Newbie Yorkie owner needs assistance :D - YorkieTalk.com Forums

air7walk · 12-28-2007, 10:57 AM

Hey gang! Just got a brand new Yorkie for Christmas yesterday, and he is FRIKKIN' ADORABLE! If this is posted elsewhere, please let me know.

I have a few questions that I'm wondering about for little Matt..

1. Harness drives him CRAZY! I'm trying to let him keep it on today so he can get used to it, but he goes into uncontrollable fits of scratching and biting to try to get it off. Is this normal?

2. Walks - On our walks so far, he hates going out.. to the point of dragging his butt and laying down. Coming back in, he's a saint! Any advice?

3. Biting - right now, he absolutely LOVES to play-bite. Should I be worried at 8 weeks old? Will he outgrow it?

I love you guys -- thanks for any responses!

MyFairLacy · 12-28-2007, 11:07 AM

Welcome to YT!

It's normal for them to bite and scratch at collars and harnesses at first. My Lacy scratched her nylon collar to shreds the first week she had it on. But then she did fine. She never really had a problem with her harness though. It's a good idea to put a cheap nylon harness on him to let him get used to it. Just make sure you only have it on while you supervise him. If you have to leave him, take it off.

Yorkies are stubborn LOL Sometimes Lacy plants her feet and refuses to move when we are walking...or wants to go in another direction. With a little practice and patients, he should learn to walk on a harness and leash okay. 8 weeks is pretty young to expect walking on a leash anyway. Just let him get used to the harness for now.

Biting is pretty normal for puppies. Really, 8 weeks is too young for him to have left his breeder, mother, and siblings. They learn quite a bit from socializing with their mother and siblings from 6-12 weeks, including bite inhibition. So he's going to miss out on some valuable lessons since he left so young. If Lacy ever started chewing on me, I would put a toy in her mouth.

dani23d · 12-28-2007, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by air7walk

Hey gang! Just got a brand new Yorkie for Christmas yesterday, and he is FRIKKIN' ADORABLE! If this is posted elsewhere, please let me know.

I have a few questions that I'm wondering about for little Matt..

1. Harness drives him CRAZY! I'm trying to let him keep it on today so he can get used to it, but he goes into uncontrollable fits of scratching and biting to try to get it off. Is this normal?

2. Walks - On our walks so far, he hates going out.. to the point of dragging his butt and laying down. Coming back in, he's a saint! Any advice?

3. Biting - right now, he absolutely LOVES to play-bite. Should I be worried at 8 weeks old? Will he outgrow it?

I love you guys -- thanks for any responses!

All of the above are totally normal.

1. Put the harness on him for a few minutes a day. Extend the amount of time he has it on each day. Reward him for wearing it. He'll realize soon that you're planning to take him out for walks.

2. Be careful not to take him out too long. He's still young and will need all the vaccinations to ensure he doesn't catch anything while you're on your walk. He's still a baby, so he's not trained to follow the leader and be in your control.

3. He's still teething. When he tries to play-bite, be sure to replace your hand/foot/etc. for a teething toy. This will show him the difference between what he's allowed and not allowed to bite.

Good luck!

BamaFan121s · 12-28-2007, 11:08 AM

First off, welcome to YT and congrats on your new addition.

Unfortunately...for you and poor Matt...the best way for him to get used to the harness (which, kudos, it's much better than a collar) is to continue with what you are doing....same with the walking. Eventually he will quit resisting and realize that's just the way it has to be.

In regards to the biting...you need to put a stop to that now. Generally speaking, 8 weeks is waaaay too young for a pup to have been placed in it's forever loving home...most respected breeders agree that around 12 weeks is the best minimum age for placement. Learning to not bite is one of the behaviors that dogs learn by staying with the mom and littermates during that time frame. Definately make it known to your little guy that biting is not acceptable and be consistant with trying to stop the behavior. Definately not something you want him to continue doing.

WundrWmn · 12-28-2007, 11:12 AM

And she's 1 1/2 yrs old. LOL....they are certainly the most opiniated dog I have ever owned, and require alottttttt of attention.....I got my Widget at 8 weeks also, and think some of her "attitude" comes from leaving her Mom and siblings so young.....but she should be over that by now....she ALLOWS me to pick her up, only when she wants me to, mainly when she wants to go to bed, otherwise she hides under a chair even though she wants to go outside for her walk.....she went thru a few harnasses also when she was a youngster, so just bear with your new baby....They need alot of love and understanding for sure.....

MIZBROWN · 12-28-2007, 11:20 AM

Welcome to YT

Congrats on your new furbaby

Everything you mentioned is very normal. They just need a little time to get use to things. With the harness, maybe you can try a different fabric or style if he continues not to like it. There are many different styles out there. He's biting because he's young & teething and thats how they play at that age, so just tell him NO firmly when he does it. I didnt mind when my Meka did it...but when she would bite hard I would say OWE and she would soften her bite... He will get use to walking... Its still new to him, so be patient and consistant

cj125 · 12-28-2007, 11:22 AM

I agree with all that was said above except that... I'm a firm believer in NOT walking these babies until 10-14 days after their last set of shots! They can catch stuff so easily and yours is sooo young.

