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Originally Posted by prada24  We had been planning on getting a yorkie for quite awhile, but were going to wait until summer. Then we came across an adorable add for a sweet, 7 month old pure yorkie at an amazing price, so we decided to go and get her (about a hundred miles) the next day. She's amazing and we love her so much. She doesn't bark and is a very, very good dog, but when we got her home it became apparent she was abused. At the sound of "No!" she puts her butt to the ground, puts her ears down, and army-crawls to her bed. She isn't used to dog food and won't eat unless we sit with her and watch her. She had been an outside dog and never had a hair cut except around her face. She's afraid of the dark and runs away at any harsh tone, directed at her or not. She'd never been in the car, and when she has a little accident on the floor, she begins to shake violently and hide under the bed when we find it.
When she does something she isn't supposed to we tell her no, then quickly pet her and love on her because we don't want her to think we're going to hit her, but even if we sit down with food and calmly say "No, not for you," she gets scared. We've read that yorkie's confidence and independence are very important parts of their personality, and we were wondering if anyone has any advice for us. We're trying to train her to potty on some mats in our apartment, and have been taking her to the puppy park everyday, but we want to make sure we're doing everything we can so that she can be a very good dog like she already is, but also so she can be spoiled and have that little yorkie attitude. Any advice would be greatly appreciated as this is a situation we didn't think would happen.
All that being said, we've only had her a few days now and she's the most loving, sweet, good mannered, laid back, amazing dog I've ever met and has become a fantastic part of our family already! |
I wanted to come back to comment a little more on some of your issues with your new puppy. She is young and with work you should be able to turn many of these issues around. This is going to be LONG but I will make sure that I answer all of your questions and try to be helpful
Name
If she is afraid when you call the name she was given by her former owners I would suggest that you change her name. If every time she was called in the past she was then abused, she associated her name with the abuse. It is very easy to change her name but if you do decided to do this make is something that does not sound like her former name. Say her name and give praise and treat every time and before you know it she will associate the name with the treat and eventually she will not need the treat but continue the praise.
Using NO!
If she is afraid when you say the work "NO" you should change the word to something that does not have a the negative attachment to it just like her name. Try making the sound "uha" (I totally don't know how to spell that) when you does something wrong. "Uha, Uha, Fluffy." Using a quiet tone to you voice then istract her and then give praise and a treat when she come for the alternate activity.
Building confidence and trust
My suggestion would be for both you and your husband to sit on the floor at opposite ends of the room with some really good treat (cheerios, cheese, lunch meat etc.) and work on trust and come with her. Get to her level so that she can look at you and see that she can trust you. Always say thing like "good girl" in a higher pitched voice. You should only do this for very short periods of time. Treat and praise. As soon as she loses interest stop. But you should
get down on her level, never grab out to her when she is near but let her come to you. If she will not take the treat from your hand at first set it down near you on the ground and let her pick it up. Whenever you think about it work with her. She is still a baby and will lose interest in what you are trying to do so if you do this in very short sprints neither of you will be dissappointed. When you are giving all of these treat and if she is not underweight do not worry if she is not eating as much.
Potty training and the dog park and the car
I probably should stop the dog park for the time being if you are trying to potty train. Once again if she is very afraid, I would suggest that you keep a leash on her at all times. This way it will make it easier to catch her without making her afraid
and also help with walking on a leash when she goes outside. You say that you want her to potty on a pad so when it is time for her to go, calmly take her by the leash and lead her there. Once again when she does potty praise and treat. If she goes off of the pad just clean it up with a good enzyme cleaner and ignore the accident. If you want her to be able to ride in the car, purchase a car seat that she can be securely restrained in. Security is a huge issue. If she is really nervous, only take her along with you can sit in the back with her to reassure her. Also, a car seat should boost her so that she can see out the window which will help her as well.
Grooming
Please start very slow with her and grooming since this is a life long experience and how it is started will be the foundation. Purchase a few good grooming tools.
Finishing Touch Bristle Brush for Dogs at PETCO Finishing Touch Coarse Tooth Comb for Dogs at PETCO Finishing Touch Flea Comb for Dogs at PETCO
Start by placing her on a counter with a towel under her feet so that she feels stable and will not slide around. Once again treat and praise! Before you do anything, just start by feeling her all over her body. Touch her everywhere, her legs, feet, sides, face, etc. all the while giving praise. Once she is comfortable with being touched in this manner you can very gently add the brush very softly. This process will take several days if not weeks to work up to. Then she she is comfortable with the brush you can add the larger comb and finally the small comb. It is very important to make sure that when you groom that you are not leaving mats in the coat. They are painful and nearly impossible to get out if left too long.
Use a good shampoo and conditioner when you do bathe her. I bathe my three in the kitchen sink and use the sprayer very close to their skin so that it doesn't splash. After shampoo and conditioner I also use Neutrogena Bath Oil with warm water in a very large cup. I add about a teaspoon to 3 cups of warm water starting at the back of their head and spreading it over their body. DO NOT RINSE! It is the best think I have ever tried for grooming. Any tangles or mats come right out and they smell great for about a week. The bottle that I have has lasted for over 6 months with weekly baths for 3 pups. *this is a secret so please don't share
When you do take her to the groomer for the first time make sure that you use a groomer that has a lot of experience for a pup like her. Do not be afraid to ask questions. Insist they hand scissor her because she has never been groomer before. Pay the extra if they say there is an up charge. If need be stay at the groomers to supervise and if they say no find a new groomer.
Feeding
Now that I have told you to praise and treat everything you will see that she will not be as hungry when it is meal time which is fine. If she is not interested in her food, she might not like what you are feeding. Make sure you are feeding a good quality food and if she is your only pup I would consider free feeding. That why she can learn that she can eat any time she wants. This will make it a little more difficult with potty training though.
I have 3 little ones that are all some form of a rescue and these are all things that I have needed to work on with mine. With patience and love you will build the trust that she does not have now. Sorry this turned so long. If you have any more questions please ask, everyone is very helpful