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Lynjoe 01-12-2010 08:10 PM

Need advice on rescued yorkie
 
To make a long story short, I have a 7 month old yorkie who has only been out of a puppy mill for about 2 weeks (I've had her for a week). The man who "gave" her to me paid over $300 in vet bills during her first week, which included extensive flea treatments, shots, skin treatments, etc.

The 2nd day I had her, back to the vet for a severe yeast infection in both ears. The story is that the "breeder" all but abandoned her entire litter in a cage in her basement, only occassionally giving them a little food, never taking them out of the cage even to use the potty. Her entire back end has been cut/shaven, leaving her front part with long, tangled, matted hair. The vet says not to have her groomed or even bathed for at least 14 days, until the yeast infection clears up. She did get a flea bath during her first 7 days out of the puppy mill.

I'm glad I made that short...anyway...I need advice. She is the 1st dog I've ever had from a puppy mill, the 1st yorkie, and the first time I've ever housetrained a puppy. Yes, I have my hands full. Housetraining....not too bad as we are on our 2nd day free of accidents. She eats really well, and her ears, skin, and coat seem to be healing great. The problem is her personality.

I have a shihtuz (4 years old) and also a malteese mix (12-13 years old). She plays really aggressive with the shihtuz. At times, the yorkie seems almost "wild," running back and forth as hard as she can run for no apparent reason. This happens about twice a day. It stops with a pick her up, hug her, and put her in her crate for 15-20 minutes.

Is this normal? Is her aggressive play with another dog normal? Sometimes she seems uncontrollable, like when we try to put the drops in her ears. Is this normal? With all of heart, I want to help her and I want her to become a part of our family. My husband and I are in our late 50's, no children at home, and the grandchildren rarely, rarely visit. Our home is smoke-free, and very quiet. We spend a lot of our time playing with and loving our dogs.

Any advice would be appreciated.

yorkie mom-3 01-12-2010 08:57 PM

Congratulations on adopting a rescue! Hubby and I adopted about five years ago. Our little guy came out of a puppy mill in Missouri. He had been free for about a month before we got him. He had behavior issues and sometimes they pop up now and again. I certainly can't say for sure but your little girl may just be realizing she is free and her world is totally changed being in a loving home for the first time. I do know adopting a puppy mill rescue will come with some difficulties and maybe health issues as well, but oh my it is so worth it! It will take time,patience, and lots of love.We are in our fifties too and grown daughter, so our three yorkies run the show around here, but don't let them know that! LOL! I guess all I can say right now to you is to take care of her medical issues and let the rest just come in time. She has alot of the world to explore. Best wishes to you both.:animal-pa

Adi-and-Missy 01-13-2010 08:57 AM

Challenges You Might Face with Your Puppy Mill Dog

Keeping your new dog’s history in mind will prove useful as you help her adjust to her new life. Because she came from a puppy mill, she spent all of her time in a cage. She was forced to urinate and defecate in it, so she probably learned to lie in her own waste because no clean surfaces were available to sleep on. She probably never had the chance to interact with people other than her caretakers.
Because your puppy mill dog wasn’t exposed to any new people, animals, sights, sounds or experiences during her critical socialization period (between three to twelve weeks of age), she’ll likely act as though everything in the world is terrifying. Who can blame her? Until recently, she had no idea that a world outside of her cage existed. At first, your home will be a very strange and scary place—almost like another planet! Eliminating outside, wearing a harness and leash, going on walks and meeting strangers will all be new and potentially stressful experiences. It may take your dog a long time to get used to these big changes, especially if she’s an older dog whose habits are well-formed. As her new pet parent, you’ll need to calmly and patiently assure her that the world is not such a scary place and that you and other humans are worthy of her trust. If you take things slowly and go at her pace, you’ll reap the reward of watching your shy dog overcome her fears.
What to Expect During Your First Days Together