We have pigeons in our back yard (due to neighbors feeding them

) and they are soo dirty that I had to watch my babies so very close that they did not smell or try to eat that poop!

Oh, btw, Welcome to YorkieTalk! Congratulations on your new baby!!!

Judy in Waco · 12-28-2007, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cj125

I agree with all that was said above except that... I'm a firm believer in NOT walking these babies until 10-14 days after their last set of shots! They can catch stuff so easily and yours is sooo young.

We have pigeons in our back yard (due to neighbors feeding them

) and they are soo dirty that I had to watch my babies so very close that they did not smell or try to eat that poop!

Oh, btw, Welcome to YorkieTalk! Congratulations on your new baby!!!

Welcome to YT and I AGREE with the above advice. Please wait until all of your furbaby's shots are finished.

You might also want to avoid other animals, Petsmart, etc...

I know it's tough. You want to show your new baby to everyone, but hold off awhile please.

Oh! We would like to see photos!

littlewhip · 12-28-2007, 12:34 PM

Hi and Welcome to yt

great advise has aready been given

glad to have you join us, would love a pic of matt

air7walk · 12-28-2007, 01:15 PM

Thank you guys SO MUCH ... it really has hit me that the people that own Yorkies are very kind and loving (much like the dogs!). Thank you all for helping me calm my fears a little bit, and you can expect a picture of Matt very soon!

Amy81 · 12-28-2007, 04:45 PM

Welcome to YorkieTalk! Congrats on your baby!

lopresm · 12-28-2007, 05:03 PM

Welcome to our Yorkie place! It is great fun and a wealth of information. Your pup is acting just as mine did when we brought him home. With a great deal of patience and consistency you learn to work with your new pup.
Remi is my first Yorkie and I must say that this experience is like none that I have ever had before! Our little Yorkie beings so much laughter and joy to our home. We would never trade this for anything!

Lots of good luck! Congratulations! Happy New Year!

yorkiecrazy · 12-28-2007, 06:21 PM

Welcome to YT!!

Congratulations on your new baby!! All the wonderful ladies here have already given you great advise.

oopsmyhalofello · 12-28-2007, 08:32 PM

You already got great advice so I just wanted to chime in and say Welcome to YT. I'd love to see some pics of your new baby

yorkiesmiles · 12-28-2007, 08:52 PM

Welcome to YT!! Be sure to sign Matt up for our new Little Gentleman's Club - here's the thread to do that: http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sho...ight=gentleman

12-28-2007, 10:57 AM	#1
air7walk YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 2	Newbie Yorkie owner needs assistance :D Hey gang! Just got a brand new Yorkie for Christmas yesterday, and he is FRIKKIN' ADORABLE! If this is posted elsewhere, please let me know. I have a few questions that I'm wondering about for little Matt.. 1. Harness drives him CRAZY! I'm trying to let him keep it on today so he can get used to it, but he goes into uncontrollable fits of scratching and biting to try to get it off. Is this normal? 2. Walks - On our walks so far, he hates going out.. to the point of dragging his butt and laying down. Coming back in, he's a saint! Any advice? 3. Biting - right now, he absolutely LOVES to play-bite. Should I be worried at 8 weeks old? Will he outgrow it? I love you guys -- thanks for any responses!

12-28-2007, 11:07 AM	#2
MyFairLacy Donating YT 10K Club Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: DFW, Texas Posts: 11,003	Welcome to YT! It's normal for them to bite and scratch at collars and harnesses at first. My Lacy scratched her nylon collar to shreds the first week she had it on. But then she did fine. She never really had a problem with her harness though. It's a good idea to put a cheap nylon harness on him to let him get used to it. Just make sure you only have it on while you supervise him. If you have to leave him, take it off. Yorkies are stubborn LOL Sometimes Lacy plants her feet and refuses to move when we are walking...or wants to go in another direction. With a little practice and patients, he should learn to walk on a harness and leash okay. 8 weeks is pretty young to expect walking on a leash anyway. Just let him get used to the harness for now. Biting is pretty normal for puppies. Really, 8 weeks is too young for him to have left his breeder, mother, and siblings. They learn quite a bit from socializing with their mother and siblings from 6-12 weeks, including bite inhibition. So he's going to miss out on some valuable lessons since he left so young. If Lacy ever started chewing on me, I would put a toy in her mouth. __________________ ~Magnifique Yorkies~ Purchasing from backyard breeders, pet shops, and puppymills perpetuates the suffering of other dogs. Educate yourself and buy from reputable breeders or rescue.

