Adopting Older Yorkies - Input Needed
 

I would love to hear from all of you that have adopted older Yorkies. I would like to know the age of the Yorkie at time of adoption, was your Yorkie a male or female, how long have you had him/her, was your Yorkie potty trained at the time of adoption and how you handled potty training after bringing your older Yorkie home, how long did it take your Yorkie to adjust and what other issues did you encounter. If you have adopted an older Yorkie in the past and it did not work out then I would love to hear your story also.

I am hoping to make this a informative thread to help those thinking of adopting an older Yorkie and for those that might have to rehome an older Yorkie.

You've got a good idea here. Two and a half years ago my husband and I adopted an ex-mill dog. His estimated age is about eleven now. And of course not potty trained. He has gotten pretty good with going potty outside but there are still accidents every now and again. I do use belly bands, although not all the time. Their helpful when taking him to peoples homes etc. Then I don't have to worry about him marking in someone else's home. I will never know what he had to endure. What has been the hardest is socializing him with people. He is somewhat fearful of people but not of animals. Doesn't matter dogs, cats my horses he has no reaction either way. He's protective of his home now, but I think more about protecting me. A mill dog re homing is different than re homing a yorkie or any dog for that matter that has been in a home and had a family. Our little guy will always have some issues but that's OK with us. We love him dearly. Our three yorkies get along just fine. Time, patience and most important, LOVE. I have been asked different times if we will adopt another mill dog, and my answer is yes. It has been so rewarding for me to work with our little guy. I never thought I'd get kisses from him but I do now!! Whether adopting like we did or adopting a yorkie that's looking for a new home the rewards can be great. It's kinda like older humans, there's a kind of wisdom in them and what they've been through in their lifes. Every fur kid deserves a furever home!! Sorry for such a long post. But it is a subject that I'm passionate about.:animal-pa

bjh- this is a great thread

yorkie mom-3- your a wonderful person with a giant heart
:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thum bup:

yorkie mom-3.....thanks for posting such a heart warming story. It is so wonderful that you opened your heart and home to that poor little boy. It sounds like you have done a wonderful job with him.

I brought Pixie hom when she was 13 months old and not potty trained at all. It was rough going at first. She did not take to well to the potty pads like Cali did, so after about 6 months she decided to go outside like my Pom and now she is almost 100 % outside trained and never uses the pads.

We adopted a yorkie from United Yorkie Rescue about 6 wks ago. She is 5 years old. We did know she was turned in to rescue because of "aggression" issues. How long she was in the household before rescue I don't know and where she came from before that I don't know. She was not house broken and before she came to us, I don't think she pottied on grass because she did not like grass and really resisted going out there and really did not understand in the beginning what we expected from her. It took about a week and a 1/2 for her to figure it out, and she will now go outside, but I am not convinced that is the ONLY place she will go. She has had a couple of potty mistakes in the house, but we do everything we can to minimize them and we don't give her a chance to ask to go out, yet.

We are housebreaking her like she was a puppy, or like we did Millie. We are crate training and using an x-pen and keeping her confined in rooms that we are in instead of letting her out all over the house. NO pee pads, only outside potty. However, because she is older, we trust her more to "not go" if we have just taken her out. She does not have to go out as often as a puppy and she is not to active that keeping an eye on her is not so stressful. (Those are the pluses);).

We are very much into routines with Millie so having Jazzy acclimate herself to our routines did not take anytime at all. She really likes the predictability of those routines. She especially loves to go on her walks (which I don't believe she did much, if any, before). She was shy and skittish in the beginning but her true personality comes out more and more.

We are working with her on her aggression issues and there was a few days a couple weeks ago that made me think we might have to give her up, because she was being too aggressive to Millie and to us. She was baring teeth and snapping at us. We seem to have that under control now, though.

I now really understand why rescue groups are very strict about who they let adopt their dogs. Because no matter how much I though I was "in to it" or could provide a "loving home" for a dog who really needed one, and had "yorkie" experience, I really was not prepared for the type of work and transition that a rescued dog needs. And none of those altruistic reason make a bit of difference with the reality of the situation. Thank goodness for my husband who said that we were committed to this dog now and she was ours and we were going to follow thru on our decision.

The biggest thing I keep repeating to myself is that even though she is older, she is still like a puppy and has to be trained on everything. I need to spend the time on Jazzy that I did on Millie to learn the good manners that we expect in our household. Millie is 3 years old and she did not learn overnight. Her training from puppyhood to adult hood was a process and so will Jazzy's be.

Jazzy has many fine traits (there really are a lot of good qualities in her) and she can be quite the cutie. (she is a yorkie after all). It's just that Millie is our child and while Millie is NOT the perfect dog, all her character flaws were created by us ;) and we are used to them. :D
So while Jazzy has many issues to work with, I understand that no dog is perfect and given more time in our house and more bonding moments Jazzy will be great.

Sheila....it sounds like you are doing a wonderful job too. I hope everything works out. I know it takes a lot of patiences.

I'm a member of a local Yorkie rescue organization. I just wanted to thank you for taking the time to do your research and considering an older Yorkie. Everyone wants the puppies, and it seems that too often our adult/senior furbabies get left behind. I don't think you'll be disappointed. But please make sure you get as much information as possible about the dog you adopt.(Especially medical info if possible). I would hate to see your joy turn into heartache.

It looks like you are already heading the right direction by asking the questions you asked and especially by posting here. These folks on YT are a fountain of information!

I adopted Rickles when he was 4 years old and I have had him 4 years. I was his sixth owner. His name was Buddy but he didn't seem to know his name so I named him Rickles. The first weekend I got him he was awful with my cats and I wasn't sure I could keep him if I couldn't break him from chasing them but a spray bottle with water stopped him within a day. He is the love of my life and when I have to leave him at the groomer's or vet office he freaks so now I wait for him when he is groomed and he goes from the grooming table to my waiting arms. He has brought me so much joy I wouldn't take a million dollars for him. The people who first purchased him gave him away because he was too big (7 pounds) I think the others gave him away because of his not being perfect in his potty training and because he is a yapper. He is pretty much potty trained but still has the occasional accident but it's not bad. He is a wonderful dog and he just needed a little patience. He is very smart and loving.

davis.....what a wonderful story. Poor Rickles, it took him 6 homes to find his forever home. He is a very lucky boy and you and all the others that have posted are angels for being so patient and caring.