Adopted older, ill-mannered, yorkie. HELP!!!

[jana smith]

Our yorkie was abused & neglected. He used to cower & pee if you looked at him or tried to greet him. He still has problems but has improved greatly. I read about massage therapy & thought it was hokey, but cost nothing to try.
I believe that was the start to him trusting. If he is near you just start massaging around the neck & shoulders & work down. He may start feeling more comfortable & less barky. Buddy seldom submissive pees anymore

[spourciau]

I may be out of line for saying this, but anyone who could abuse any animal let alone a little dog like a yorkie should be horse whipped. When I started my work with the shelter a year and a half ago I did not think I would be able to do it. It hurt so much to see that people have so much hatered in their heart's that they could do that to an animal. It rips my heart out when I look at those big brown eyes and see the sadness in them. When my first foster got adopted out I cried like a baby and told my husband I couldn't do it anymore, it hurt to much to let them go. A month later at the next adoption day my first adoptee's mom brought her to see me. When I saw the joy that she was bringing to their family I knew then I could not stop. There have been many pass through my family in the last 18 months and I always check up on my babies and they are all happy, healthy and living the life they are supposed to live. I don't care if it is a pure bred $3,000.00 animal or a mutt, they ALL deserve love.

[jana smith]

You're not out of line. What's worse, he was only 12 weeks old then. I knew
when I saw him the red flags of not being socialized and other problems,but we knew he was ours. He is doing so much better, it's been a long road but
well worth it. I was glad to hear the family with the rescue dog won't give up
on him. Thanks for your work with the shelter. I hope the rewards are greater than the pain.

[spourciau]

Originally Posted by jana smith

You're not out of line. What's worse, he was only 12 weeks old then. I knew
when I saw him the red flags of not being socialized and other problems,but we knew he was ours. He is doing so much better, it's been a long road but
well worth it. I was glad to hear the family with the rescue dog won't give up
on him. Thanks for your work with the shelter. I hope the rewards are greater than the pain.

They are. I love to make a difference in these animals. I have to admit though, I do get some benefit. I have always wanted a golden and I got one for our adoption fee and the same goes for Tobie. I got two wonderful babies.

[Gracy]

Originally Posted by spourciau

I volunteer for our local shelter so when Tobie came in I got first dibs on him, we had been wanting one for our daughter. He is 2 - 3 years old and was found running on the levee in a neighboring community, full of knots, his eyes were crusted shut, etc. We have had him now for a month now and he is showing very little progress. I am starting to think that the reason he was running lose is because he is so difficult to train. He is doing better potty training, but he still has to many accidents and we can't let him run the house. He pees in his crate and when we put him up at night he bites at the crate door, tries to dig out of it, and he barks for a good 10 - 15 minutes after we go to bed. If he hears any noise in the house at night he barks, I am on the verge of getting him a bark collar. I have had dogs my whole life and never had one this stubborn. We love him to pieces and he is ours, I will not give up. Also, he eats anything on the floor he can find. My husband is heavy into fishing and he found a rubber lizard and ate it. We tried to get it out of his mouth, but he bit my husband and swallowed it. He took my other dogs treat the other day and when I went to get it back from him he tried to bite me. I had to get a bobby pin to pry it out of his mouth so he would not bite me. I think he has been mistreated because when we walk up on him to pick him up he looks at us from the corner of his eye and does not move. I know this is long, but any input/advice would be appreciated.

Good luck & patience allot!!!!
Sounds he has been mistreated and neglected.
You have a big heart.
Just give him a lot of attention. I suggest an obedience class. That will help a whole lot. I am a firm believer age doesn't matter.
As for now, he is still adjusting. Sounds he has been on his own for awhile or just completely neglected.
Also try a belly band for his pee problem, until he is trained.
I truly believe time, discipline and love.
It may take up to 6 months, just like a puppy. But in the end you will have the best of the best of a best friend.
We saved a mix years ago, she sounded just like yours. Candy was her name and she after time turned out to be the best dog we had ever had. She lived to be a full 18 years.
Patience & Love is so important.
Good luck, you sound like you have a BIG HEART...

