Playing with other animals - YorkieTalk.com Forums

bld2751 · 11-22-2004, 07:17 AM

For Thanksgiving, we will be taking Hercules to our parent's houses. My boyfriend's parents have an older dog, and his brother has a dog that is maybe 2 years old. Both are bigger (I don't know the type) and I'm kinda worried about Hercules being around them? I feel silly, but I'm very protective of Hercules, since he's only 2 pounds and they are soo much bigger than him! How protective do you think I should be?? I know I'm supposed to let him socialize with other animals, but I don't want him to get hurt!!

Babbie · 11-22-2004, 07:28 AM

If you know the other dog's temperament and trust it, i think there will be not a problem just don;t leave them unantended. Nobody told yorkies that they are tiny and as a terrier they are a tough little cookie and will fight a dog of any size. So proceed with care...

bld2751 · 11-22-2004, 07:48 AM

Believe me, I know all about Hercules not knowing how small he is! They are good dogs overall that he'll be around, and I would definitely watch them closely, so I'm guessing it would be ok. But I can't help how scared and worried I still am!!

Gypsy Rose · 11-22-2004, 08:13 AM

I can understand your concern! Best I find to let dogs meet outside the house first of all if the weather is good (it's no-one territory then really) - just watch them very carefully, maybe take/borrow a baby gate with you so if necessary one can be separated? Hope all goes well! Ana xx

bettyeanne · 11-22-2004, 08:23 AM

One thing I have found is that all animals are unpredictable!! I don't think you can ever be too over-protective of your Yorkie baby. Their personality is so agressive while their temperament usually is not. They just want to be friendly and playyyyyy!!

My son has a very well behaved border collie and she is always the lady ... but ... she hates Toto with a passion!

I think if she had her way she would snap Toto in half!

I totally understand why ... she is as spoiled as any Yorkie on this forum!!

I believe I would just "proceed with caution". Stay close by without hovering and if you sense a problem just scoop little Hercules up ... that's the way I handle it with "Her Highness" Missy the border collie!! Have a great time and do let us know how Hercules handles his socializing!!

fasteddie · 11-22-2004, 09:19 AM

Let them try to play and socialize, but just be careful, as a romp or accidental step by the bigger dogs can hurt your Yorkie... Should be fun though! When Yoda was little, he was ALWAYS carried around like a little prince.

sngglz · 11-22-2004, 09:21 AM

I don't blame you I would be the same way with charlie. I don't won't any of those big dogs to get my little charlie.

mybirdys2003 · 11-22-2004, 10:56 AM

This is really hard, isn't it? I take mine to my daughter"s house with me, though. She has two bigger dogs, One is scared to death of her! (What is this thing running around me?) and the other is older and can be a little annoyed. I keep the leash on her and the harness for a while until I see how it is going. That way, you can pull her up without hurting her. I also put the leash around the chair when we are eating so that she is always close to me. Also, if you have a crate, you can bring that and if things are not going too well, put her in her crate.
Better safe then sorry! Pat

Maddie-Rudy-Mom · 11-22-2004, 01:19 PM

Like all have said it's better to be safe and he is your baby and you don't want anything to happen to him. When I go to my parents beach house I take a baby gate so that when we go some place I can separate them and I think they feel safer in my room with all my thing there. It is a three ring circus there with my three and they have three. Rudy doesn't know he is little and will go up againest any big dog. I always tell him they are going to pee on your head

.............Cindy

Fran42478 · 11-22-2004, 01:28 PM

I too had the same concern re: Sammi interacting with a large dog, since my sister has a pitbull mix...I must say Sammi interact more with him than my moms maltese who is her size

Storm (the pit-mix) lets Sammi jump on his back and ride him around like a horse! It is the funniest thing to see! Storm is 11 months old and 70 lbs

Sammi is almost a year old and 9.5 lbs! Go figure she would prefer him over the Maltese

bld2751 · 11-22-2004, 02:21 PM

That sounds cute - Sammi riding on the pitbull! You have to get a picture of that for us!

Junebug · 11-22-2004, 05:18 PM

If your baby is only two pounds, I would not let her near two big dogs that you don't really know the temperment of.

Yes, you are right that puppies should be socialized, but you never know what the other dogs have been exposed to. As nice as a 50-pound dog may seem, they don't know their own strength and might accidentally hurt your dog. At two pounds, I think it's best to socialize with other puppies or smaller dogs.

