Is anyone else's yorkie scared of...
 

Is anyone else's yorkie scared of being picked up? Tucker is terrified and tries to hide if he thinks you are going to pick him up. I try to pick him up for good things such as going out to play so he doesn't associate me picking him up with something bad happening (like a bath or going to the vet), but after 3 months of me picking him up on a daily basis, he still is terrified. My mom tried to pick him up the other day and he actual tinkled a little in the floor.

It breaks my heart that he's that scared! Once he's picked up he buries his head in my hair and then tries to wiggle free - which would cause me to drop him if I didn't have a good hold on him. He doesn't like to be held while I'm sitting down either, but will snuggle close to my leg or arm when he's tired. It's almost like he's claustrophobic! I always get down on his level before picking him up. I try to do it very slowly as to not startle him. I've tried giving him treats, but he won't even look at them when he's being held.

I'm open to any suggestions.

For many months Zoey didnt like being held, she wasn't afraid, just a brat. I literally had to chase her to hold her. She is still not a cuddler, but she will now "come" to be picked up. It sounds like you are doing everything right.

I had the same problem with Dolce. My trainer suggested that I give her a little warning before I picked her up. She told me that to my furbaby I look like a giant, and then picking her up 5 feet into the air is probably a little scary for her. Anyway, now before I pick her up I say "scoop" and then she knows what's coming.

Ahhh....How old is he? My Roxy was like that when she was young. They all just have different personalties :(

I got Roxy at 6 months old. She has increased her outwardness about every 6 months. When I notice the changes in her, it makes me so happy! She is now 3 years old and she is still amazing me :)

I had gotten a couple of books when she was younger hoping to help her. I can't remember them all, but one was Help for Your Shy Dog. Maybe look into some books to teach you to help him :D Some things they say is to build up their confidence - an easy way to do that is to teach them tricks or commands ;)

He's almost 5 months old. I've had him since he was 13 weeks. I must say, he's come SUCH a long way since the day I brought him home. I was worried sick about him for the first couple weeks because he was so scared of everything, including me. He's still pretty shy when he's out of his element, but as long as he's in a familiar setting, he loves all people. And I've learned the way to warm him up to a new setting is to make sure there's another dog there. I don't think he's ever met another animal that he didn't want to call his friend!

2 weeks ago, with the help of some throw pillows on the floor, he jumped on the couch! I clapped and danced. He probably thought I was an idiot, but I was so happy for his act of courage considering he used to tremble when being put on the couch. I've learned it has to be on his own terms. He LOVES being on the couch now, but it had to be his choice, not mine, to get up there. Yesterday he climbed 7 of the 14 steps that lead to the upstairs bedrooms. Given I had lined each one with treats, I was still so excited for him, even if he did only make it half way!

I'll check into some books and try to pick a word to use so he knows he's about to be picked up. Thanks for the encouragement!! It makes me feel so much better to just hear I'm not alone :)

I say elevator and Lucy sits to be picked up. My husband told me that Lucy looking up at me is the equilivent of us looking up at a 5 story building. I get down to her level every chance I get...

Awww...poor babies, they probably DO think we're giants from their angle...

I thought saying things like elevator and scoop were a good idea...I'm sorry I don't have any suggestions as mine is a brat too when I try to pick her up she squeezes under the entertainment center...lil' booger! They're so cute! :p

Lulu gets like that sometimes but I think for her it's because she might think that I am going to crate her or just not let her do the mischief that she is doing. They go through phases like little skin kids.

My baby only puses back when I go to get her when she kows she is running away from me. Its pretty funny. But when i scoop her up she licks me!

She is used to be just picking her up the floor she jumps up on my hand when I go to pick her up now! And now she just beggs and barks when she wants to be scopped up.

My baby is spolied brat!

Cody is terrified of strangers.. if they try to pet him he goes NUTS

Fritzel does not like to be picked up at all. He is terrified. He struggles and I am afraid he will fall. When I had a higher bed he would stand beside the bed for me to pick him up but that was only because he really wanted in the bed and it was too high for him to jump. I bought a lower bed frame so he can jump up and down whenever he wants. He likes to lay on his back and have me rub his belly, he is lovable just not when I pick him up or hold him. He doesn't like a bath, his nails trimmed or being brushed either.

Funny you should say that because I always think that we must look so very big to our little dolls. Imagine if you looked up at someone who was at least 10 times as tall as you. Pretty scary. :eek:

Otis is the same way, when I go to pick him up he walks backwards away from me or he takes off running in the other direction. He is getting a little bit better especially if he wants on the bed he will put his front feet on my leg and bark wanting me to pick him up, if he wants to be picked up he don't run, but if I want to pick him up to cuddle or take him out to play or for a ride in the car he runs...He is soo funny.. I LOVE HIM SOO MUCH.......

