to feel safe,comfortable and secure, and to trust you and her canine family. I am so happy for you that you were able to adopt her, she is a lucky girl to have you as her mama. Since she was an inside dog only she was not socialized with dogs, this may take time for her to adjust to. Hopefully other more experienced members who have had these issue can offer up suggestions. I have never ran into these issue with any of my passed girls. (((hugs))) I am so happy for you.

[Paisleyfinn94]

I guess I should clarify a bit more about my home life- right now I am staying with my Aunt for a bit, the Sheltie and Shih Tzu are her dogs, and they have already been getting used to each other, she is accepting them a bit more now!

At MY house I have an Old English Mastiff. He is a HUGE suck! Would never hurt a thing, I just know if she goes after him he'll run and hide behind thing and I don't want her to hurt him, I'm hoping it'll be the same as when she met my aunts dogs but we'll see!

As for potty training, she is so good with waiting to go outside! Everytime I let her out she goes pee and waits at the door to come in! She's so good!

But I do have a really huge issue. She's been okay with everybody in the house except my Aunt. She does not like her at all. She barks at her and lunges at her everytime she sees her but what I was thinking is my Aunt was having a bad day yesterday, and she was in a really bad mood when she met her so I'm just thinking maybe she picked up all the bad energy from her instantly and got a bad feel for her.
I'm hoping soon she'll trust her and actually like her eventually but I just don't want her to bite!
Sorry for all the questions everyone, but I really appreciate the help!

[gracielove]

Your dog just went through being abandoned at a shelter and is now being exposed to a whole new environment with new people and pets. She is probably very confused and scared.
I would suggest putting an comfortable harness with a leash on her and keeping her near you all the time when you are there. It will help her feel more secure. Sometimes giving them the whole new home to roam is just too much for a smaller dog to adjust to all at once.
Maybe when you are not there you could confine her away from pets and people that upset her. I don't crate but in this case maybe a smaller room where she can feel secure when you are not there might help.
I would not be at all surprised about her behavior. It is a scary world for small dogs especially when they have been through what she has.

[Paisleyfinn94]

That's what I've been doing, I've kept her on a leash this whole time. When she is on the couch with me she will growl and lunge at anything or anyone that walks by so I'm keeping her off the couch now. When we are in my room alone she will growl and bark everytime she hears someone talk or walk past my bedroom door, I have been correcting her and giving her treats when she listens. I get that it's going to take a lot for her to adjust but she's being very aggressive, I am also taking her to obedience classes within the next few weeks, I'm hoping this will help her as they were recommended to me.