Looking for some advice, perhaps in desperate need. - YorkieTalk.com Forums

l4advice · 12-05-2010, 06:21 AM

Before I start, let me say that I love animals. I lived on a farm my entire life up to last year, worked at a vet office for two years helping dogs in the kennel. I've owned several dogs and cats in my lifetime. I consider myself more of cat person but there's nothing like that look a dog gives you when you've come home after a long day.

Having said that, I recently moved in with my fiancee and her two yorkies. Neither are over three years old and they are half brothers. One is quite fat, probably the biggest yorkie I've seen in my limited experience, at least 20 pounds. The other is much smaller and skinnier, more along the lines of what I picture yorkies to be.

The problem I have is barking. The big one doesn't bark very much, but the smaller one barks incessantly.

It drives me insane. It happens at any time, sometimes due to something outside, sometimes due to nothing at all. I've been living with it for several months now and it is getting to the point that I can't take it anymore.

The problem is that these dogs spend a lot of time indoors and rarely get outside for walks. I don't have time to walk them and my fiancee doesn't either. I imagine that if they were walked more they might get tired and shut up but we can't make time for it.

Is there anything I can do to break them of their very loud, very annoying barking habits, short of debarking them, which I find inhumane?

Little mama · 12-05-2010, 07:13 AM

Allie is my first Yorkie she is 15 months old, if she.is NOT taken for a daily walk, yes she tends to bark a lot for attention and out of boredom . It's said MANY times on this forum that a tired Yorkie is a happy and quiet one. That being said, we r all tired and really dont have time to take them on daily walks, but that's what u signed up for when u choose to have a dog. They need it, they crave it , ur household will be much quieter if u walk them. Not trying to be mean but what's the point of having dogs if ur not going to properly exercise them. You can't get mad at the dog, their "bark" is their only way to speak their needs. Sorry, just my opinion.

l4advice · 12-05-2010, 07:23 AM

Perhaps I should clarify. She had the dogs when I met her. I didn't sign up for them. Id rather not have them because neither of us have time to walk them. Id rather someone else with more time take them because its obvious that they have tons of pent up energy. But why are they, especially in rgards to the little one, so territorial?

roseylovestosho · 12-05-2010, 07:28 AM

Sorry, but not having time is hogwash. I am a full time phD student and my mornings start at 6AM. It is impossible to have every second of the day taken up to the point where you cannot spare a 15 minute walk into your schedule. If you need to do it before work, then do it before work. If not, then when you get home. Point is, there is not quick easy fix, you (or your fiance) need to put work into your dogs.

l4advice · 12-05-2010, 07:34 AM

So she needs to put work into HER dogs? Okay. She probably has more time to than me. Plus I won't be caught dead walking a yorkie down the street.

Lorraine · 12-05-2010, 07:47 AM

i think the best advice I can start with is you both better work this out before you get married or have lived together for a long time depending on common law laws.
With your differences on the dogs it could very well strain your relationship and if there is not a solution, you could end up ending your relationship with her.
Yorkies are very very demanding for your time just as most toy breeds in particular are. But dogs are pack animals and they need an Alpha to lead them or they will take the lead.
Your finance's responsibility is to provide the exercise, time and entertainment they require for a well settled well rounded nice little pet that I know they are.
As someone posted, they get up earlier to allow time to spend with their dog.
When I got my first yorkie, I did that as well and came straight home after work, spent my weekends, evenings etc with my Ben.
If she is not willing to do that and you are not willing to do it, my advice is try to convince her to find a good home, hopefully together, with someone who can and will give him what they need.
As further information, part of my interview when selling a pup for pet, is to get a feeling for how much the potential owner is home, how much time will they be willing to spend with the dog. Your fiance would not have been considered for one of my pups, I can pick up on where someone is coming from in adopting a pup and turn down way more than I ever agree to for a home.
Here is an eye opener. From her obvious lack of nuturing qualities evident in these dogs are you sure this is the right match for you? Think about it long and hard.

107barney · 12-05-2010, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by l4advice

So she needs to put work into HER dogs? Okay. She probably has more time to than me. Plus I won't be caught dead walking a yorkie down the street.

Why not? Don't you think men have yorkies? We have three and my husband is the main person in the house to walk them. He could care less what anyone thinks. In fact, on any given saturday morning at our local farmers market, you will see many men with their small cute dogs -- yorkies included -- and none of those men are embarrassed. I guess you have no confidence.

Maximo · 12-05-2010, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by l4advice

So she needs to put work into HER dogs? Okay. She probably has more time to than me. Plus I won't be caught dead walking a yorkie down the street.

