Introducing a New Puppy & Have a few "Issues" HELP! - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Emmies_Mommy · 06-24-2009, 05:27 PM

Hello everyone, this is my very first post, so I hope I'm in the right place.

We just brought home our second Yorkie puppy, Bosco. We also have Emma who is 3. Emma has the sweetest, most laid back temperament and is not an alpha by any means.

Bosco came home on Sunday and is 13 weeks. We have been trying to shower them both with attention and Emma seems to have accepted him, though she did steal all his toys and put them on the couch where he couldn't reach them.

Bosco who weighs 3lbs is very aggressive with Emma who weighs 8lbs. It seems to be a mixture of play and an "I'm the boss" attitude. He has bitten her ears and feet and made her squeak more than once.. She jumps on the couch to get away and he "wins".

Since his temperament is so different than what I'm used to, I could use some advice on how to smooth this transition along. I'm sure it will get better as time goes on, but I also don't want to foster these aggressive tendancies, I want to try and nip them in the bud.

Any suggestions are appreciated, also any potty training suggestions would help too.

Thanks Everyone!

FlDebra · 06-24-2009, 05:44 PM

I have about the same situation here. Ben has ruled the roost for 3 years here and now we have kept his son, Rocky. It was all fine when the puppies were kept in their play yard but now that Rocky has free roam, Ben is not always happy about it. But Rocky is persistent and I have caught them playing together more than a few times already. I am confident it will work out over time. But, I do go rescue Ben occasionally and give him some time away from the "ear biter." Yorkie puppies can be relentless with their rough house play! You are lucky that your girl can get away by jumping on the couch. Little Rocky is a climber -- no place is safe. He can climb up my leg! I think it is important to intervene when the older pup seems frustrated. They need some rest away from the little one. But for the most part, I think they work it out themselves. Not much advice, sorry. I will keep my eye on your thread though in case someone has some good ideas. Other than that -- patience, perseverance and lots of love!

Emmies_Mommy · 06-24-2009, 05:54 PM

Thanks for the reply! I'm sure we'll settle in, each day seems better than the next and I think Bosco is just trying to claim his spot in the family. I've forgotten how much work puppies are!

Marilize · 06-28-2009, 10:18 PM

Hehe, I had also forgotten how much work puppies were before I got June (19 weeks old now). My Cash is 2.5 years old and he was an only child for two years. It was just him and me for two years and now, my sister and June lives with us, so it took a while for him to get used to the whole thing.

Puppies can be very irritating and although Cash plays with June a lot - they became friends very slowly, but surely - he also gets angry and snappy with her if she irritates him when he is sleepy. I don't interfere with them at all. My dog behaviourist friend told me not to.

So, all I do is watch out for tense moments when they stare at each other aggressively. When this happens (it hasn't yet), I just sigh, get up and walk out of the room. They should follow me and the tension will disappear.

Dogs have no sense of ownership, so stealing toys aren't a problem. Also, if he is eventually going to be the alpha (which it sounds like), you have to let them sort it out. If you interfere, the whole process will take longer and it will be much more stressful for them both.

I wanted to say a few more things, but unfortunately, I have to run. Good luck. I will try to post again when I have time.

Emmies_Mommy · 06-29-2009, 06:54 AM

Bosco Update! Things seem to be working themselves out..he has established a pretty good bond with Emma and when he gets to rough with her she retreats to the couch. Emma only seems to be having trouble with him having any toys. We bought more toys this weekend and she has to have all of them. Bosco doesn't really care as long as he has something to chew. Our biggest problem now is keeping things out of his mouth..he seems to be able to find EVERY little thing on the floor, under the furniture, and everywhere else. Overall though, I think we are much improved over last week. Thanks for all the insight and have a great day!

