Hi Everyone.
I'm Sarah, I live in SE London, in the UK & brought a Yorkie Pup (Bella) home from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home on Thursday afternoon. She's gorgeous!! They said that she was 12wks old, but her birthday is 25/5/14, so she's more like 18wks. Her previous family (a couple with no kids) were moving & their new landlord wouldn't allow pets, so they had to give her up. Battersea called me within 24hrs of her arrival, I visited the same day & brought her home 48hrs later, after she had been spayed. So she's had a real roller coaster of a week, but she was only at Battersea for 4days.
I grew up with a Yorkie, so when Battersea called to say they had a Yorkie Pup, it seemed like too much of a coincidence to be true!!
I have 2 daughters, 6yrs & a very petite 3yr old. My 6 yr old is besotted with Bella already, & is managing basic commands ("off" if Bella mouths her, etc), but my 3 yr old is absolutely distraught every time Bella enters the room. She screams, cries, & hides behind or clings to me or hubby. Bella, of course thinks it's all a game & jumps up at her.
We're trying to intervene, but we don't want to teach our youngest that she's right to be afraid, so we're also trying to teach her to manage things herself. She's a very bright, articulate child, but just doesn't really have the vocal presence to give commands that Bella will actually listen to.
Does anyone have any advice, any BTDT stories or help in any way?? I really want them to get along & for her to love Bella just as much as I loved my childhood Yorkie!