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Originally Posted by BabyGirlYorkie Hi!
My name is Annie and I just found this wonderful Yorkie board/site today! WOW! I am so happy to meet others who have Yorkies 
Tinkerbell is my first Yorkie and she is a puppy (5 months old). I have had a very frustrating time with Tinkerbell, but, love her dearly. Tinkerbell's groomer said that "Tinkie" (nickname for Tinkerbell) is an Alpha Female  . The groomer said that Tinkie is very pig headed and thinks she is the boss of me  . I would have to agree!
For example: Potty pads don't work for Tinkie cause she will tear, rip, shread and eat the puppy pad. We had Tinkie in a nice playpen with all kinds of room when she couldn't be supervised (deluxe puppy bed with fresh soft bedding twice a day, lots of chew toys and snacks etc). Well, Tinkie learned to climb up on the netting of the playpen and then jumped off, which was very high and dangerous for her at the time she was only 2 lbs). To make it safe for her to be in the playpen, we put a clear 1/4 inch plastic board arcross the top of the playpen. Well, Tinkie found another way out by eating a hole in the netting of the playpen and then got out. We then had to get the largest in house kennel we could find to keep her safe during times we were gone. That works, but she will destroy anything left in the kennel. 
Tinkie has lots of play time outside of her kennel, I don't want you to think she is in there all the time, cause she is not. She actually could be out all day if she would behave but she doesn't. She attacks the cat, which is dangerous cause one bite from him and she would be dead. He leaves her alone but she will nag him to death! So I have to kennel him when she is out. She also chews things she isn't supposed to, like wood, carpet, furniture  . And, I have so many chew toys for her and appropriate chew snacks available all day long. But, she chooses to chew stuff that she shouldn't. She also will eat cat poo if she is quicker than me at getting to the door to the cat box.
She nips at the kids and will bark at me and try to bite me when I tell her no . I am just so frustrated. She is sooooo pretty, adorable, and tiny. I just don't know what to do. I thought about training, but then I picture her attacking all the other dogs or biting the instructor and so I haven't tried it yet. Can people sue for your dog biting thier dog?
Anyway, that is my story.....Tinkie is something else! I love her and won't sell her, but I need to find some solutions so everyone can be safe.
Thanks so much for your time and consideration!
Sincerely,
Annie |
Annie, welcome to the board. I just thought I'd put in my 2 cents. I also have an alpha female in Cecilia. I did not have as much trouble as it sounds like you are having, but I can still relate. Cecilia was a nipper when younger and I just had to be firm with her let her know that it is not okay and give her something else to chew.
As far as the cat poop. You cannot blame her for this and it will be very hard to get her to not do it. The reason is that cat food is made to be more flavorfull than dog food and so it is tasty to them even if it has already been through the cat. Imagine if someone put tasty treats out for you and couldn't understand why you kept eating them. The best thing to do is put it in an area that she is not allowed to go. You would have to think of something that kitty can access but tinkie cannot. Depending on how capable your cat is at geting places and if you have anywhere in your home that would fit this suggestion will determine if this is possible. Perhaps you can put a kitty door up that tinkie could not get thru. Sorry my ideas are lacking, I don't have a cat.
As far as potty training, make sure that you start out with many pads in various places and be sure to reward her when she goes on the pad. Progressively remove more pads until you have out only as many as you would like her to use. Be sure that if you find that she has gone somewhere other than the pad that you do not reprimand her unless you catch her in the act. Otherwise she will not be able to make the connection as to what she is being punished for. She will become confused and this will impair training.
How old was tinkie when you got her? I have heard that puppies taken from the mother and litter too soon can have aggression issues because they haven't been fully socialized with other dogs and learned to get along nicely.
The worst issue I have with Cecilia is that she likes to hump my leg when I am laying on my bed. I wasn't aware that female dogs did that, but apparently females with aggression do. I should do a better job at trying to counteract the humping, but it is just so darn funny I can't help but laugh. She was also spayed 3 weeks ago and I thought that the humping would stop, but as soon as she was feeling better, it was back to the humping. Maybe she needs a boyfriend?
Besides that she is doing awesome and most of her progress has come within the last few months. She is 10 months old. I hope all goes well with tinkie and just remember that she is still very young and it may take time, but if you are consistent you will see results. Post some more pics we'd love to see them.
Camille and Cecilia