Marilize · 06-29-2009, 11:50 PM

Hehe, the fact that he is picking everything up is very puppy! June also does this, which is why I can't live without the 'leave it' command. She is quite obedient and eager to please, so she obeys immediately. But she still picks everything up - I must sound like a irate mom when I am with her, 'cause it is always like 'leave it', 'leave it', 'leave it'. But she is too cute.

With regards to the toys, I suggest that you pick up all the toys at first. Then slowly introduce them to the least fun ones first, building up to the great toys. However, if they aren't fighting over the toys, it is fine.
Cash also took all of his toys away and put them out of reach for June, he also stole all of her nice, new toys and hid them.
I didn't do anything except pick up a certain toy and playing with them both with it. Cash quickly caught on that tug-of-war is much more fun with June and he now loves to play with her.
Every morning, they race through the house, playing with the toys, growling and wrestling. Phew, mornings are crazy with these two.

If they aren't fighting over the toys and she is simply taking them away, there isn't a problem. Just get her to play with him, with the toys. I often initiate play since I know both dog's play triggers, but after the beginning, they don't have time for me. I am much too boring for the rocket babies

Emmies_Mommy · 06-30-2009, 02:42 AM

It's funny that you say that about playing tug...I started playing with both of them and then they started playing tug by themselves. They do play that quite a bit now and I laugh because Emma is quite a bit bigger and she drags him all over the floor like a dust mop. He won't let go until she finally muscles it away. Then she hops on the couch in a little victory dance. They don't fight over the toys at all, I can't imagine Emma fighting about anything though. However, she is very consistent about taking all the toys, even the ones she doesn't like, and putting them out of his reach. She is really helping him to learn fetch, which is her favorite thing. I throw the toy and she goes to get it and he chases her. Now Bosco will fetch pretty consistently until something distracts him. Everyday is something new...but so much fun!

06-24-2009, 05:27 PM	#1
Emmies_Mommy YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Gulf Coast, FL Posts: 7	Introducing a New Puppy & Have a few "Issues" HELP! Hello everyone, this is my very first post, so I hope I'm in the right place. We just brought home our second Yorkie puppy, Bosco. We also have Emma who is 3. Emma has the sweetest, most laid back temperament and is not an alpha by any means. Bosco came home on Sunday and is 13 weeks. We have been trying to shower them both with attention and Emma seems to have accepted him, though she did steal all his toys and put them on the couch where he couldn't reach them. Bosco who weighs 3lbs is very aggressive with Emma who weighs 8lbs. It seems to be a mixture of play and an "I'm the boss" attitude. He has bitten her ears and feet and made her squeak more than once.. She jumps on the couch to get away and he "wins". Since his temperament is so different than what I'm used to, I could use some advice on how to smooth this transition along. I'm sure it will get better as time goes on, but I also don't want to foster these aggressive tendancies, I want to try and nip them in the bud. Any suggestions are appreciated, also any potty training suggestions would help too. Thanks Everyone!

06-24-2009, 05:44 PM	#2
FlDebra Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: FL Posts: 5,077	I have about the same situation here. Ben has ruled the roost for 3 years here and now we have kept his son, Rocky. It was all fine when the puppies were kept in their play yard but now that Rocky has free roam, Ben is not always happy about it. But Rocky is persistent and I have caught them playing together more than a few times already. I am confident it will work out over time. But, I do go rescue Ben occasionally and give him some time away from the "ear biter." Yorkie puppies can be relentless with their rough house play! You are lucky that your girl can get away by jumping on the couch. Little Rocky is a climber -- no place is safe. He can climb up my leg! I think it is important to intervene when the older pup seems frustrated. They need some rest away from the little one. But for the most part, I think they work it out themselves. Not much advice, sorry. I will keep my eye on your thread though in case someone has some good ideas. Other than that -- patience, perseverance and lots of love! __________________ FlDebra and the Gang Ben Candy Katie Rocky Money will buy you a pretty good dog, but it won't buy the wag of his tail." - Henry Wheeler Shaw

