 advice needed please!
I have recently been given a lovely little yorkie boy from a friend and he is adorable. He is 9 years old and full of energy, well behaved and very affectionate.
However...... getting his harness and lead on is a NIGHTMARE. He becomes excessively excited, jumping and making grunting noises. Then, when i go to touch his harness he snaps at my hand and when i eventually manage to pick the harness up he jumps cobstantly at the harness and my hand which makes it difficult to get the harness on. He does eventually let me do it but then when i try to clip it together at the back he tries to bite me. Then, when i even attempt to even touch his lead to attach it hes even worse!! It's like he doesnt like me touching the lead or something...... i put my foot down today though and gave lots of short sharp "no's" everytime he turned his head and snapped at me and bless him it seemed to reaply frighten him so now i feel guilty! Once we were eventually out walking he had worked himself up so much that he made a choking sound the whole walk.
I have left his lead an harness out in the hallway in the hope that he will be far less excitable when i come to put them on him tomorrow and he seems frightened of them.... he keeps etting up, going to the hallway to look at them and then goinf back to where he was.
Im left wondering if he has had a bad experience. My friend said she never walked him so initially i thought it was excitement but todays behaviour has made me wonder if its fear for whatever reason.....
Also, hes a very hungry dog. His previous owner fed him 2 square pouches of dog food a day but this doesnt seem to be enough as he tries to get me in the kitcheb to give him food midday or evening if i feed him early, any recommendations on how much he should be eating?
He really is lovely and i adore him already and i know he does me too and just want to rectify these issues so that i know he is happy. I dont like to think he is frightened., |