12-28-2007, 11:12 AM	#5
WundrWmn Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Parker, Az in the Winter Posts: 168	Sounds like Widget Now!!! And she's 1 1/2 yrs old. LOL....they are certainly the most opiniated dog I have ever owned, and require alottttttt of attention.....I got my Widget at 8 weeks also, and think some of her "attitude" comes from leaving her Mom and siblings so young.....but she should be over that by now....she ALLOWS me to pick her up, only when she wants me to, mainly when she wants to go to bed, otherwise she hides under a chair even though she wants to go outside for her walk.....she went thru a few harnasses also when she was a youngster, so just bear with your new baby....They need alot of love and understanding for sure..... Last edited by WundrWmn; 12-28-2007 at 11:14 AM.

12-28-2007, 11:20 AM	#6
MIZBROWN Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: California Posts: 2,293	Welcome to YT Congrats on your new furbaby Everything you mentioned is very normal. They just need a little time to get use to things. With the harness, maybe you can try a different fabric or style if he continues not to like it. There are many different styles out there. He's biting because he's young & teething and thats how they play at that age, so just tell him NO firmly when he does it. I didnt mind when my Meka did it...but when she would bite hard I would say OWE and she would soften her bite... He will get use to walking... Its still new to him, so be patient and consistant __________________ Mommy to Meka "MeMe" Brown aka Meka the Diva Member of the Spoiled Rotten Club & CA Yorkies www.dogster.com/dogs/567943

12-28-2007, 11:22 AM	#7
cj125 Mia, Max and Moe's Mom Donating Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 4,403	I agree with all that was said above except that... I'm a firm believer in NOT walking these babies until 10-14 days after their last set of shots! They can catch stuff so easily and yours is sooo young. We have pigeons in our back yard (due to neighbors feeding them ) and they are soo dirty that I had to watch my babies so very close that they did not smell or try to eat that poop! Oh, btw, Welcome to YorkieTalk! Congratulations on your new baby!!! __________________ *Connie* Mia Max Moe

12-28-2007, 11:08 AM	#4
BamaFan121s Donating YT 10K Club Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Alabama Posts: 11,432	First off, welcome to YT and congrats on your new addition. Unfortunately...for you and poor Matt...the best way for him to get used to the harness (which, kudos, it's much better than a collar) is to continue with what you are doing....same with the walking. Eventually he will quit resisting and realize that's just the way it has to be. In regards to the biting...you need to put a stop to that now. Generally speaking, 8 weeks is waaaay too young for a pup to have been placed in it's forever loving home...most respected breeders agree that around 12 weeks is the best minimum age for placement. Learning to not bite is one of the behaviors that dogs learn by staying with the mom and littermates during that time frame. Definately make it known to your little guy that biting is not acceptable and be consistant with trying to stop the behavior. Definately not something you want him to continue doing.

12-28-2007, 12:34 PM	#9
littlewhip Donating Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: wiith my furbabys Posts: 8,874	Hi and Welcome to yt great advise has aready been given glad to have you join us, would love a pic of matt __________________

12-28-2007, 01:15 PM	#10
air7walk YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 2	Thank you guys SO MUCH ... it really has hit me that the people that own Yorkies are very kind and loving (much like the dogs!). Thank you all for helping me calm my fears a little bit, and you can expect a picture of Matt very soon!

12-28-2007, 04:45 PM	#11
Amy81 No Longer a Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Palatka, Florida Posts: 6,523	Welcome to YorkieTalk! Congrats on your baby!

12-28-2007, 05:03 PM	#12
lopresm YT Addict Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Long Island, New York Posts: 328	Welcome to our Yorkie place! It is great fun and a wealth of information. Your pup is acting just as mine did when we brought him home. With a great deal of patience and consistency you learn to work with your new pup. Remi is my first Yorkie and I must say that this experience is like none that I have ever had before! Our little Yorkie beings so much laughter and joy to our home. We would never trade this for anything! Lots of good luck! Congratulations! Happy New Year!

12-28-2007, 06:21 PM	#13
yorkiecrazy Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Houston area Posts: 2,672	Welcome to YT!! Congratulations on your new baby!! All the wonderful ladies here have already given you great advise. __________________ Jamie - Gracie's Katie's and Chloe's mom : Gracie 11-12-99 11-1-2012 Last edited by yorkiecrazy; 12-28-2007 at 06:23 PM.

12-28-2007, 08:32 PM	#14
oopsmyhalofello Just Pawz Donating Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Liverpool, NY Posts: 1,827	You already got great advice so I just wanted to chime in and say Welcome to YT. I'd love to see some pics of your new baby __________________

12-28-2007, 08:52 PM	#15
yorkiesmiles Donating YT 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Iowa Posts: 9,493	Welcome to YT!! Be sure to sign Matt up for our new Little Gentleman's Club - here's the thread to do that: http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sho...ight=gentleman __________________ yorkiesmiles Loved by Bubba & Roxy *Holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come*