Help!!! My Yorkie & My Toddler.....Ugghhh

[CaLi19GyRL]

Okay sooooooo I get Maxx so my son can have a "best friend" but it's not working out, and I need help!! We've only had him for a week, so it might get better, I hope!! My son is very good with small dogs, my mom has chihuahuas and actually she just got a puppy, same age as Maxx. Damian fell in love with her and she licks his face and lets him hold her etc... so then we got Maxx so he can have a dog at our house that daddy & I like and aren't going to be allergic to dog hair all over the place.....yorkie it is!!! :0) My fav! Anyway sooooo Maxx seems to be terrified of Damian. My son hasn't don anything to the dog but try to pet him, and he always wants to hold him, but the dog won't cuddle with him at all, it's the weirdest thing. Maxx with be sitting with me, then Damian will come up & pet him while saying "nice touches", which is that I taught him, and Maxx he freak out and get up & run. So I need help, it's breaking my heart that my son wants to love Maxx so bad, any ideas on how to establish this "friendship"

[MyFairLacy]

Toy dogs and toddlers just are not a good mix. How old is Maxx? When dogs are socialized as puppies, they see adults and children as two completely different things. If he wasn't socialized around children at a young age, he may be wary of them. Is it possible your son was rough with Maxx and scared him? Toddlers just are not capable of being careful with these little dogs. You've really got to supervise them at all times or keep them seperated when you aren't watching.

[I Love Bailey]

How old is your puppy? how big is he?
Your son is how old?
I have 2 yorkies and when they were both younger they were wary of small children. Angel is still only 3 lbs and when younger children come over she is glued to my side while she evaluates them.
Your puppy most likely was not raised with children and is still getting used to a new home. It has only been a week. He will need a little time to adjust and get used to all of you.
Give it time.

[memphismomma]

I think you should just give it time if youve only had him a week he is still gettin use to the house and proabably hasnt adjusted all the way in general my kids are not mean to dogs at all but they are much louder and dogs sense a calm in adults i think this is even more tru with small dogs they are great at that but anyway give him time my yorkie wouldnt be with anyone but me the frist 2 weeks now he jumps in the bath with my boys who our loud and rowdy he even sometimes naps with them and sometimes im jeaoulos of how much he enjoys playig with them and alot of time would rather play with them then me ... let him fully adjust before and really your Maxx's primary caretaker right now so he is seeking comfort in you dont be heartbroken Hun hell come around

[CaLi19GyRL]

Maxx is 9 weeks today and we've had him for exactly 1 week. Damian is almost 3.....he knows to be gentle with small dogs and is never unsupervised near Maxx. I just don't know what to do, or how to make Maxx mre trusting of my son....when he gets older(Maxx) will he be more loving towards him?? Or is this kinda a lost cause?? anyone w/experie nce???

[CaLi19GyRL]

Thank you all!!!!

[memphismomma]

Oh wow Only 9 weeks he probably still scared out of his wits correct me if im worng someone but that is a bit early for a yorkie he probably wonderin wher his momma is still but the plus side is that he will truely be raised around your son so I truely think you just gotta give it time

[MyFairLacy]

Originally Posted by CaLi19GyRL

Maxx is 9 weeks today and we've had him for exactly 1 week. Damian is almost 3.....he knows to be gentle with small dogs and is never unsupervised near Maxx. I just don't know what to do, or how to make Maxx mre trusting of my son....when he gets older(Maxx) will he be more loving towards him?? Or is this kinda a lost cause?? anyone w/experie nce???

8-9 weeks is a pretty critical period in socialization. He really should have been with his mom and siblings until at least 12 weeks. At 8 weeks, if a dog has a negative experience it may cause fear of that experience. So I suggest making sure he feels safe and is only exposed to positive experiences. Don't force him now...if you're holding him and he's calm let your son gently pet him. I would just try short, quiet, calm experiences of them being around each other. As the puppy gets older and is more confident he should do better with your son

[I Love Bailey]

My kids are teenagers & my dogs love them, but it is me that they have really bonded with. I am the one who takes care of them. I am their mom too & they know it. Maxx & your son may someday form a bond or maybe not. Give it time and make sure they are supervised at all times. Your puppy is young. I believe puppies should stay with the mom until 12 weeks.
Alot of breeders will not sell to homes with small children because of how fragile they are.
Good Luck.
Keep us posted on your family's progress.

[TammyJM]

Originally Posted by MyFairLacy

Toy dogs and toddlers just are not a good mix. How old is Maxx? When dogs are socialized as puppies, they see adults and children as two completely different things. If he wasn't socialized around children at a young age, he may be wary of them. Is it possible your son was rough with Maxx and scared him? Toddlers just are not capable of being careful with these little dogs. You've really got to supervise them at all times or keep them seperated when you aren't watching.