It’s not uncommon for an unsocialized dog to hide under a couch or table for days or even weeks at a time, only coming out to eat and drink at night. Remember, the more patient and gentle you are, the faster your puppy mill dog will come around. Here are some helpful tips to start you off on the right foot:
Give your new dog a crate covered with a blanket as a “safe haven.” If she seems fearful, choose a plastic crate instead of a metal one. If you need to take her out of the crate, you can simply remove the top of the crate instead of pulling her out through the crate door.
If your dog seems extremely fearful, you can set up a “safe room.” A kitchen, bathroom or laundry room works well for this purpose. To keep your dog in her safe area, you can use a baby gate or an exercise pen (a metal playpen for dogs, available at most pet stores). Put an open crate, food and water on one side of the room and some newspaper or a few potty pads on the other.
When your dog isn’t in her crate or safe room, it’s a good idea to attach a lightweight leash to her harness and let her drag it around the house. If necessary, you can use the leash to get her out from under furniture if she hides. Letting your dog drag a leash will also help her get used to how the leash feels when it’s attached to her harness, which may make on-leash walks easier.
If you like, you can allow your dog to sleep beside your bed in her crate. This will help her get used to your presence, and she can quietly bond with you while you both rest. If your dog is small, try putting the crate on a table near the bed so that she can easily see you.
Because they’re usually housed with other dogs all day and night, puppy mill dogs often trust new dogs before they trust new people. So if you already have a friendly, outgoing dog, he’ll be a great comfort to your new dog, as well as a valuable role model. After initial introductions, make sure that your dogs have opportunities to spend time together. (For information about how to introduce dogs, please see our article on Introducing Your Dog to a New Dog.) If you don’t have another outgoing dog, try to borrow one from a friend or neighbor.
Please do not have a big party to “socialize” your dog as soon as you bring her home. Give your her at least a few days to bond with you and settle in before introducing her to strangers. When she seems more comfortable with you, she can start meeting new friends, one or two at a time, in quiet, familiar environments.
How to Help Your Dog Adjust to Her New Life

When most people picture life with a dog, they imagine long, scenic walks, parties with lots of friends and playing with other dogs at the dog park. These activities may be possible with your new dog someday, but please remember to be patient. It may take a while to get there.
Introducing the Leash Indoors

At first, most puppy mill dogs tend to panic and try to run home if you attempt to walk them on leash outside. This is why they need to be slowly introduced to leash-walking indoors before venturing out. Before you get started, we recommend that you purchase a harness for your sensitive puppy mill dog. ASPCA behavior experts have found that fearful shelter dogs tend to react better when their leash is attached to a body harness instead of a collar. Many unsocialized dogs panic and thrash around when they feel a collar tighten around their neck, and a harness is less likely to cause this reaction.
Allow your dog some time to get used to you and her new home before trying to attach the leash to her harness. When she seems comfortable with her new surroundings, take her and some delicious treats, such as chicken, cheese or liverwurst, to a quiet room. Gently attach the leash, and then immediately feed her a few tiny treats. Keeping the leash loose, start to slowly walk around the room. Continue to feed your dog treats as she follows and walks beside you.
The Great Outdoors

When you’re sure your dog feels comfortable wearing a leash and harness indoors, you can start to gradually introduce her to the world outside. If she’s small enough to be comfortable in a carrier, it may help to take her to a quiet place, like a nearby park. Then you can lift her out of the carrier and let her sit on your lap or explore while wearing her leash and harness.
After a few low-key trips to the park, you can try taking your dog on a walk. The following tips will help keep the new activity as stress-free as possible:
Walking with another dog may increase your dog’s confidence. Consider borrowing a neighbor’s dog if you don’t have one.
Make sure that your dog’s walking equipment is completely secure. If she gets frightened, she may try to back out of her collar or harness and escape. If your dog tolerates the feeling of a leash attached to her collar, you can try using two leashes for extra safety: one attached to her collar and the other attached to her harness.
Make sure that your dog wears a well-fitted collar with identification tags at all times. If she doesn’t have a microchip, consider getting one implanted, and keep the microchip information up-to-date.
Introducing Your Dog to Friends and Family

In time, your dog will likely bond strongly to her primary caretaker, but if she’s an older puppy mill dog, there’s a good chance that she’ll remain fearful of strangers for a long time—perhaps forever. It’s your job to keep her safe from invasive human contact. Don’t let strangers you meet on the street pet her or pick her up. If your dog learns that you’ll keep her safe, she’ll be far less anxious on walks.
When you bring new people into your home, you’ll find that it’s often easier to have them play “hard to get” when meeting your shy, fearful dog. A friendly human greeting (direct gaze, leaning over, reaching with hands) is actually quite threatening in dog language. Instead, have guests make themselves small by sitting or crouching, avoid eye contact and just let your dog approach on her own when she’s feeling comfortable.
One great way to get to know a shy dog is to sit on the floor while reading a book and scatter treats all around you. This way, the dog can approach as much as she likes and is repeatedly rewarded for her bravery. Have willing friends and family try this technique. When a person wants to meet your dog, ask him not to pet your dog until she looks completely comfortable and seems eager for him to touch her. If he rushes things, he could undo all your hard work! When your dog will readily take treats from the person’s hand, he can try a gentle scratch on the chest and, if your dog still seems at ease, work up to scratching under her collar. These are non-threatening gestures to most dogs.

