I'm so glad I found this site. Two weeks ago today we adopted our lovely Yorkie boy, Barley from a DC area rescue group. He was turned in at a high kill shelter somewhere in the south. Though Barley was very skinny and ill when he came to me...with a visit to our vet, some quality food and a whole lot of hugs and kisses, he is now doing wonderfully!
The rescue group didn't know anything about him expect that he was dropped off like yesterday's trash. I really can't imagine why, as he's a little love bug.
My vet tells me that he's around two years old.
It breaks my heart to think of the life he must have had. I've noticed a few things here and there, that lead me to believe he must have been with some horrible people. Things like...I've seen him cower at fast movements as though he's going to be struck. He will curl up in a ball and roll onto his back. When he does this I pick him up, talk lovingly to him and tell him that no one will ever do that to him again.
More of his sad story is that he came to me with one of his canine teeth broken off. I just can't imagine what happened to cause such a thing. To think of someone hurting this little baby like that just makes me so sad
We also couldn't get him to come onto our laps or on the furniture at first. Now he will happily jump up on my lap or on to the furniture. Then there was playing. Barley had no idea what toys were. We have an eight year old toy poodle and a two year old great pyrenees (everyone's been fixed) So we've got toys everywhere. I simply sit on the floor with them and he learned very quickly with us all playing, what fun toys are.
Barley has surprised me several times when we are on walks. People walk their dogs in my neighborhood a lot, so we pass other dogs and owners often. Barley goes nuts when he sees a German Shepard (male/female doesn't matter) just the sight of one and he goes crazy, trying to attack them. I was shocked the first time he did it, because he is so good with my two dogs. I can only assume that maybe he was hurt by one before. Any thoughts on that?
I have never shared my life with a Yorkie before and am still learning about them. My sister tells me she doesn't think Barley is a Yorkie, but I think that's just cause he's taller and longer then most and his hair on his ears is grown out. If his picture posts you all will have to let me know if you agree or think he's a silky terrier or something else. I just know that no matter whatever he is, I love him to pieces and would do anything for him!
I hope that anyone reading this and considering adopting an older Yorkie will read Barley's story and know that after just two weeks of love and patience, he's become a wonderful member of our family that I'd to anything to protect. I didn't have to have him from a puppy up to feel that way about him and you wouldn't have to either if you chose an older dog. You just need to understand that they need to learn from you and feel loved by you.
I hope I haven't chatted too much. I'm very excited to learn more from you all on how to be that best Yorkie parent I can for him.
Take care and thank you for letting me tell our story.