Parker NEVER lets me pick him up unless it on his own terms (he wants up, bed, etc) I try to be on his level as much as possible but I think they are just buggers and probably think its a game to have you chase them around:rolleyes: . I like the other suggestions like saying a name before picking them up so they have a warning and know your coming for them! I am going to have to start doing that with him...hehe I like "scoop"!

Sophie was a little scared when she first got here, but just cause she didn't know me too much. I gave her some time and a lot of treats and now she's not scared at all and loves when i pick her up

Mine want to be carried...sometimes I wish:)

Mine was for about the first week. What seemed to convince her that being picked up wasn't so bad was that it was the best way to get out of her x-pen, which is where she stays if we're not watching or playing with her. If she dances out of my reach I just walk off for a while and that really ticks her off lol.

She did learn a funny habbit from it though. She does a funny little grunt noise anytime you start to pick her up or even just wrap your hands lightly around her like you are about to pick her up. Kindof a little "huuuuuuuunnnnnnnn". Sounds like a chipmunk trying to lift something really heavy lol. Hubby figured out exactly how to grab her, without picking her up or squeezing or anything, to make her do it just about every time, I must have giggled for half an hour the day he figured that out. And she was mostly ignoring him the whole time lol.

Mika doesn't like it much, and will seldom stand still for it, but doesn't mind too much after you pick her up and love on her some, but then she will quickly let you know that's enough.

These Yorkies must be a funny breed. Here are Mika's fears
She is terrified of the garbage truck and the school bus.
her new funny fear is the sound my mother's car door makes with the wind because the door was not hung properly and it sounds like a ghost. Mika just stares at it when we are in the car and trembles like it IS a ghost.

Mckenzie crouches down when I go to pick her up but is fine in my arms. It makes me so sad! She also flattens her ears when she walks by anything tall, like it will fall on her :(.

We keep working on it though! She's a shy baby.. :(

My Layla will back away from anyone trying to pick her up. She is isn't afraid, she just doesn't like it. Now if she knows I am going somewhere she will hop up on my leg begging to be picked up, so that I won't leave her. I have my babies spoiled they love to go bye-bye. I have to take them for a car ride everyday. And occassionally she will just jump up in my lap wanting to be cuddled, but this is on her terms.

Ricky was extremely fearful when I got him at 4 month, so much so, that I hired a dog behaviorist to come in and teach me how to work with him to get over the his extreme fear. One of the more useful exercises was to lay on the floor, completely flat with no eye contact, out stretch your arms and let him approach me. Little by little he started playing with my fingers and coming closer to me. He is now one year old and he still does not like to be held, thats his nature and nothing is going to change that. But, he loves to lie next to me in bed or sit with me on the sofa. He plays catch with me , and we play with his toys, just like any loving little dog...until...I pick him up from a standing position, then he spends his energy trying to get free. So, I've learned to interact with him on his terms. Thank God, my other 2 love to be picked up and hugged and kiss, so I snuggle with them.

Buddy hates riding in the car. He entire little body shakes. I try to take him with me as much as possible but he stills hates it.

Tucker is definitely a shy boy, but only of certain things. He's completely ok with new people and he's never met a dog he didn't want to call his friend. But he's terrified of new places, strange noises, and of being picked up. He's genuinely scared of the whole process of being picked up - from reaching under his stomach to pick him up to being held to being put back down. Today I noticed that when I pick him up his little feet are all tense - sort of flexed (not sure if that's the right word to describe it), but it reminds me of a cat putting their claws out, being ready for a fall. He's so scared he will occasionally pee in the floor when you go to pick him up. It breaks my heart, but there are sometimes I just have to pick him up like when we have to go for a ride or getting a bath.

He also is terrified of riding in the car, but will usually get used to it after 10-15 minutes of riding.

He's not at all afraid of me though. He loves to play and will climb all over me when we're playing. He just doesn't like to feel constrained, so I can never wrap my arms around him. I guess he always wants to know he can get free if he wants. So I have to settle for him lying next to me and rubbing up against me...that's his way of loving on me I guess.

Nathan is funny also when it comes to being picked up..if he wants me to pick him up he will jump up on my leg and when i go to pick him up he will turn around so i can pick him up..or if i am at the computer or in a chair watching tv he will literally climb up my legs to get me to hold him so he can go to sleep!!:D
When he doesn't want to be picked up we play run and catch me!!! He usually wins!!! LOLb