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newdad · 06-21-2012, 05:47 PM

Hi everybody -

Sorry in advance for the long post! My girlfriend of 9 months and I moved in together recently. She has two Yorkie pups (Jake, age 3.5 years, and Roxy, age 9 months). Jake and Roxy are my first dogs. Roxy has already warmed up to me, but Jake has not at all in 9 months. I want to make sure I'm doing all the right things for him and our new dog relationship.

Jake is an extremely nervous dog. He exhibits inconsistent and extremely anxious behavior. He will sometimes bark and growl at me, but will sometimes lick my hand and let me pet him when he sits with my girlfriend and I on the couch only to change his mind and bark angrily when I walk away from the couch. He never approaches me, will always walk away from me if I approach him (he always puts something between him and me - a table, a chair, goes under the bed etc), and will either always be nervous and cowering/rigid or angry and aggressive. His response is either fear or aggression. My girlfriend's friends have noted that Jake has never been any other way in 3.5 years. He's happy and ecstatic when my girlfriend is around and follows her literally everywhere, but is a total nervous wreck or angry/aggressive towards everybody else (my girlfriend's mom and grandma somewhat excluded). If she puts him in my lap, he's rigid and just stares with this terrified look on his face.

Please help. I really want to be the best dog dad that I can be and am really looking forward to developing a relationship with him. We have tried lots of praise, having me take him on walks, trying to "correct" him (saying "no!") when he aggressively barks, but he never changes. It's just so sad - he's the most nervous dog I have ever seen. Roxy is so playful and fun, but Jake just looks terrified 24/7. He's never happy or relaxed unless my girlfriend is right there. She is away all weekend and the dogs are with my alone for 5 days and Jake screamed and peed on himself when I put a leash on him to take him outside to potty.

Thank you for your help!

06-21-2012, 05:47 PM	#1
newdad YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: USA Posts: 8	Please help a new Yorkie dad Hi everybody - Sorry in advance for the long post! My girlfriend of 9 months and I moved in together recently. She has two Yorkie pups (Jake, age 3.5 years, and Roxy, age 9 months). Jake and Roxy are my first dogs. Roxy has already warmed up to me, but Jake has not at all in 9 months. I want to make sure I'm doing all the right things for him and our new dog relationship. Jake is an extremely nervous dog. He exhibits inconsistent and extremely anxious behavior. He will sometimes bark and growl at me, but will sometimes lick my hand and let me pet him when he sits with my girlfriend and I on the couch only to change his mind and bark angrily when I walk away from the couch. He never approaches me, will always walk away from me if I approach him (he always puts something between him and me - a table, a chair, goes under the bed etc), and will either always be nervous and cowering/rigid or angry and aggressive. His response is either fear or aggression. My girlfriend's friends have noted that Jake has never been any other way in 3.5 years. He's happy and ecstatic when my girlfriend is around and follows her literally everywhere, but is a total nervous wreck or angry/aggressive towards everybody else (my girlfriend's mom and grandma somewhat excluded). If she puts him in my lap, he's rigid and just stares with this terrified look on his face. Please help. I really want to be the best dog dad that I can be and am really looking forward to developing a relationship with him. We have tried lots of praise, having me take him on walks, trying to "correct" him (saying "no!") when he aggressively barks, but he never changes. It's just so sad - he's the most nervous dog I have ever seen. Roxy is so playful and fun, but Jake just looks terrified 24/7. He's never happy or relaxed unless my girlfriend is right there. She is away all weekend and the dogs are with my alone for 5 days and Jake screamed and peed on himself when I put a leash on him to take him outside to potty. Thank you for your help!