If you are comfortable with your manhood, you should have no problem walking a Yorkie down the street.

When I take my little guys to Home Depot or anywhere else, the biggest, burliest men are always the first to have something nice/funny to say about the dogs. They think my guys are cool. And trust me, these guys aren't being nice because I'm a hot babe.

My father proudly walks my Yorkies daily, and my Yorkies have long hair and topknots. Big men in service trucks often stop to tell Dad that he has the cutest dogs they have ever seen.

I have had big tough looking guys run up to me and tell me that they have little dogs, like killer Chihuahuas, lol.

Make a little time for the dogs. It will be good for you and your gf and the barking will decrease. Make it a family outing.

lillymae · 12-05-2010, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by l4advice

Perhaps I should clarify. She had the dogs when I met her. I didn't sign up for them. Id rather not have them because neither of us have time to walk them. Id rather someone else with more time take them because its obvious that they have tons of pent up energy. But why are they, especially in rgards to the little one, so territorial?

You say you didn't sign up for them ??? You say she is your fiancee ??? When you get engaged to some one you sign up for EVERY THING about that person. What if she had children ???Would you say " I didn't sign up for that "
In my opinion I do not believe you are ready for marriage to be making statements like that. When you Love someone enough to become engaged to and then marry them, You Take Every Thing, The GOOD & The BAD or will NEVER work.

Sammy Mommy · 12-05-2010, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by l4advice

So she needs to put work into HER dogs? Okay. She probably has more time to than me. Plus I won't be caught dead walking a yorkie down the street.

Why wouldn't you be caught dead walking a yorkie down the steet?? My son works a 50 hour week plus is finishing his second bachelor's degree and has time for our dog when he comes home. He's tired too but our dog is part of our family. Also my son is 6'2", 230 pounds and he doesn't mind walking our little yorkie.

MommiesLulu · 12-05-2010, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lillymae

You say you didn't sign up for them ??? You say she is your fiancee ??? When you get engaged to some one you sign up for EVERY THING about that person. What if she had children ???Would you say " I didn't sign up for that "
In my opinion I do not believe you are ready for marriage to be making statements like that. When you Love someone enough to become engaged to and then marry them, You Take Every Thing, The GOOD & The BAD or will NEVER work.

5 Stars for this comment! I agree. I understand that Yorkies can be demanding but so are children that they may have one day and if children don't get waht they need they will cry..incessantly

Lisa and Pic · 12-06-2010, 02:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by l4advice

So she needs to put work into HER dogs? Okay. She probably has more time to than me. Plus I won't be caught dead walking a yorkie down the street.

Sorry, that comment made me laugh. I just went to a Yorkie Meet-Up last weekend and one of the men there said he wished that before he was married he would have known what "chick magnets" Yorkies could be.

Anyway, sounds like the two of you need to find time to walk your Yorkies. We all have the same amount of time - just choose to do different things instead.

Donnainohio63 · 12-06-2010, 03:34 AM

Sounds like the two of you should consider giving those babies to someone who has the time. It is not the dogs fault that they bark. That is the way they talk to you. I am a 47 year old Grandma, raising two of my grand daughters and I have two furbabies. I get up sometimes at 4 am to walk them and I walk them three times a day. There is no reason to have an animal if you can not give it the proper care that it needs and deserves.

Deuce · 12-06-2010, 04:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by l4advice

So she needs to put work into HER dogs? Okay. She probably has more time to than me. Plus I won't be caught dead walking a yorkie down the street.

Indeed, but first things first, she needs to get rid of you to free up some time for her dogs. The both of you have 24 hours in a day, are you really doing something with all of those hours? 2 fifteen minute walks will do wonders for a yorkie. I have to drive 20 minutes away from my house to get to a suitable place to walk my pup, then we walk for about 30-45 minutes, and then another 20 minute ride home. I work full time and do online classes, plus I have a bf that does not live with me, thus we go on dates and what not. And still, I have time for my pup.

Take a time management course, but if you care about your gf as much as you care about her pups then it's time for you to go.

P.S. my yorkie wouldn't be caught dead walking with you down a street.

JMO

DamSweet · 12-06-2010, 04:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by l4advice

So she needs to put work into HER dogs? Okay. She probably has more time to than me. Plus I won't be caught dead walking a yorkie down the street.

Are you kidding me!! Look at the first picture - this cute little yorkie belonged to the late Captain Phil Harris of the Cornelia Maria on the "Deadliest Catch" - I'm finding it hard to believe you're more MAN than that!

PS - will you also not be caught dead pushing a baby stroller down the street?

