A couple questions!! - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Mamie · 05-06-2008, 08:22 PM

The first, Honey seems to love big dogs (my husband has pit bulls and she LOVES playing with them), but she is so scared of little dogs. Any dog with her same energy or size freaks her out. She will run and climb on my leg for me to pick her up. I've tried to have her play with other yorkies and chihuahuas and it seems she's too scared. Does anyone else have this problem? I realize she's raised with big dogs, but to not be afraid of big dogs and only little dogs? That seems strange to me.

The second question is, how do I go about putting a bow on her. I've tried and I have to fight her till the end. She hates being touched in the face area, so it makes it hard to groom. Any ideas as to how I can get her to calm down?

sryope68 · 05-06-2008, 08:44 PM

Wow, that is odd she doesn't like little dogs but likes big ones. Maybe you could use positive reinforcement and give her a little treat or a toy she loves whenever she's around little dogs, then maybe she'll start associating little dogs with treats and see them as positive. I've never tried this but it is something Victoria uses on "It's Me or the Dog" on tv. She had a episode where 2 little chihuahuas kept picking on a bulldog she kept giving the chihuahuas treats whenever the bulldog came around and then after they associated treats with the bulldog they stopped picking on the bulldog.

How old is your dog? I started putting my dog's hair up in bows as soon as I could so they are used to it now. I put them on a small counter that doesn't really have much space for them to move around so they hold still, it's high for them so they don't jump off either. What kind of bows are you using? The bows with rubber bands or barrettes? I put my dogs hair in a rubber band first and then use a bow with a barrette (I can never get the bow on straight with the rubber band bows). I find the barretts are easier. Or you could buy a grooming table that has an arm with a noose like professional groomers. They're expensive but the arm & noose will keep them still a little better. I hope this helps!

hotpod · 05-06-2008, 09:41 PM

i have a grooming table but you can do it anywhere, just make sure that you always take them back to the same place so she/he can understand, ok time to be still and let the bow go in, and then....commence the battle of wills, my baby.....has learned to love it. lol he didnt have much choice, i just put the bow in and watched him carefully all day, and everyday i would take it out, and do it again...over and over evenutally he gave up and sat still so it would be over sooner, now he is an angel, though he doesnt like it....he sits still and let me get it done. p.s. the earlier you start the better!!!!

Mamie · 05-07-2008, 10:14 AM

Thanks for the comments guys. Honey is 8 months old. From the first time I got her at 3 months till now, she's never liked being touched in the face by anyone. I try touching her face as often as I can to get her use to it, but it's never worked. That's the main reason I can't put a bow on, she hates being touched in the face. When I took her to the groomer, they told me they couldn't get near her face either. Sometimes she's okay if I give her a treat to nibble on so I can put her hair up, but for the most part, she'll fight and scream until I give up.

Anyway, I use to try and put her hair up with the bows that tie with a rubber band. But I've switched to putting her hair up with a rubber band first and using a barret bow. It seems to work decently, but the problem is her hair is not real thick so it slides off real easily. I've tried tying a second rubber band with the hair in the first tie and extra hair from behind and that seems to work decently.

sryope68 · 05-07-2008, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mamie

Anyway, I use to try and put her hair up with the bows that tie with a rubber band. But I've switched to putting her hair up with a rubber band first and using a barret bow. It seems to work decently, but the problem is her hair is not real thick so it slides off real easily. I've tried tying a second rubber band with the hair in the first tie and extra hair from behind and that seems to work decently.

Have you tried putting the barrette bow in the hair under the rubberband? I don't put the barrette around all of the hair under the rubber but put it so there is hair in front and in back of the back barrette part and the rubber band kind of acts as a stopper so it doesn't slide up. The only problem I get is when she shakes sometimes the bow will go crooked.

05-06-2008, 08:22 PM	#1
Mamie Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2008 Location: Minnesota Posts: 12	A couple questions!! The first, Honey seems to love big dogs (my husband has pit bulls and she LOVES playing with them), but she is so scared of little dogs. Any dog with her same energy or size freaks her out. She will run and climb on my leg for me to pick her up. I've tried to have her play with other yorkies and chihuahuas and it seems she's too scared. Does anyone else have this problem? I realize she's raised with big dogs, but to not be afraid of big dogs and only little dogs? That seems strange to me. The second question is, how do I go about putting a bow on her. I've tried and I have to fight her till the end. She hates being touched in the face area, so it makes it hard to groom. Any ideas as to how I can get her to calm down?

05-06-2008, 08:44 PM	#2
sryope68 Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Colorado Posts: 179	Wow, that is odd she doesn't like little dogs but likes big ones. Maybe you could use positive reinforcement and give her a little treat or a toy she loves whenever she's around little dogs, then maybe she'll start associating little dogs with treats and see them as positive. I've never tried this but it is something Victoria uses on "It's Me or the Dog" on tv. She had a episode where 2 little chihuahuas kept picking on a bulldog she kept giving the chihuahuas treats whenever the bulldog came around and then after they associated treats with the bulldog they stopped picking on the bulldog. How old is your dog? I started putting my dog's hair up in bows as soon as I could so they are used to it now. I put them on a small counter that doesn't really have much space for them to move around so they hold still, it's high for them so they don't jump off either. What kind of bows are you using? The bows with rubber bands or barrettes? I put my dogs hair in a rubber band first and then use a bow with a barrette (I can never get the bow on straight with the rubber band bows). I find the barretts are easier. Or you could buy a grooming table that has an arm with a noose like professional groomers. They're expensive but the arm & noose will keep them still a little better. I hope this helps! __________________ JoRae Xena and Izabelle's Mommy

05-06-2008, 09:41 PM	#3
hotpod Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Norman Posts: 154	i have a grooming table but you can do it anywhere, just make sure that you always take them back to the same place so she/he can understand, ok time to be still and let the bow go in, and then....commence the battle of wills, my baby.....has learned to love it. lol he didnt have much choice, i just put the bow in and watched him carefully all day, and everyday i would take it out, and do it again...over and over evenutally he gave up and sat still so it would be over sooner, now he is an angel, though he doesnt like it....he sits still and let me get it done. p.s. the earlier you start the better!!!!

05-07-2008, 10:14 AM	#4
Mamie Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2008 Location: Minnesota Posts: 12	Thanks for the comments guys. Honey is 8 months old. From the first time I got her at 3 months till now, she's never liked being touched in the face by anyone. I try touching her face as often as I can to get her use to it, but it's never worked. That's the main reason I can't put a bow on, she hates being touched in the face. When I took her to the groomer, they told me they couldn't get near her face either. Sometimes she's okay if I give her a treat to nibble on so I can put her hair up, but for the most part, she'll fight and scream until I give up. Anyway, I use to try and put her hair up with the bows that tie with a rubber band. But I've switched to putting her hair up with a rubber band first and using a barret bow. It seems to work decently, but the problem is her hair is not real thick so it slides off real easily. I've tried tying a second rubber band with the hair in the first tie and extra hair from behind and that seems to work decently.