False Pregnancy Rescue w/ Aggression - Please Help!
 

I work with a large local animal rescue group here in MD, and currently own three female rescue dogs, a shih tzu, a very senior Yorkie, and a new, ill mannered, hyper, unspayed 6 month old rescue I got last Thursday from Craigslist. Last night a lady I've never met called me, asking if I would take her 7 yr. old, Craigslist purchased, unspayed female Yorkie who was going through a (vet, xray confirmed) false pregnancy. She says the bitch is lactating, and carries around a stuffed toy. The problem is that the dog is being extremely aggressive to her two young daughters, attacking them w/o provocation. She claims the dog was great with the kids until 2 weeks ago when all this started. I am trying to decide if I want to take in this formerly sweet little one. What do you do when multiple other dogs live in the home? I don't want to put anyone else in danger. What would you do to facilitate getting the female through this rough time? Will it harm or help if she comes to me with the stuffed toy baby? I was up late last night reading to become informed, before I agree to take on little Miss Hormonal Cujo. I know this will conclude once she is spayed, but that won't happen for several weeks. Please, any hints, tips or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your help.

This will probably go away when her false pregnancy "goes away." Some dogs are just very protective with their litters, and since this girl is in her third home in a very short time, she does not know who can be trusted around her "pup." That probably intensifies her need to protect it. Take her if you can, and keep her separated so that she feels safe and protected until she gets through this. If you take away the toy, she will probably either fret terribly because she can't find her baby, or adopt some other object, so just let her keep it.

I don't know if a vet can give her something to short-circuit the hormones and work her out of the false pregnancy earlier, maybe someone else can comment on that.

The truth is that some yorkies are like ticking time bombs. They may be fine one minute and the next minute they can be attacking another yorkie. Without seeing how she is acting as far of aggression it is hard to say what to do. If she is actually fighting with them I would not leave her with other dogs. Having her spay may or may not correct her behavior. I have found that aggressive, dominating dogs will stay that way whether spay or not. Over the years I have heard stories of yorkies killing other yorkies so it is not worth the risk.

I would definitely keep her separate in another room till you find out exactly what's going on with her. I've seen dogs be agressive in one home, then when moved to another, it turns to not so much of a problem, like something in the first home could be causing it, or setting her off.

And I don't mean to offend anyone, but young children can absolutely terrorize a dog, just by playing with them (not intentionally).

When I got Tink from the Humane Society, she was a hyper, hormonal but newly spayed mess. I couldn't play with her for long, as her excitement would build until she was in a total frenzy, and more than willing to bite. She came from a family with 6 kids, all under 10 years old. I was able to retrain her, and now she is very trustworthy about not biting, although it did take a few months.

false pregnancy what are the signs?

False pregnancy signs are weight gain, increased appetite, nesting, caring for stuffed toys (like carrying, feeding and cleaning them), milk production, sometimes even false labor. It comes on after a heat in a hormonally imbalanced female.

will their nipple come out? she does not want to eat she belly is Big. lazy. drinks more then she use to and even makes a mess when eating lol

Yes her nipples will get very large, her belly can get big, she can/will drink more etc. Has she been through a heat very recently? Are you sure she hasn't been with a male dog? Are you sure she is not reaally pregnant?

I just looked at your other threads, and you already knew your dog was pregnant because you stated your girl had been with a unneutered male while you were away. Nowhere am I reading what breed the boy dog is. What kind of dog is he? You need to get your vet involved quickly.

I though you was saying after she was with a male it could be a false pregnancy. I was getting happy. sorry about that guys. please for give me my first dog pregnant.

she is going to the vet next week for check up and x-ray

What breed is the male dog?

Hi He's a pure breed yorkie also. he weights 4pd he five years old. Sophie is two yrs 7pds both first litter.

Oh thank goodness. That is such a relief. I hope your fur baby does well, and that everyone is strong and healthy. I'll pray your vet appointment goes well.

Hello this is my first post. My toy Yorkie 's name is Bella. She came out of her heat a week ago. She is showing signs of false pregnancy. How long does a false pregnancy last? Do I need to take her to the vet?