06-28-2009, 10:18 PM	#4
Marilize YT Addict Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Cape town, South Africa Posts: 437	Hehe, I had also forgotten how much work puppies were before I got June (19 weeks old now). My Cash is 2.5 years old and he was an only child for two years. It was just him and me for two years and now, my sister and June lives with us, so it took a while for him to get used to the whole thing. Puppies can be very irritating and although Cash plays with June a lot - they became friends very slowly, but surely - he also gets angry and snappy with her if she irritates him when he is sleepy. I don't interfere with them at all. My dog behaviourist friend told me not to. So, all I do is watch out for tense moments when they stare at each other aggressively. When this happens (it hasn't yet), I just sigh, get up and walk out of the room. They should follow me and the tension will disappear. Dogs have no sense of ownership, so stealing toys aren't a problem. Also, if he is eventually going to be the alpha (which it sounds like), you have to let them sort it out. If you interfere, the whole process will take longer and it will be much more stressful for them both. I wanted to say a few more things, but unfortunately, I have to run. Good luck. I will try to post again when I have time. __________________ Cash & June their Mommy

06-29-2009, 11:50 PM	#6
Marilize YT Addict Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Cape town, South Africa Posts: 437	Hehe, the fact that he is picking everything up is very puppy! June also does this, which is why I can't live without the 'leave it' command. She is quite obedient and eager to please, so she obeys immediately. But she still picks everything up - I must sound like a irate mom when I am with her, 'cause it is always like 'leave it', 'leave it', 'leave it'. But she is too cute. With regards to the toys, I suggest that you pick up all the toys at first. Then slowly introduce them to the least fun ones first, building up to the great toys. However, if they aren't fighting over the toys, it is fine. Cash also took all of his toys away and put them out of reach for June, he also stole all of her nice, new toys and hid them. I didn't do anything except pick up a certain toy and playing with them both with it. Cash quickly caught on that tug-of-war is much more fun with June and he now loves to play with her. Every morning, they race through the house, playing with the toys, growling and wrestling. Phew, mornings are crazy with these two. If they aren't fighting over the toys and she is simply taking them away, there isn't a problem. Just get her to play with him, with the toys. I often initiate play since I know both dog's play triggers, but after the beginning, they don't have time for me. I am much too boring for the rocket babies __________________ Cash & June their Mommy

06-24-2009, 05:54 PM	#3
Emmies_Mommy YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Gulf Coast, FL Posts: 7	Thanks for the reply! I'm sure we'll settle in, each day seems better than the next and I think Bosco is just trying to claim his spot in the family. I've forgotten how much work puppies are!

06-29-2009, 06:54 AM	#5
Emmies_Mommy YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Gulf Coast, FL Posts: 7	Bosco Update! Things seem to be working themselves out..he has established a pretty good bond with Emma and when he gets to rough with her she retreats to the couch. Emma only seems to be having trouble with him having any toys. We bought more toys this weekend and she has to have all of them. Bosco doesn't really care as long as he has something to chew. Our biggest problem now is keeping things out of his mouth..he seems to be able to find EVERY little thing on the floor, under the furniture, and everywhere else. Overall though, I think we are much improved over last week. Thanks for all the insight and have a great day!

06-30-2009, 02:42 AM	#7
Emmies_Mommy YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Gulf Coast, FL Posts: 7	It's funny that you say that about playing tug...I started playing with both of them and then they started playing tug by themselves. They do play that quite a bit now and I laugh because Emma is quite a bit bigger and she drags him all over the floor like a dust mop. He won't let go until she finally muscles it away. Then she hops on the couch in a little victory dance. They don't fight over the toys at all, I can't imagine Emma fighting about anything though. However, she is very consistent about taking all the toys, even the ones she doesn't like, and putting them out of his reach. She is really helping him to learn fetch, which is her favorite thing. I throw the toy and she goes to get it and he chases her. Now Bosco will fetch pretty consistently until something distracts him. Everyday is something new...but so much fun!