I do not agree that toddlers are not capable of being careful with Yorkies. We have had Livi for a year and she came to us as a young puppy and she has a great relationship with both of my toddlers. My daughter is 4 and a half and my son just turned 3 this month....so obvioulsy, they were both little when she came into our lives. I can honestly say that Livi has not once been hurt by my children. Yes, I do agree with Michele that they do need supervision...just because these guys are so tiny. I know that my kiddos would not purposely hurt Livi, but accidents can happen. Maybe it is just too soon for Maxx to feel completely comfortable around your son. Each dog has its own personality and maybe he is just more shy and likes things quiet...or maybe that is the enviroment he came from and he needs time to adapt. Maxx may just be scared because he is not used to hearing a toddler playing and running...we, as parents, get pretty immune to how loud they can be. Just give him some time and I would make sure that he feels safe. Quiet calm sitting on the floor, while I held him and I would make my son get on the floor and quietly love on him. He will get used to your son, it may just take him some extra time.

Tammy

[CaLi19GyRL]

Yea the lady I got Maxx from was very very hesitant to give him to me b/c of Damian, but I brought him with me to pick Maxx out & she saw how gentle he was for his age, and that he was respectful of all the pups. We explained to her that he has been around small dogs his entire life, because we used to live @ Grandma's house and she has chihuahuas, so does his Aunt. Soooo and I went to High School with her & her husband....so luckily she trusted me enough oto bless me with being able to purcahse Maxx from her....it took a lot of proving ourselves though!! I am not sure why she let the pups go so early, the 2 females left the day before Maxx, and his other brother left 3 days after him, so I'm not too sure on that one.

[memphismomma]

My son is just about to be two and altough Memphis sometimes antanganize ...im postive i misspelled that.... they are never left alone but i dont think that toddlers Are a complete no no my son gets so excited sometimes he gets ahead of himslef so i again Concur with Tammy accidents can happen so they should always be supervised anyway im babbling i should go to bed

[CaLi19GyRL]

Originally Posted by TammyJM

I do not agree that toddlers are not capable of being careful with Yorkies. We have had Livi for a year and she came to us as a young puppy and she has a great relationship with both of my toddlers. My daughter is 4 and a half and my son just turned 3 this month....so obvioulsy, they were both little when she came into our lives. I can honestly say that Livi has not once been hurt by my children. Yes, I do agree with Michele that they do need supervision...just because these guys are so tiny. I know that my kiddos would not purposely hurt Livi, but accidents can happen. Maybe it is just too soon for Maxx to feel completely comfortable around your son. Each dog has its own personality and maybe he is just more shy and likes things quiet...or maybe that is the enviroment he came from and he needs time to adapt. Maxx may just be scared because he is not used to hearing a toddler playing and running...we, as parents, get pretty immune to how loud they can be. Just give him some time and I would make sure that he feels safe. Quiet calm sitting on the floor, while I held him and I would make my son get on the floor and quietly love on him. He will get used to your son, it may just take him some extra time.

Tammy

Thank you!!! I do hope he comes around, I knwo he is very young and just dont' want him traumatized. When Damian gets in his hyper modes lol I put Maxx is his crate, or sometimes I look for him & he is already there....so I find that a plus that he feels safe in his crate....I hope it works out for us, as it did for you, b/c Damian loves him so much!!!

[TammyJM]

Originally Posted by CaLi19GyRL

Thank you!!! I do hope he comes around, I knwo he is very young and just dont' want him traumatized. When Damian gets in his hyper modes lol I put Maxx is his crate, or sometimes I look for him & he is already there....so I find that a plus that he feels safe in his crate....I hope it works out for us, as it did for you, b/c Damian loves him so much!!!

I am sure it will work out...he just needs some extra time. I didn't have to deal with this because Livi instantly loved our children! That sounds great and I am glad, but....it did make difficult to slowly introduce them. Your situation might actually be a good thing. You get the chance to get them used to each other based on your terms. I had to make Livi stay with me because she wanted to be with my children so badly and it made it hard at times.

Tammy

[MyFairLacy]

Originally Posted by TammyJM

I do not agree that toddlers are not capable of being careful with Yorkies. We have had Livi for a year and she came to us as a young puppy and she has a great relationship with both of my toddlers. My daughter is 4 and a half and my son just turned 3 this month....so obvioulsy, they were both little when she came into our lives. I can honestly say that Livi has not once been hurt by my children. Yes, I do agree with Michele that they do need supervision...just because these guys are so tiny. I know that my kiddos would not purposely hurt Livi, but accidents can happen. Maybe it is just too soon for Maxx to feel completely comfortable around your son. Each dog has its own personality and maybe he is just more shy and likes things quiet...or maybe that is the enviroment he came from and he needs time to adapt. Maxx may just be scared because he is not used to hearing a toddler playing and running...we, as parents, get pretty immune to how loud they can be. Just give him some time and I would make sure that he feels safe. Quiet calm sitting on the floor, while I held him and I would make my son get on the floor and quietly love on him. He will get used to your son, it may just take him some extra time.

Tammy

I should have said that toddlers are capable of being careful with a dog if they are supervised and told what to do and not to do. But you never want to leave a child and dog alone together...too many things can happen.

Everyone has their opinions on yorkies and children. I personally don't think it's normally a good match (although in some cases it's fine when the parent is responsible).