Adi-and-Missy 01-13-2010 08:58 AM

Continued
 
Training a Shy Puppy Mill Dog

Did you know that yawning, looking away and lip licking are signs that a dog is worried? If your dog shrinks away from something she encounters, try associating that thing with her favorite treat or toy, over and over, until she’s no longer scared. For example, if your dog is afraid of traffic, go to a quiet park where you can see cars far away. Right after each car goes by, give your dog a tiny piece of chicken or cheese. (Don’t feed her treats at any other time during training. She should only get the goodies right after she notices a car.) When your dog eagerly looks up at you for her treat the moment she sees a car appear, you can move a little closer to the road and continue training. As long as your dog stays relaxed, move a little closer each day. You can do the same thing if your dog is afraid of strangers, with treats coming from you at first. (Your dog doesn’t have to receive treats from strangers for this procedure to work. As soon as she sees an unfamiliar person, you give her a treat. With consistent repetition, she’ll still associate the treats with the appearance of strangers.)
Some sources say that you should never comfort a shy dog because doing so will “reinforce” the fear. This is nonsense. Please go ahead and do whatever it takes to make your dog more comfortable! Some dogs take great comfort from human contact, and if gentle petting helps your dog calm down when she’s anxious, feel free to pet her. If she’s becoming more confident, you’re doing the right thing.
When you think your dog is ready for a group training class, consider enrolling. Agility training and obedience classes that use positive, food-based training techniques may help build your dog’s confidence. Avoid classes that involve punishment, as this kind of class will intensify rather than improve fearful behavior.
Additional Help

For house training help, please see our articles on House Training Your Puppy Mill Dog, House Training Your Adult Dog and House Training Your Puppy.
Because helping a puppy mill dog adjust to her new life can be challenging, consider contacting a qualified animal behavior expert for guidance. Please see our article on Finding Professional Help to locate a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT), a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB or ACAAB) or a board-certified veterinary behaviorist (Dip ACVB) in your area.

Adi-and-Missy 01-13-2010 09:01 AM

I got the info from the ASPCA website: ASPCA - Virtual Pet Behaviorist

Adi-and-Missy 01-13-2010 10:34 AM

I also know that some dog trainers are willing to give you a discount if your furbaby is a rescue! :) Good luck to you! I'm sorry I don't have any advice. I'm pretty new at being a pet parent and don't want to give you any bad advice! I figure I'd give you advice from the pros!

Lynjoe 01-13-2010 12:18 PM

Thank you for your encouraging response. It's good to know that you, too, have 3 dogs. Our relatives are expressing their opinions about having too many dogs, but because the 3 we have are all so different, I don't see a problem with it. A very elderly maltese mix will not be with us for very long, I'm afraid. She can't see or hear very well, and she sleeps most of the time. The shihtuz is much more active, but not nearly as much as the new little yorkie. Do your yorkies play together? Do they play roughly? I believe within a few months, we will be down to the yorkie and the shihtuz and that will be about right. Actually, all 3 of our dogs are adopted. My mother-in-law, who passed away 2 years ago, asked us to take care of the maltese mix. One of my neices had a baby, therefore she gave us the shihtuz, although I don't know why. The yorkie was given to us by my nephew, who only had her for 6 days. She was just too much for their busy family which included a roudy 7 year old and a very sick 3 year old...both boys. Need I say more.

We are on the 3rd "accident free" day with the yorkie and I think she is adjusting very well. We took her out around 3:00 am this morning, and then my husband laid her beside of him in our bed and she slept so soundly until around 8 this morning. I think that is a good sign that she is comfortable with us.

She seems to have a split personality though. She will lie in my laps, limp as a dishrag, sweet as can be. But other times she can be "hell on wheels," running out of control back and forth across the den floor. Is this normal for a yorkie?

Thanks again.

yorkiejunkie 01-13-2010 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lynjoe (Post 2954555)


She seems to have a split personality though. She will lie in my laps, limp as a dishrag, sweet as can be. But other times she can be "hell on wheels," running out of control back and forth across the den floor. Is this normal for a yorkie?

Thanks again.

Nice that you have lap time, and I think you are referring to "the ZOOMIES", it is common in yorkies ( I think there is even a thread about it) We call it NASCAR at our house...

