Worried mommy or too overprotective?

[Kc757]

Well I have had my Bella for about a month now and she is going on 16 weeks already and boy is she big LOL. She has a ton of hair and a big ol belly to match lol(but I still love her the same). She is doing so good and is officially a tomboy. She loves to run, play, jump and even bark at you from time to time just to get your attention to play with you or boss you around. We love her so much and the whole house treats her just like another family member because she is. She is truly spoiled! We can't even go to a store without buying stuff for her even if it's just a toy or new hair brush. Last weekend I brought craft materials so I can make her an overnight tote bag in case we go out of town lol. She is doing so much better with potty training, where she will whine to go outside to poop and pee or will use the pad if we are gone for an hour or two or in the middle of the night when we are sleep. She loves to eat treats and her dad(my bf) gives her organic goats milk sometimes as he has had some experience in raising dogs and said goats milk is healthy for them. Recently I have noticed she doesn't eat a lot and she sleeps like all the time. I dunno if maybe because she is still a baby or because she sometimes gets bored. We play with her all the time and my bf is home with her during the day until i get home so he takes her for walks and she gets to play with him. We feed her Cesar dog food(which at first she loved) and she will sniff and eat a little but then just walks away. She doesn't go back to it until later that afternoon(when we feed her in the morning) or later that night(when we feed her in the afternoon). It's obvious she is hungry because she will stare at our food or try and take food from us if she hears a bag of chips lol. I dunno if we should change her food or just continue to feed her the same brand but it has me a little worried. She is getting older day by day and her weight has picked up but I do not want her to get sick or have low blood sugar as I have been reading about some of the health issues yorkies can have. She still runs and plays like normal and act like she is ok. I always find myself worried about her whether she is sleeping or when im work because she is my first and only baby. I don't have any kids and this is really the first dog I have ever cared for and owned. I helped raise my mom's dog who is a shih tzu but he was my mom's dog and back then I only helped but never was truly the sole person responsible for him. I get emotional because we have formed a huge bond with Bella and we both love her so much. I could never imagine something happening to her. I had an incident last week where before work I took her in the yard to pee one morning and our neighbor was coming one the street with his two labs. Normally he walks on the side walk on the other side of the street but when he saw us outside he decided to switch sides. I turned my back one minute and one of his dogs almost tried to grab at her but only barked before bella was quick enough to back away(she was on her leash as well) She was scared but barked right back at him until he got out of distance from her. I was mad because for one the neighbor didn't apologize(he is really nasty and mean anyway) and for two he didn't try and pull away until after the dog tried to come at Bella or until after i pulled her away. Clearly you were too close in my yard to be walking your dogs when my dog was in our yard minding her business. Also why did you decide to switch sides when you saw us outside, like he did it intentional. Needless to say I was pissed but I know to be more careful and haven't seen him since walking his dogs by our yard. I checked her right after and she didn't have any marks or bruises on her so she is ok. I told my bf about it and he was mad as well and said he wasn't going to take her out as much anymore only to potty but we hate having her confined to one room all day. I dunno if I should be worried or am I just be too overprotective?

[Yorkiemom1]

You have need to be protective of your baby....you have the smaller dog and the potential for serious injury or death resulting from an encounter with another dog, is a very real concern and one you must CORRECTLY and appropriately analyze, evaluate, and take appropriate action to prevent injury to your dog.

I am not a beliver in exposing my dogs to all the neighborhood animals, along with their fleas and God only knows what other things carried/spread by strange dogs, back to my home and yard. What your dog has never seen, he does not sit and dream about, feeling abused or like he is missing out on the wonderful adventurous life of a street smart dog. He only knows/remembers/misses what he has been exposed to....jogging around the block twice a day is YOUR idea of fun, not his.....dog parks and "visiting" with every unknown strange dog in a 15 mile radius, is YOUR idea of a fun time, not his.....running alongside you, on 4-5 inch tiny legs, as you bike around the 5 mile park trail, is a ball for you, not his idea of a great way to start his day, it is yours.....now once he gets out there and sees what all he can get into, he will add those adventures to his memory banks and a great time will be had by all.....but do not feel like you need to expose your dog to other vicious dogs where he may get severely injured or even killed, in order for him to be the best he can be!

If you enjoy doing those activities, your dog can join you and once he has done it, he MAY love it, unless of course he experiences a traumatic encounter....but YOU must be ever vigilant and protective and realize other dogs can kill your dog, and strangers love to steal Yorkies, as the resell value is great with very little effort on the thief's part, and they move quickly. It is imperative you think well ahead and outside the box.....you have to be way ahead of possible situations in order to protect your dog that depends on YOU to keep him safe. I have had to chase down "sweet people" that adored my little dog and wanted to hold him....they then broke and ran with him clutched tightly in their arms...I got my dog back in the parking lot, but NO ONE touches my dog when we go out in public....all you have to say is "He bites, dont touch him!" I never let people handle my son when he was a baby, and no one handles my dogs when we are out.

There are people out there that will say, "OMG!! She is so scared of things that may not ever even happen!!!" True....but my dogs do not KNOW hanging out car windows as we drive around town....my dogs do not know getting passed around crowd in public areas.....my dogs do not know running the streets, without a leash and ID collar on....my dogs do not know not taking treats from strangers.....I would never forgive myself if something happened to one of my babies because of something I had not realized was a danger, and allowed them to be put in harms way....and I sleep very well at night....so far! I may very well loose a dog to something I have not thought of first.....that will devastate me, and I just do not want to be in that place!