12-05-2010, 06:21 AM	#1
l4advice YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: ohio Posts: 7	Looking for some advice, perhaps in desperate need. Before I start, let me say that I love animals. I lived on a farm my entire life up to last year, worked at a vet office for two years helping dogs in the kennel. I've owned several dogs and cats in my lifetime. I consider myself more of cat person but there's nothing like that look a dog gives you when you've come home after a long day. Having said that, I recently moved in with my fiancee and her two yorkies. Neither are over three years old and they are half brothers. One is quite fat, probably the biggest yorkie I've seen in my limited experience, at least 20 pounds. The other is much smaller and skinnier, more along the lines of what I picture yorkies to be. The problem I have is barking. The big one doesn't bark very much, but the smaller one barks incessantly. It drives me insane. It happens at any time, sometimes due to something outside, sometimes due to nothing at all. I've been living with it for several months now and it is getting to the point that I can't take it anymore. The problem is that these dogs spend a lot of time indoors and rarely get outside for walks. I don't have time to walk them and my fiancee doesn't either. I imagine that if they were walked more they might get tired and shut up but we can't make time for it. Is there anything I can do to break them of their very loud, very annoying barking habits, short of debarking them, which I find inhumane?

12-05-2010, 07:47 AM	#6
Lorraine Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Abbotsford, BC Posts: 2,060	i think the best advice I can start with is you both better work this out before you get married or have lived together for a long time depending on common law laws. With your differences on the dogs it could very well strain your relationship and if there is not a solution, you could end up ending your relationship with her. Yorkies are very very demanding for your time just as most toy breeds in particular are. But dogs are pack animals and they need an Alpha to lead them or they will take the lead. Your finance's responsibility is to provide the exercise, time and entertainment they require for a well settled well rounded nice little pet that I know they are. As someone posted, they get up earlier to allow time to spend with their dog. When I got my first yorkie, I did that as well and came straight home after work, spent my weekends, evenings etc with my Ben. If she is not willing to do that and you are not willing to do it, my advice is try to convince her to find a good home, hopefully together, with someone who can and will give him what they need. As further information, part of my interview when selling a pup for pet, is to get a feeling for how much the potential owner is home, how much time will they be willing to spend with the dog. Your fiance would not have been considered for one of my pups, I can pick up on where someone is coming from in adopting a pup and turn down way more than I ever agree to for a home. Here is an eye opener. From her obvious lack of nuturing qualities evident in these dogs are you sure this is the right match for you? Think about it long and hard. __________________ Lorraine www.loribenyorkies.com Canada

12-05-2010, 07:13 AM	#2
Little mama Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Ft myers,fl usa Posts: 169	Allie is my first Yorkie she is 15 months old, if she.is NOT taken for a daily walk, yes she tends to bark a lot for attention and out of boredom . It's said MANY times on this forum that a tired Yorkie is a happy and quiet one. That being said, we r all tired and really dont have time to take them on daily walks, but that's what u signed up for when u choose to have a dog. They need it, they crave it , ur household will be much quieter if u walk them. Not trying to be mean but what's the point of having dogs if ur not going to properly exercise them. You can't get mad at the dog, their "bark" is their only way to speak their needs. Sorry, just my opinion.

12-05-2010, 07:23 AM	#3
l4advice YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: ohio Posts: 7	Perhaps I should clarify. She had the dogs when I met her. I didn't sign up for them. Id rather not have them because neither of us have time to walk them. Id rather someone else with more time take them because its obvious that they have tons of pent up energy. But why are they, especially in rgards to the little one, so territorial?

12-05-2010, 07:28 AM	#4
roseylovestosho Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: #4 PRIVET DRIVE Posts: 1,685	Sorry, but not having time is hogwash. I am a full time phD student and my mornings start at 6AM. It is impossible to have every second of the day taken up to the point where you cannot spare a 15 minute walk into your schedule. If you need to do it before work, then do it before work. If not, then when you get home. Point is, there is not quick easy fix, you (or your fiance) need to put work into your dogs.

12-05-2010, 07:34 AM	#5
l4advice YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: ohio Posts: 7	So she needs to put work into HER dogs? Okay. She probably has more time to than me. Plus I won't be caught dead walking a yorkie down the street.

12-06-2010, 03:34 AM	#13
Donnainohio63 Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Lorain Ohio Posts: 1,882	Sounds like the two of you should consider giving those babies to someone who has the time. It is not the dogs fault that they bark. That is the way they talk to you. I am a 47 year old Grandma, raising two of my grand daughters and I have two furbabies. I get up sometimes at 4 am to walk them and I walk them three times a day. There is no reason to have an animal if you can not give it the proper care that it needs and deserves.