Sad Yorkie

[Lolasmom1211]

How big is Chloe? What is her age? Other than her recent spay, how is her overall health?

[nana911]

Please don't give up. You've done such a marvelous thing by giving her a home/haven. She won't give up on you if you don't give up on her. You've had her such a short period of time. It could be months, years, never. I've had Bridget and Brie for what 3 or 4mths now and they still make potty mistakes, lots of them..lol But, fewer and fewer than when they arrived. We just clean up and go on, and throw a huge honkin' love fest when they get it right. Bridget still cowers and freezes. Once the pack got too rambunctious and she headed for the pad pen and put her face in the corner and just cowered and shook. She doesn't act happy...until yesterday. For the first time, EVER, when it was time for dinner she did a jump and twirl.. I feed her and Brie in an xpen separate from the others. They both have dental issues that cause them to eat slower and that way they don't have pressure to hurry up, they can take their time. Brie, my little gazelle, she cowers for no one. She has acclimated very well and attempts to boss Bear. She is fine. Bridget, she spends all her time on my lap and everyone else places themselves around her. Brie and Bridge still have not touched a toy, have no desire to play. They observe the wrestling matches and toy games that the others indulge in but never participate. Brie just barks alot and Bridget just watches from my lap. All this to say, to get to this point took several months.

A Yorkie may not 'look' happy, but just like people, traumatize them long enough and it is going to take a long time and a huge gaining of trust to inspire joy that will show. Accept the quiet victories and claim those as your own. Give her more time on the potty training, lots more time and if all else fails, you can always do diapers. It would be worth it for the returns you get in love.

[kjc]

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...ad-yorkie.html

[MissChloe]

Thanks nana. I'm use to my aunts and my friend's yorkies who are so hyper and get excited when someone walks in the door. Chloe is nothing like that. SHe will sit in my lap and growl at other animals that come by me... Like if she is saying that's my mommy..back off. lol
I just feel so bad because I feel clueless about what she's going thru. I just wish she could talk.

[nana911]

Originally Posted by MissChloe

Thanks nana. I'm use to my aunts and my friend's yorkies who are so hyper and get excited when someone walks in the door. Chloe is nothing like that. SHe will sit in my lap and growl at other animals that come by me... Like if she is saying that's my mommy..back off. lol
I just feel so bad because I feel clueless about what she's going thru. I just wish she could talk.

Bridget does the same thing, she snarls and goes into attack mode when someone invades HER lap space. My two normies sometimes get spiteful (jealousy issues) with her and I have to break up squabbles.

Pad training. I have an xpen that is slightly larger than a large washable pee pad. It is the cute white one with the little door, door usually always open. That is the potty place in the living room. It is also a great way to train a dog. Do just as you would for outside training, using schedule or watch for signs and immediately put her inside the pen and close the door. Use whatever word or phrase that you have chosen for successful encouragement. Mine is 'be a good girl potty', I say it over and over. They will pace, walk circles etc, but they cannot get off the pad or leave. I stand right there, I do not walk away. But I don't have to run after them and put them back on the pad... I stand there until they do their business. As soon as they squat I start the praising... good girl good girl over and over. The rescues still refuse to touch treats, (I use cheerios)..so as soon as they are done I scoop them up, look them in the eye, and kiss each side of their face etc... the entire time I am repeating the same phrase over and over. We are now at the point where if I'm observant, I'll see them giving sign and I'll say do you need to be a good girl. They stop, look at me, I point to the pen and 60% of the time they go in on their own. The rest of the time I pick them, close the door, put them in and start the process. Huge improvement from 0%. Anyway, that is the method I use.

[MissChloe]

Funny thing is that I did try to give Chloe a cheerio yesterday. She sniffed it then walked away. So I assume she doesn't like cheerios but she LOVES cheese. So far we are making little progress with the puppy pad. I keep it in the bathroom. After she wakes from a nap or about every other hour I lock her in there and tell her, "Use your puppy pad." Then after about 30min I go open the door and if she went on the pad then I do praise her and pick her up telling her what a good girl she is.. Now it's not always on the pad. The most fustrating thing is when she doesn't pee on the pad, then she walks in it spreading pee all over my bathroom floor then it's all in her hair. From that I have a nasty stinky dog, sticky stinky bathroom floor, that resolves in my whole apartment stinking because it's so small.

[nana911]

bathroom is too big and you can't watch her. The reason my idea works for me, (may not for anybody else), is that the pad takes up the whole pen..no way to miss. I stand above it and they can look up at me in my eyes and vice versa, while I encourage them. I picture putting mine in the bathroom and closing the door and I believe they would be more interested in getting out than peeing. Brie if she doesn't really have to go will eventually start to get frantic and I take her out of the xpen. I don't want it to represent a fear, ever. But, both will circle the inside over and over before getting serious. In a larger space they'd circle themselves right over to another part ot he house.....I may try the cheese..good idea!

[Furbaby Friend]

Locking her in the bathroom creates a disassociation with the praise. You are praising her when you come in and see her again. She does not associate it with going potty where she should. This is your problem.

You have to be there WHILE they are doing it and praise them for it. Then they know they got the good girl and the treat for going potty on the pad. Right now she gets praise for you coming in the bathroom to see her... not exactly the message you want to send her.

This is the same is post correction, except it is post praise. The dogs don't get it. I recommend trying it nana911's way. You can still have the patch in the bathroom if you like, but you have to stay with her. Once you notice she's performing I have to go behaviors (like sniffing and circling, etc. you'll pick them up as you become more familiar with her) you need to pick her up and take her to the potty spot. Tell her good girl go potty! If she gets off the pad or goes running out (which she might if she doesn't appreciate having been trapped in the bathroom for 30 min previously) you need to catch her and bring her back and put her on the pad and say good girl go potty. Keep doing it until she goes on the pad and then praise praise praise. nana911's way is nice because it stops the "chasing" phase to keep her on the pad.

You have to be there with her or the message is lost. Keeping her in the bathroom without you until she goes does NOT send the message you think it does. I hope this helps! Good luck!

[MissChloe]

Thank you furbaby and nana for those ideas and advice.