[Jkpal]

You have need to be protective of your baby....you have the smaller dog and the potential for serious injury or death resulting from an encounter with another dog, is a very real concern and one you must CORRECTLY and appropriately analyze, evaluate, and take appropriate action to prevent injury.
Amen-amundo! You may want to take a second and read my recent post about trusting my instincts after almost losing Piper. I don't give damn about what people think about my defense moves/posture regarding Piper; she is everything to me, they are nothing.

[anneclaire]

Also ig I may suggest changing food. I have heard alot about that kind and it hasnt all been good. Maybe try Royal canine ?? The reason he is gaining is maybe too much wet food ? he needs more dry and less wet. i give my girl 1/3 cup dry with 1/2 t of wet mixed in twice a day. I am no expert but it works for us.

[Jellymint]

Jerk! Your neighbor. Why are people like that. Never understood that. Well now you know and if you see him out and about you can pick up your wee one and keep her away from him and his energy.

My Monty can be incredibly fussy too. He will like a food and then for no apparent reason not like it. Instead of switching food, I play with his kibble. He gets RC kibble with a tablespoon of high energy wet food. I'll wet down the kibble and warm it 10 seconds in the microwave. Sometimes I'll parmesan cheese sprinkle. Sometimes I'll crumble some liver treats on top. Sometimes I'll mix with the wet food. Sometimes I'll play a game with him and get him doing tricks and hand feed him in bits. Sometimes I'll just leave it and he'll eat it eventually.

As long as he is playing happily and sleeping and pooping/peeing okay I am not too concerned if he doesn't eat the same amount every day.

Congratulations on your little girl. It sounds like you are enjoying her very much and she obviously is enjoying you!!

Don't let the "jerks" of the world win in your minds. By you making your Bella the MOST important .... everything else just kind of slips away.

[Jkpal]

Don't let the "jerks" of the world win in your minds. By you making your Bella the MOST important .... everything else just kind of slips away.
You're very wise and wonderful, Jellymint!

[JennaPenny]

Originally Posted by Yorkiemom1

You have need to be protective of your baby....you have the smaller dog and the potential for serious injury or death resulting from an encounter with another dog, is a very real concern and one you must CORRECTLY and appropriately analyze, evaluate, and take appropriate action to prevent injury to your dog.

I am not a beliver in exposing my dogs to all the neighborhood animals, along with their fleas and God only knows what other things carried/spread by strange dogs, back to my home and yard. What your dog has never seen, he does not sit and dream about, feeling abused or like he is missing out on the wonderful adventurous life of a street smart dog. He only knows/remembers/misses what he has been exposed to....jogging around the block twice a day is YOUR idea of fun, not his.....dog parks and "visiting" with every unknown strange dog in a 15 mile radius, is YOUR idea of a fun time, not his.....running alongside you, on 4-5 inch tiny legs, as you bike around the 5 mile park trail, is a ball for you, not his idea of a great way to start his day, it is yours.....now once he gets out there and sees what all he can get into, he will add those adventures to his memory banks and a great time will be had by all.....but do not feel like you need to expose your dog to other vicious dogs where he may get severely injured or even killed, in order for him to be the best he can be!

If you enjoy doing those activities, your dog can join you and once he has done it, he MAY love it, unless of course he experiences a traumatic encounter....but YOU must be ever vigilant and protective and realize other dogs can kill your dog, and strangers love to steal Yorkies, as the resell value is great with very little effort on the thief's part, and they move quickly. It is imperative you think well ahead and outside the box.....you have to be way ahead of possible situations in order to protect your dog that depends on YOU to keep him safe. I have had to chase down "sweet people" that adored my little dog and wanted to hold him....they then broke and ran with him clutched tightly in their arms...I got my dog back in the parking lot, but NO ONE touches my dog when we go out in public....all you have to say is "He bites, dont touch him!" I never let people handle my son when he was a baby, and no one handles my dogs when we are out.

There are people out there that will say, "OMG!! She is so scared of things that may not ever even happen!!!" True....but my dogs do not KNOW hanging out car windows as we drive around town....my dogs do not know getting passed around crowd in public areas.....my dogs do not know running the streets, without a leash and ID collar on....my dogs do not know not taking treats from strangers.....I would never forgive myself if something happened to one of my babies because of something I had not realized was a danger, and allowed them to be put in harms way....and I sleep very well at night....so far! I may very well loose a dog to something I have not thought of first.....that will devastate me, and I just do not want to be in that place!

Yeah- this. Almost. I'm not experienced like Yorkiemom, however, my little gal is afraid of no one and nothing. She tries chasing the feral cats in our neighborhood, she goes after big dogs with excitement. As careful as I am, there are still the owners of dogs in our complex who let them poop and off leash, as if they are above rules. She's contracted Giardia from the dude in the condo right in front of us, I'm almost CERTAIN of it. He loves leaving the bombs on the grass, and they are HUGE and tar black. He's done this right as we watch, too. Right in front of our condo, and the rest of the people on our lane. Myself and husband, along with a few other people pick them up.
I've had one woman with two very fat and HUGE chihuahuas just unleash her dogs and ask leashed owners I hope YOUR dog is friendly- that's just two examples. I'm a nervous wreck by the time I'm done walking her, and I've taken to leaving the complex, something dog friendly, to walk her now.

Random people think my puppy is a toy for their enjoyment, and scoop her up before I say No. Then act totally offended that I've said no. It's a never ending battle. I am in agreement with keeping them AWAY, unless in a controlled environment (like obedience training for me) or, if you don't do that, better to keep them safe.

These little guys do NOT know they are small. It's a great trait, but nerve wracking when you have bigger dogs milling around. Also, if that isn't enough, I'm a court tv addict- youtube. I can't tell you how many yorkie cases I've seen attacked by other dogs.

We are their protection, and people just don't think sometimes. Better to be safe than sorry for sure.