Yorkie and Chinchilla... not a goood mix!

[Cheska's Bella]

So my daughter's ninth birthday was Saturday and all she wanted was a Chinchilla. Her beloved Asian Box Turtle named Franklin had died about a month ago so after much thought, we decided to get one from a breeder in Toledo.

The Chinchilla (Charlie) is GREAT. Very friendly and tame. He's almost two months old so very young.

Bella is NOT happy about this new addition. She has been going NUTS peeing EVERYWHERE. This is NOT a normal thing for her. She occasionally has accidents but this is unreal. She's running around while peeing!!!

We're keeping the Chinchilla in my daughters room (in a safe spot where Bella can't get her) but Bella is going nuts trying to get in the room. We had it gated off but then Bella was "attacking" the gate. We shut the door but then Bella was scratching the door trying to get in. Not to mention barking and growling.

*sighs* Do you guys think she'll get used to it??? I had thought she might act up but this is more then I bargained for!!!

[chachi]

She might get used to it and be a little better but yorkies were originally ratters and I would never trust them alone in a room together.

[Yorkie3]

Since Yorkies were originally ratters, it's hard to say. Maybe if she could see it in a safe proof container she would get used to it, but knowing there is something alive and she can't even see it, just smell it, is probably driving her bananas.

[yorkieusa]

I doubt it. That's kind of like a mouse or rat to a yorkie. They will go nuts until long after the prey is gone.

[OLIVIA_KARHIS]

my bunny did this to my ferrets. We let her smell them and slowly she learned to like them. Before we left she was running around the house planing with them, along with my cats and there never hurt each other or fought. just played with each other..

My brother in law has my ferrets now and his wifes pugs plays with them all the time.

[YORKIE7]

My babies were like this with my hamster, i would put the cage down low and just let my babies watch her. They would shiver with excitement and cry and bark, but after about 2 weeks they were fine with her.

Yorkies are inquisitive and mine for one deffinatley dont like to think they are missing out on something

[carolina yorkie]

Jolene would like nothing more than to have Linny the Guinea for breakfast!! He has been in the family over two months and she still goes nuts! He is in a cage where she can see him and it drives her crazy...she'll forget about him for a bit and then it's on again. Good luck!!

[MyTrixie143]

It takes time for them to get used to them. They need to be taught to be gentle and calm and not to do any harm to them. I just introduced my chinchillas and rabbit to them a few day ago. They have always been in the cage in the same room but this was the first time I took them out of the cage for the smaller dogs to see. Of course I had the dogs in the playpens when I brought the chinchillas over to them. I am not sure if they will ever be allowed out as the same time as the chinchillas. They are fine with them, but when the chinchillas start running or hopping they want to chase after them, so I have to work with them on that. The rabbit they do good with.

Each dog is different. Some may never get along with chinchillas and rabbits while others are perfectly fine with a rabbit or chinchilla. Just work with her on it and very slowly expose the chinchilla to her, just make sure the chinchilla is secure in the cage, Good luck!!!

[chattiesmom]

Good luck. My son's girlfriend kept her rats at our house for a while. That is why I think Chizzie would be an excellent earthdog Everytime she could squeeze through the door going downstairs -- it stays shut except when someone is walking through -- down Chizzie went zeroed in on the rats.

Each dog is different, some have more of the hunting instincts still intact than others. With time and patience you can probably calm Bella down to the point where she is not marking all of her property

[Cheska's Bella]

WOW!!! Thanks everyone!~

I thought I was alone (LOL) in this!

Bella's over there now... whimpering... trying to get in the roooom. Poor thing. I actually feel bad!

[daisy mae06]

My daughter has two Rats. Yes tails and all. I have never had a problem with them and the yorkies. My lil Daisy shows more intrest than Kodi but she can have the rats out and they never bother them. but when we had a field moose get in the house(big dog brought it in) They went nuts. good luck I hope all gets better.

[JESSY_RN2B]

Originally Posted by yorkieusa

I doubt it. That's kind of like a mouse or rat to a yorkie. They will go nuts until long after the prey is gone.

I am glad that was not the case when I got a little dwarf hamster. My cat went nuts trying to 'catch' it............I had to supervise them at all times..........now the hamster walks all over him and he doesn't try to hurt it.

[Lorraine]

Originally Posted by Cheska's Bella

So my daughter's ninth birthday was Saturday and all she wanted was a Chinchilla. Her beloved Asian Box Turtle named Franklin had died about a month ago so after much thought, we decided to get one from a breeder in Toledo.

The Chinchilla (Charlie) is GREAT. Very friendly and tame. He's almost two months old so very young.

Bella is NOT happy about this new addition. She has been going NUTS peeing EVERYWHERE. This is NOT a normal thing for her. She occasionally has accidents but this is unreal. She's running around while peeing!!!

We're keeping the Chinchilla in my daughters room (in a safe spot where Bella can't get her) but Bella is going nuts trying to get in the room. We had it gated off but then Bella was "attacking" the gate. We shut the door but then Bella was scratching the door trying to get in. Not to mention barking and growling.

*sighs* Do you guys think she'll get used to it??? I had thought she might act up but this is more then I bargained for!!!

Sounds like Bella found her 'roots' being the ratters that Yorkies were originally bred for. Some Yorkies are worse than others for their instincts. From her reaction I just don't know if she will ever calm down but will constantly be devising ways to get into that bedroom. Be careful with her, they are smart dogs and she could get into a situation of doing herself harm in the process.

[Dorianyorkie]

Originally Posted by Cheska's Bella

So my daughter's ninth birthday was Saturday and all she wanted was a Chinchilla. Her beloved Asian Box Turtle named Franklin had died about a month ago so after much thought, we decided to get one from a breeder in Toledo.

The Chinchilla (Charlie) is GREAT. Very friendly and tame. He's almost two months old so very young.

Bella is NOT happy about this new addition. She has been going NUTS peeing EVERYWHERE. This is NOT a normal thing for her. She occasionally has accidents but this is unreal. She's running around while peeing!!!

We're keeping the Chinchilla in my daughters room (in a safe spot where Bella can't get her) but Bella is going nuts trying to get in the room. We had it gated off but then Bella was "attacking" the gate. We shut the door but then Bella was scratching the door trying to get in. Not to mention barking and growling.

*sighs* Do you guys think she'll get used to it??? I had thought she might act up but this is more then I bargained for!!!

Yorkies are known to be hunting animals. I do not know if your Yorkie will ever accept the chinchilla!