[LuvMyChloe]

This is my first post. I just got my yorkie, Chloe, a month ago, and I too am having some aggression issues. Sign up for an obedience class, and try to get a trainer that specializes in behavior assessment. I just attended my first class with a behaviorist as the instructor, and I owe the entire group a bottle of advil! But wow, what a difference an hour has already made. The trainer said I have a lot of work ahead of me, but I can already see a difference. Trust me, I was so scared to go to my first class, knowing I'd have the "problem child", but hey, thats what these classes are for. It will teach you how to react to the behavior and correct without harming your little one. Make sure they customize the approach for correction for your small dog, and doesn't do "one method fits all". Best of luck!

[spourciau]

Originally Posted by LuvMyChloe

This is my first post. I just got my yorkie, Chloe, a month ago, and I too am having some aggression issues. Sign up for an obedience class, and try to get a trainer that specializes in behavior assessment. I just attended my first class with a behaviorist as the instructor, and I owe the entire group a bottle of advil! But wow, what a difference an hour has already made. The trainer said I have a lot of work ahead of me, but I can already see a difference. Trust me, I was so scared to go to my first class, knowing I'd have the "problem child", but hey, thats what these classes are for. It will teach you how to react to the behavior and correct without harming your little one. Make sure they customize the approach for correction for your small dog, and doesn't do "one method fits all". Best of luck!

Oh I know. I have three different dogs all with three completely different needs, wants, etc. Patches is my 10 year old mixed breed who I've had since she was 4 weeks and is my baby, Sam is 2 year old Golden Retriever I rescued when he was 10 mths. old from our shelter, and Tobie is the newest addition to our family. Last night I was sitting on the floor and Tobie was getting a head rub with one hand, Patches was getting a belly rub with the other and Sam was getting a belly rub with my right foot. I looked at my husband and told him I had one unoccupied foot and I needed another dog to occupy it. If looks could kill I would be dead because in addition to the three dogs I have three cats that are all inside, a shelter cat who is inside, and two shelter dogs in a pin outside. Oh, and my daughter has a fish. I think it is safe to say I am animal poor. That is what he gets for marrying the daughter of a Veterinary Technician!!!!!

[FirstYorkie]

Spourciau,

I'm so glad that Toby found his way into your life! I'm glad that he has a good "forever home".

I agree with the previous advice about give him lots of time and patience. For a dog with a bad background, a month isn't very long for figuring out what's expected in this new place.

As far as barking/crying at night, I wonder what would happen if you put his kennel in your bedroom. Perhaps he would feel safer there. I'd cover it (or at least 3/4 of it) so that he feels more protected.

I think your idea about feeding him in his crate is a good one. I'd leave treats in his crate when he isn't looking so that he gets the idea that Good Things Happen in this crate. However, if he previously lived in a situation where he had no choice but to soil his crate, it may be extremely difficult - bordering on impossible - to break that habit. How long do you have to leave him in his crate?

This is getting a little long so I'll break it into 2 posts...

[FirstYorkie]

As far as the object guarding, I would definitely not react aggressively. I wouldn't grab him by the scruff or punish him. Instead, I'd try to reduce the need he feels to guard objects.

He needs to learn that Good Things Come From Your Hands. When he is eating or has a high value object, practice walking by and dropping a treat and continuing on your way. You can gradually work up to petting him while he has an object, dropping a treat, etc. You can read the whole protocol here: http://www.clickersolutions.com/arti...ctguarding.htm

I also wouldn't take his food away from him. That gives him more reason to fear your hand coming toward him when he has something worth protecting. Instead, I'd hand-feed him a good bit of his meals. Again, the lesson is Good Things Come From Your Hands.

When he trusts you more, you can teach him a "drop it" command. In the meantime, if he has something he shouldn't have, roll a treat or two past his nose. As he drops the object to get the treat, you can grab it. Distraction like this is "fair game" in the doggie world - you've probably witnessed yours doing it!