One thing you can do is hold your dog all night, since he is only two pounds! You can never be overcautious.

Fran42478 · 11-22-2004, 05:39 PM

I agree with Junebug, some of the big ones do not know their own strength...I do not leave Sammi unsupervised with Storm, because he is a huge dog compared to her...But I personally would not keep her away from him due to his size...I have put her with my moms malt and she just pounces all over him, he gets sooo annoyed growls then swats at her like a cat

Its very funny

I posted some pics of Sammi and Storm playing Tug of War

http://www.yorkietalk.com/gallery/sh....php/photo/260

Enjoy

Fran

Ranger · 11-22-2004, 07:31 PM

You know it's funny Ranger prefers bigger dogs over small ones to interact with. His best friend is a 2 yr old border collie but for some reason he dislikes our neighbors chi and boxer. I would just watch the behavior of the other dogs, some get too excited and pounce on the little guys; and like everyone has said they should be supervised at all times.

Brittie123 · 11-22-2004, 08:42 PM

It is hard because if you act too overprotective they will sense that and might act scared, but if you aren't protective enough, he might get hurt. When I introduced Mia (1.5 lbs) to my roommates new dog (she rescued a 35 lb cocker/golden retriever mix) I was so nervous, because Mia LOVES everybody and every dog she meets, and always wants to play immediately. I got on the floor with them and Mia got up on my lap so she was on Bailey's level, they sniffed each other, and after that he was very gentle with her. He does have a very gentle personality though, so I would just get there and evaluate the dog's personality.

And now look who are the best of friends!

http://www.mylittlemia.com/Mia_Bailey_111.jpg http://www.mylittlemia.com/Mia_335.jpg

11-22-2004, 07:17 AM	#1
bld2751 YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 861	Playing with other animals For Thanksgiving, we will be taking Hercules to our parent's houses. My boyfriend's parents have an older dog, and his brother has a dog that is maybe 2 years old. Both are bigger (I don't know the type) and I'm kinda worried about Hercules being around them? I feel silly, but I'm very protective of Hercules, since he's only 2 pounds and they are soo much bigger than him! How protective do you think I should be?? I know I'm supposed to let him socialize with other animals, but I don't want him to get hurt!!

11-22-2004, 08:23 AM	#5
bettyeanne Donating YT 7000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Alabama, etc. Posts: 9,031	One thing I have found is that all animals are unpredictable!! I don't think you can ever be too over-protective of your Yorkie baby. Their personality is so agressive while their temperament usually is not. They just want to be friendly and playyyyyy!! My son has a very well behaved border collie and she is always the lady ... but ... she hates Toto with a passion! I think if she had her way she would snap Toto in half! I totally understand why ... she is as spoiled as any Yorkie on this forum!! I believe I would just "proceed with caution". Stay close by without hovering and if you sense a problem just scoop little Hercules up ... that's the way I handle it with "Her Highness" Missy the border collie!! Have a great time and do let us know how Hercules handles his socializing!! __________________ Toto's Mom - http://www.dogster.com/?206581 Yorkie Rescue Colorado - http://www.yorkierescuecolorado.com/ "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has limits." -- Albert Einstein

11-22-2004, 01:28 PM	#10
Fran42478 Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Staten Island, NY Posts: 1,731	I too had the same concern re: Sammi interacting with a large dog, since my sister has a pitbull mix...I must say Sammi interact more with him than my moms maltese who is her size Storm (the pit-mix) lets Sammi jump on his back and ride him around like a horse! It is the funniest thing to see! Storm is 11 months old and 70 lbs Sammi is almost a year old and 9.5 lbs! Go figure she would prefer him over the Maltese __________________ Fran, Sophia Rose and Jake We Miss You Always Sammi 11/29/03 - 8/20/06

11-22-2004, 05:39 PM	#13
Fran42478 Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Staten Island, NY Posts: 1,731	I agree with Junebug, some of the big ones do not know their own strength...I do not leave Sammi unsupervised with Storm, because he is a huge dog compared to her...But I personally would not keep her away from him due to his size...I have put her with my moms malt and she just pounces all over him, he gets sooo annoyed growls then swats at her like a cat Its very funny I posted some pics of Sammi and Storm playing Tug of War http://www.yorkietalk.com/gallery/sh....php/photo/260 Enjoy Fran __________________ Fran, Sophia Rose and Jake We Miss You Always Sammi 11/29/03 - 8/20/06

11-22-2004, 07:28 AM	#2
Babbie Got Mojo? Donating Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Miami Posts: 1,117	If you know the other dog's temperament and trust it, i think there will be not a problem just don;t leave them unantended. Nobody told yorkies that they are tiny and as a terrier they are a tough little cookie and will fight a dog of any size. So proceed with care...

