Shy yorkies

[Ashley V]

I think the best thing to do is just give her lots of treats. Keep treats with you at all times. When she comes to you, reward her, when she doesn't run away from you, reward her, etc. Eventually she'll learn that you're not a bad person after all. I would also keep loud noises and fast movements to a minimum, as it might set her back even farther. Be sure to talk gently and loving with her. The best thing to do is just love her and work extra hard to get her to trust. Chip was so shy when we brought him home that he wouldn't even take treats from us!

[C C Kent]

First the Bad News
You can change behavior but you can't change temperament. It sounds like you have a combination of the two. Most breed standards, either expressly or by implication, direct the removal of the shy temperament from the program. It's so important that it is one of the few aesthetic traits that warrant removal on it's own, normally it takes three to cause removal. But in these days the standard seems unimportant so we get many more puppies with shy temperament. Since your breeder admits she doesn't have the time to spend socializing the puppies the good news is even better.

The Good News
The Neural Pathways in your puppy's brain are still under construction and you can affect how they progress from this point. Contrary to some advice it will be helpful to take the puppy to loud places with new things and not offer comfort. This might sound mean but which is worse, protect her now and sentence her to a life of fear? or expose her now and set her free? Her startle/recovery reflex and her ability to soothe herself on her own is very important. Holding her a lot is fine as long as you don't pick her up to soothe her when she is afraid. Let anyone pet her that wants to and if possible slip them a treat in advance so that she associates good things coming from unexpected places. When at home use an "umbilical cord" to attach her to you at all times unless she is in her crate. This will end the "she won't come to me" problem immediately and is a helpful potty training aid as well. Most of all never....ever...treat her unless she does what you want. Encourage her but do not make excuses for her, she deserves a life free from fear and you can give it to her. Good Luck!!

[Ashley V]

Originally Posted by C C Kent

First the Bad News
You can change behavior but you can't change temperament. It sounds like you have a combination of the two. Most breed standards, either expressly or by implication, direct the removal of the shy temperament from the program. It's so important that it is one of the few aesthetic traits that warrant removal on it's own, normally it takes three to cause removal. But in these days the standard seems unimportant so we get many more puppies with shy temperament. Since your breeder admits she doesn't have the time to spend socializing the puppies the good news is even better.

The Good News
The Neural Pathways in your puppy's brain are still under construction and you can affect how they progress from this point. Contrary to some advice it will be helpful to take the puppy to loud places with new things and not offer comfort. This might sound mean but which is worse, protect her now and sentence her to a life of fear? or expose her now and set her free? Her startle/recovery reflex and her ability to soothe herself on her own is very important. Holding her a lot is fine as long as you don't pick her up to soothe her when she is afraid. Let anyone pet her that wants to and if possible slip them a treat in advance so that she associates good things coming from unexpected places. When at home use an "umbilical cord" to attach her to you at all times unless she is in her crate. This will end the "she won't come to me" problem immediately and is a helpful potty training aid as well. Most of all never....ever...treat her unless she does what you want. Encourage her but do not make excuses for her, she deserves a life free from fear and you can give it to her. Good Luck!!

That is true... if you hold her and cuddle her when she is afraid, then she'll think "Oh so if I act afraid, I'll get attention" BUT only to a certain extent.

I'll share one of my own personal stories. Smokey was abused and left in a crate for his first 6 months of life and we were his 5th home at 6 months old. One of the things he was very afraid of was me kissing the top of his head. The first time I did that, he ran with his tail tucked right under the bed and would NOT come out. I worked with him for 30 minutes to get him to come out. He was petrified. When I finally got him out, I held him and talked really soft, slowly stroking his body. He was shaking all over. I held him close. After that day he slowly got more and more used to it. Now I can hold his head and kiss him all I want. Sometimes he'll even back out, but not out of fear... instead he puts his butt in the air, with his tail wagging 100 mph, and bark at me, then run over and give me kisses all over my face. It took a lot of repetitive but patient trials, but we worked through it.

I think the best thing to do is moderation. Sometimes cuddle and hold her, but don't over do it or she will continue to be afraid. Don't just ignore it and act rough with her cause that could also cause her to be more afraid.

[C C Kent]

Originally Posted by Ashley V

That is true... if you hold her and cuddle her when she is afraid, then she'll think "Oh so if I act afraid, I'll get attention" BUT only to a certain extent.

I think the best thing to do is moderation. Sometimes cuddle and hold her, but don't over do it or she will continue to be afraid. Don't just ignore it and act rough with her cause that could also cause her to be more afraid.

Thanks, I should have been more clear with that. Never be rough, just don't soothe. Be ever vigilant in searching out good behavior and rewarding it. Always be compassionate and start with small encounters, working up to more activity and interaction. Our dogs learn and take cues from us more often than we realize, if we expect them to react poorly....they often will. They read body language like we read a book. When they see us prepare for a wrong response...they give it to us. When they notice that we have tensed up in preparation of something they hadn't noticed...they go on guard and rightly so because in the dogs mind we requested it.

Back to temperament, if after working with your puppy he/she does begin to worsen in the behavior, you have a full on temperament issue. It is genetic and this puppy will be an EGR (Extra Grace Required) dog all of his/her life. This is not an excuse to give up...it's just time to re-evaluate expectations and love her in spite of some things she can't help.

[gerry]

Thanks for all the great advice. Abby lay in my lap tonight on her back and let me rub her tummy. I'm a stay at home mom and I have all the time in the world to make her feel secure.

[gerry]

Thanks for all the great advice. Abby lay in my lap tonight on her back and let me rub her tummy. I'm a stay at home mom and I have all the time in the world to make her feel secure. She's so cute, I could eat her up!

[Ashley V]

Originally Posted by gerry

Thanks for all the great advice. Abby lay in my lap tonight on her back and let me rub her tummy. I'm a stay at home mom and I have all the time in the world to make her feel secure. She's so cute, I could eat her up!

Looks like she's starting to come around. Just be patient!

[deanne]

my male and female are completely different. Reno is out going and loves everyone, Meaty is shy and reserved. He will let us pet him but never on his head. and he always gets really low to the ground when we pick him up. he gives kisses once we pick him up but the act of us bending over him to pick him up scares him. If I get on the ground and then pick him he's ok. I think that unlike most Yorkies he is aware of how little he is. Just try different ways of handling her but it might just be her personality just like my little meaty.

[gerry]

Today I was watching Abby. If I don't pay her any attention she will climb up in my lap and curl up and snuggle. But if I try to get her to come to me she turns and runs away. I think she's just teasing me!

[Ashley V]

Originally Posted by gerry

Today I was watching Abby. If I don't pay her any attention she will climb up in my lap and curl up and snuggle. But if I try to get her to come to me she turns and runs away. I think she's just teasing me!

I think she's just extremely cautious. Just be gentle and patient... she'll come around! Oh and lots of treats for good behavior!

[keokis mom]

Keoki is shy and I have socialized him. He is very friendly and happy but with other dogs he is very shy ( not all but most ) and also with some people. I think they are just like people and have their own little personalities- reinforce her with positive reinforcement and treats.

[gerry]

When Abby gets scared she shakes all over like she's cold.

[Ashley V]

Originally Posted by gerry

When Abby gets scared she shakes all over like she's cold.

I noticed a lot of little dogs do that.

[gerry]

At first I thought she was cold all the time so I bought her a couple of sweaters to wear. Then I realized when some one new comes around or she hears a loud noise she shakes.