Lynjoe 01-13-2010 01:35 PM

Thank you, thank you. I did a search on zoomies and it made me feel so much better. I was beginning to think she was demon possessed...just for a little while each day. She's never tried to bite, she doesn't bark, but she just takes a spell of running, even running into the coffee table, getting up and going at it again. So much energy....wow...if I could only get the energy to do a zoomie ever now and again.

Patti 01-13-2010 02:19 PM

First congratulations on rescuing that poor baby. I really don't have experience with puppymill rescue's other than in December I fostered a 3 1/2 month old pom from the shelter I volunteer at. She was young so that helped with her not having many issues. She was very high energy which I assumed was from it being her first time living outside of a wire cage with 5 other dogs in it and being a puppy. I have 3 yorkies, 2, 4 and 4 1/2 years old and she would jump at them and want to play but as soon as one of mine growled at her she backed off only to try again a little later. She also would get the zoomies and run back and forth wildly for 5 minutes every night. They grow out of that. I had her almost 4 weeks and by the end of that time she was adjusting to our schedule and spending more time laying with my girls or on her own playing with a toy. Hopefully your little one will adjust to your household and play nicely with your shihzu. Please keep us posted.

yorkie mom-3 01-13-2010 04:23 PM

Oh! the zoomies LOL! Our three are all seniors now so the zoomies have slowed down around here, but every once in a while they get going and it is nascar! Sounds like shes settling in already. Good to hear.:animal-pa

Lynjoe 01-13-2010 07:40 PM

Now that I know about "zoomies," we have really enjoyed watching her tonight!! Although it is fun to watch, I am looking forward to the time when her behavior might not be as spontaneous and unpredictable. Today was another accident free day and now she is even going to the back door and scratching when she has to potty. That is really encouraging. I can hardly wait to have her groomed. I can't do that until next Tuesday. Does anyone have any suggestions on the cut style for a yorkie who is 6-7 months old? Because of her condition, she has scabs on the very tips of her ears. Can they still cut the ears short so they will stand up?

cynsir 01-14-2010 07:08 AM

Happy Ending
 
I got a call from a gal that heard that I loved dogs and was willing to work with puppy mill dogs. The dog was a Maltese. She was 7 months old and had spent her first 6 months in a kennel in the barn somewhere in Iowa. The gal who gave me the pup had already brought her to the vet and she was given all her shots and pronounced that she was in great shape. The gal had two dogs already and Gracie, the maltese, would shiver and shake anytime they came near her. When the gal had to go to work, Gracie had to be kenneled. She was going to be starting to work longer hours and she wanted to know if I could handle Gracie since I'm home all the time. I brought all three of my dogs with me to make sure there would be no problems with the interaction between them. Gracie started playing with my maltese and yorkie while my cocker spaniel looked on. We were there for about an hour and when we left, Gracie came with us. She played with my dogs, ate really well, used the wee-pads. She slept on the bed curled up to my cocker spaniel and maltese.

A friend stopped by a couple of days later. Gracie ran right up to the man and launched herself into his arms and absolutely refused to get out. I then told the couple, it looks like you have a new addition to your family. Through all the h**l that that poor puppy went through, she made it to a very loving family and a new set of 4-footed sisters and brothers.

I check on her every couple of days and can hear her in the background playing and yipping with the other dogs.

This story ended happily.

Cyndi

jrsygal37 01-14-2010 03:11 PM

I have six so I have to disagree with your relatives who say you have too many dogs. You have what three? I think if you have enough love and are financially able to provide for them then having three dogs is your own business. I see that another YTer has given you info. on mill dogs. They are quite different as they come with baggage, but at seven months it should be easier for you to work through then a little one that has lived it's entire life for years in a mill. As far as the running crazy back and forth, I'm sure it's excercise. You have to remember she's been in a cage for seven months and is probably thrilled to be able to run fast back and forth. Thanks for rescuing and good luck. Keep us posted.

Elaine (mom to five rescues and one midget that Santa brought)

Gennies 01-24-2010 09:18 AM

You've already gotten tons of wonderful advise so I just wanted to say Thank You for giving her a wonderful home. I'm very impressed that she's becoming housebroken so fast!!! Another thing that helps use up their energy is taking them for walks. Not only is it physical exercise, it's mental exercise for them to smell all those new and exciting smells. I notice a huge difference in my babies if they don't get their walk. I also agree with others that if you have the love and finances it's up to you on how many babies you want to share your life with. Congratulations! Can't wait to see some pictures of your doll.


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