11-22-2004, 07:48 AM	#3
bld2751 YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 861	Believe me, I know all about Hercules not knowing how small he is! They are good dogs overall that he'll be around, and I would definitely watch them closely, so I'm guessing it would be ok. But I can't help how scared and worried I still am!!

11-22-2004, 08:13 AM	#4
Gypsy Rose Owned by Gyps and Gizz Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Wales Posts: 629	I can understand your concern! Best I find to let dogs meet outside the house first of all if the weather is good (it's no-one territory then really) - just watch them very carefully, maybe take/borrow a baby gate with you so if necessary one can be separated? Hope all goes well! Ana xx

11-22-2004, 09:19 AM	#6
fasteddie *YT 6000 Club Member* Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 6,238	Let them try to play and socialize, but just be careful, as a romp or accidental step by the bigger dogs can hurt your Yorkie... Should be fun though! When Yoda was little, he was ALWAYS carried around like a little prince.

11-22-2004, 09:21 AM	#7
sngglz Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Georgia Posts: 246	I don't blame you I would be the same way with charlie. I don't won't any of those big dogs to get my little charlie.

11-22-2004, 10:56 AM	#8
mybirdys2003 YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 980	This is really hard, isn't it? I take mine to my daughter"s house with me, though. She has two bigger dogs, One is scared to death of her! (What is this thing running around me?) and the other is older and can be a little annoyed. I keep the leash on her and the harness for a while until I see how it is going. That way, you can pull her up without hurting her. I also put the leash around the chair when we are eating so that she is always close to me. Also, if you have a crate, you can bring that and if things are not going too well, put her in her crate. Better safe then sorry! Pat

11-22-2004, 01:19 PM	#9
Maddie-Rudy-Mom YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Beaumont, TX Posts: 1,887	Like all have said it's better to be safe and he is your baby and you don't want anything to happen to him. When I go to my parents beach house I take a baby gate so that when we go some place I can separate them and I think they feel safer in my room with all my thing there. It is a three ring circus there with my three and they have three. Rudy doesn't know he is little and will go up againest any big dog. I always tell him they are going to pee on your head .............Cindy

11-22-2004, 02:21 PM	#11
bld2751 YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 861	That sounds cute - Sammi riding on the pitbull! You have to get a picture of that for us!

11-22-2004, 05:18 PM	#12
Junebug *Moderator Emeritus* Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: California Posts: 1,149	If your baby is only two pounds, I would not let her near two big dogs that you don't really know the temperment of. Yes, you are right that puppies should be socialized, but you never know what the other dogs have been exposed to. As nice as a 50-pound dog may seem, they don't know their own strength and might accidentally hurt your dog. At two pounds, I think it's best to socialize with other puppies or smaller dogs. One thing you can do is hold your dog all night, since he is only two pounds! You can never be overcautious.

11-22-2004, 07:31 PM	#14
Ranger Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 136	You know it's funny Ranger prefers bigger dogs over small ones to interact with. His best friend is a 2 yr old border collie but for some reason he dislikes our neighbors chi and boxer. I would just watch the behavior of the other dogs, some get too excited and pounce on the little guys; and like everyone has said they should be supervised at all times.

11-22-2004, 08:42 PM	#15
Brittie123 No Longer a Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 288	It is hard because if you act too overprotective they will sense that and might act scared, but if you aren't protective enough, he might get hurt. When I introduced Mia (1.5 lbs) to my roommates new dog (she rescued a 35 lb cocker/golden retriever mix) I was so nervous, because Mia LOVES everybody and every dog she meets, and always wants to play immediately. I got on the floor with them and Mia got up on my lap so she was on Bailey's level, they sniffed each other, and after that he was very gentle with her. He does have a very gentle personality though, so I would just get there and evaluate the dog's personality. And now look who are the best of friends! http://www.mylittlemia.com/Mia_Bailey_111.jpg http://www.mylittlemia.com/Mia_335.jpg