New Yorkie Questions

[slando]

Hi all! I am new to YT and love it. There is lots of informative info. I have a new yorkie, Teddy. He is 11 weeks old. The problem I am having with him is that he is hyper. I can't begin to describe how hyper because I don't mean just a little hyper, I mean SUPERHYPER!!!! He never ever sits still. He is constantly on the go. He also won't stop biting and barking at us. He is getting lots of attention from my family and me but I don't know how to get him to stop these behaviors. When we try to just pet him, he tries to bite. How do you stop these behaviors? Will he ever calm down and just sit on our laps? Also, I've given him a bath which he hates. I know that he should evenutally get used to them but should I start taking him to a groomer so that he not only gets used to baths at home but at a groomers too? Right now I'd be embarrassed for a groomer to have to wrestle him to give him a bath.

[hle_625]

Welcome to yorkietalk! And congrats on the new baby! I see that you are from MO, so am I! Where at in MO do you live?

Yes he is just going through a puppy stage and he will settle down! I cant wait to see pics of your little one!

[megan_kat22]

that's puppy stage for ya!! enjoy his playfullness, you'll want to remember this time forever!! i think its a good idea getting him started on the groomer, just not this soon, maybe about 4 months. welcome to YT!

[sondra2004]

Peanut is 7months now and still Hyper.I would suggest alot of play and long walks .Try a long rope or socks with knots in them. Everytime he trys to bite put that in front of him.He will take his energy out on the rope or socks instead of your hands and Feet. Peanut got neutered last month and he seems to be more mellow. He still Doesnt like to be held.Maybe when he is older. When you have Teddy close give him alot of body massages . He needs to know its ok to be touched. Dont go to groomer until he has had all of his shots. Later try Puppy Training classes.Good Luck, Sondra

[SnowWa]

One thing - your puppy can get just as used to baths at home as he would going to a groomer. I don't think many pups like baths regardless of where they have them. It's just something they have to get used to. I bathe my pup as quickly as I can - and get it over with and get it done. He isn't bad at all, but I know he doesn't enjoy it.

Hyperactivity ---- I know a lot of people will say that these are "puppy things," but, I really think it sounds like your pup is much more hyper than the usual pup. Young pups are very active, but still sleep a lot and are usually content to be in someone's lap or arms occasionally.

Biting - When my was teething - he did try to bite my hands everytime they were near his mouth. I suspect, with your pup's hyperactivity, he is even a little worse with his biting than most puppies are.

Another consideration might be -- Is your house quiet - or is there a lot going on with people coming and going and with children?? My pets are usually quiet and laidback - but I live alone, and they live in a pretty quiet house. I do have a lot of company, etc., but this isn't going on all the time.

Exercise - People may tell you to exercise your dog - wear him out a little - but it seems like he is "exercising constantly" already. I tie my pup up to a 50-foot piece of clothesline in the back yard several times during the day, and he runs his little heart out. (This give him a 100-yard run going back and forth...which he does a dozen times.) It is far far more exercise than I could ever give him walking on a leash.

Let's see what other people come up with.....

Good luck!

Carol Jean

[Baileys_Momma]

He is just being a puppy. My Morgan is 15 weeks and we are going through that very same stage with her. Poor Bailey just wants to cuddle with me and she is biting him, barking, and nipping. I keep reminding myself, she's just a puppy. It'll get better I promise.

[Archie's Mom]

I have a nearly four-month-old and he is never, ever still. I think this is a terrier trait. He also has the biting bug. Nothing has worked, except putting him down and ignoring him for about 10-15 minutes. Then he's sometimes ready to act nice, sometimes not. I find that when he gets his most bratty with the biting is the time he usually needs to take a nap. If you just ignore him for a while, he may decide to lay down or to get in your lap for a smooze.

[MyTrixie143]

Hello and welcome to YT!!!!
My trixie is also super hyper. She is almost a year old and rather than calming down she has gotten even more hyper. I too think that it is a terrier thing. Everyone says it is a puppy thing, alot of the times it is, but I know that in my case or possibly yours that is not true. Have you ever seen jack russel terriers? Well it is not a puppy thing with them, it is just a terrier thing. Mine will go all day if you let her. I had her at my dads last weekend and she was running, full speed with full energy for hours. I had to make her stop and calm down other wise she would have kept going and I didn't want her to have a heart attack because that might of happened since she won't quit.

As far as the groomers I would start getting him used to that right away. Sure he might get use to you giving him baths at home, but at the groomer's it is a totally different environment. You have lots of dogs in cages being dryed who are barking and screaming their heads off. Plus you have their high velocity dryers and all sort of new noises. I would start while his hair is not as long, this way he won't have to stay at the groomer's as long as he will we he is full grown with a full coat. This way, you start small and build up the length of time that he will be there.

For biting, he could be teething, but he needs to know that it is unacceptable either way. Tell him ouch when he bites you and move away from him and ignore him. What you want to get across to him is that if he wants you to play with him or just wants to be around you that he can't bite.