Last, I'd pay attention to his cues that he doesn't yet want to be picked up. He may well bite you. I'd try to avoid picking him up until he demonstrates that he is more comfortable with you.

Good luck! Keep us "posted" on how it's going!

[spourciau]

We tried the bedroom first and he cried and kept us up. He is in the living room now. He loves to lay under the end table so I put his crate there last night. At first he was leary of it, but he soon went in to check things out. He still cried and barked when we put him up last night. It may be just one of those things we have to wait out. I tried giving him food when he potties outside yesterday and he did awesome. He is use to me giving him treats from my hand. I want him to be able to associate the word "Potty" with going outside. When I say potty my golden goes nuts because he knows we are going outside. I took him a little while to catch on so I am sure that with repetition Tobie will also.

Something I also noticed is that when I feed him he eats so fast that I wonder if he is really chewing his food. That is another reason I feed him in his crate, so that he can feel safe and he does not have to fend off the other dogs when he is eating.

[ditsy]

A lot of what your talking about seems actually quite normal.

Yorkies are well know for being harder to train than other dogs.

They are Terriers, very independent and don't like to be told what to do.

The good news is, once they pick up one thing, they will pick up another and another.

Once he learns how pleased you are when he does something right, he will want to do that again and again.

I find bribery works really well *smile*

A lot of people here will confirm it took a good year to get their dogs fully house trained. Mines 6 months old and still has accidents now and again.

He tends to have 2 or 3 bad days every so often, and then goes back to being perfectly well house trained.

I personally used a crate to potty train mine.

If you get National Geographic or (i think) Animal planet channels look for a show called "Dog Whisperer" (link - http://channel.nationalgeographic.co.../dogwhisperer/ ) while not everyone subscribes to his views on training, I personally found some of his ideas very useful for my stubborn pup.



I'm so pleased your sticking with him, I'm sure that he will begin to settle down soon and you will discover a wonderful loving little friend.

Good luck, and keep on posting.

[Chelsey]

Good for you for giving that baby a good home, you have a big heart!
Keep us posted, there are alot of people here that have great experience, and will give you the best advice.

Good luck

[swgayorkie]

Originally Posted by connie777

sounds like a case for Cesar Milan the Dog Whisperer.
Plenty of exercise is a just......on a leash not just bouncing around the house.
One thing I've read in various books is you should have the dog sit or preform some "trick" before you give him his meal. Also stand near the dog when he eats. Pick up his bowl while he is eating and then give it back. This lets the dog know you are in charge.
of course if he is beyond allowing that to happen you may have to try a trainer.
It is important to not allow a dog to bite or mouth your hands for any reason.
Of course....this is one of those situation where I have to say....'do as I say...not as I do'. Because my 18 week puppy still bites at my handsmany time per day. Especially when I put on his leash or brush him. As if he is playing...but that playing is not "cute" and will have to be corrected. I'm getting there ,...but he still does it often.
Good luck

First of all you are wonderful for taking this little one in and giving him a home. I was not sure about mentioning Cesar Millan because some people disagree with him. I for one have much faith in his way of handling problems. After watching his show The Dog Whisperer on NGTV I purchased his book Cesar's Way. If you are consistant with his teachings they work wonders with dogs. I had never been the leader of my pack of four until reading his book. I still have a long way to go but it has done wonders for my four Yorkies. Sounds like your little fella has had a rough life so it will probably take more time for him. Good luck!
Lisa

[Lexi Rae]

i just want to applaud you for taking that poor puppy in , there should be more people in the world like you...just be patient as much as you can and it will all work out..
i feel so bad for that baby.... he need lots and lots of lovins.,,

give him hug from me and lexi...

[Juliealfies mum]

I agree with firstyorkie ,she has also suggested the clicker solutions site to me and I have a lot of success with it. It sounds as if you could too since your yorkie is food orientated. They really catch on to the treats and he methods of clicker training. Wishing you the best of luck with your little one!