My yorkie hates my house...and me, I think

[FlDebra]

Originally Posted by roxies_mom

I found this link you can read and see if it might help you at all. Your situation tugs at my heart because it sounds like you want it to work but something just isn't meshing between the 2 of you. You might not relate to the whole thing but parts of it might be helpful and it also has some of the same advice others have already given.

I think my Puppy is Scared of me...

How nice of you to find a link that matches up so much with Nozzle's situation! It sometimes helps just to know it has happened to others before.

Originally Posted by QuickSilver

Also, I might stop all corrections for now. Yes, you may have to deal with a little monster a few months from now, but you two will have a developed a bond that can be the basis for loving corrections. If you haven't read anything by Karen Pryor, go ahead and google her name. Many trainers believe in ONLY using positive reinforcement. So if you do well, maybe the two of you will bond AND he'll learn to behave.

More good advice! I am also a believer in positive reinforcement. I do use a stern voice but try not to ever let that get to a holler. When they are puppies though, just sweet and gentle. I wish I had gotten into the clicker training. I may read up on it again and try with my next puppy. Off to google Karen Pryor myself. Always more to learn!

[yorkiepuppie]

you left your dog when you go on the vacation, and he is probably mad at you for leaving him. my advice would be to spend time with him, play with him. do some training with him and reward with treats. you need to build trust with him again.

my friend was sad when she came to pick up her dog from my house one day because her dog was ignoring her and kept coming to me instead. so i gave my friend the treats and told her to do some commands with her dog, like sit down,...etc.. to get the dog's attention.

hope this helps.

[Marilize]

Originally Posted by FlDebra

How nice of you to find a link that matches up so much with Nozzle's situation! It sometimes helps just to know it has happened to others before.



More good advice! I am also a believer in positive reinforcement. I do use a stern voice but try not to ever let that get to a holler. When they are puppies though, just sweet and gentle. I wish I had gotten into the clicker training. I may read up on it again and try with my next puppy. Off to google Karen Pryor myself. Always more to learn!

I had a terrible relationship with Cash before we clicker trained the Karen Pryor way. Now, we are best buds and little June is being initiated into the clicker training. I know I already posted about training in this thread, but I can't tell you how much it has helped me. I would have had to give Cash away hadn't it been for that. So you can understand why I advise you to use it.
It truly tells your dog that you are on his side and that you love him.
Please try it. Good luck.

[hotpinktrouble]

I'm going to try the clicker training...I was checking it out today at work and I like it in theory. It's last ditch, but I will try. Not real sure what to do in the meantime besides kindof ignore him. He did the submissive pee thing again this afternoon, but I didn't acknowledge, just cleaned it up. He did, however, actually come out of the bathroom, which surprised me. When I came out to sit on the couch he ran over to me...I didn't say anything but just threw a treat...he's right in between my feet now. I'm throwing treats anytime he does something good, sits, licks my toe...seems to be going ok. I wish the clicker stuff could get here faster! I looked for anything clicky today to start with but didn't have any luck.
I was super afraid to say anything about this on here...thank you all for being super supportive!

[hotpinktrouble]

Ok so every thing was pretty peachy...til he made the "I have to potty" whine and I tried to get him to follow me outside. As soon as I did that (treats in hand), he squatted on the living room rug! I didn't acknowledge that but then he went to poo on the rug, and that's when I said No! and grabbed him to go outside. He ended up pooing right before we got out and then didn't go at all outside--he's decided potty time is scary and not to use pee pads anymore...how do I deal with this???? He's gotta go!!! I'll mention though that he was ok once we got back in and I broke out the socks again...

[Marilize]

Ok, firstly I am glad that things are looking up for you and your little boy. Secondly, you have to remember that it is going to take time. You have to be patient with him, never touch him in anger, keep your voice to that cute tone that dogs love and treat him for doing something right.

Some babies are super sensitive and I know that it takes time for YOU to get used to that. I have a puppy now and although I get a bit discouraged sometimes with her potty training (she peed on my bed last night), I decided to not get angry or frustrated.

Puppies are puppies and they don't have a lot of bladder and bowel control. He doesn't do it to upset you or because he doesn't love you, he is simply a puppy, honey.

It took me two years to potty train Cash and even now he sometimes has accidents (Funny thing is I made washable potty pads for June and now Cash uses them all the time (he used to use my bathroom rug). I am hoping that little June will see what he does (he gets treats after he uses them) and mimic him.

I understand that you are frustrated with him (I absolutely understand because I used to get soooo angry with Cash), but you need to prove to him that spending time with you is equal to having fun.

Sorry for the long post, but my last comment is that quick movement and harsh tones will make him fear you. Remember that he is a puppy (repeat this to yourself) and that he WILL get better with time.

Ps. You are both going to get much better with the clicker training! Best of luck.

[hotpinktrouble]

Originally Posted by Marilize

Ok, firstly I am glad that things are looking up for you and your little boy. Secondly, you have to remember that it is going to take time. You have to be patient with him, never touch him in anger, keep your voice to that cute tone that dogs love and treat him for doing something right.

Some babies are super sensitive and I know that it takes time for YOU to get used to that. I have a puppy now and although I get a bit discouraged sometimes with her potty training (she peed on my bed last night), I decided to not get angry or frustrated.

Puppies are puppies and they don't have a lot of bladder and bowel control. He doesn't do it to upset you or because he doesn't love you, he is simply a puppy, honey.

It took me two years to potty train Cash and even now he sometimes has accidents (Funny thing is I made washable potty pads for June and now Cash uses them all the time (he used to use my bathroom rug). I am hoping that little June will see what he does (he gets treats after he uses them) and mimic him.

I understand that you are frustrated with him (I absolutely understand because I used to get soooo angry with Cash), but you need to prove to him that spending time with you is equal to having fun.

Sorry for the long post, but my last comment is that quick movement and harsh tones will make him fear you. Remember that he is a puppy (repeat this to yourself) and that he WILL get better with time.

Ps. You are both going to get much better with the clicker training! Best of luck.

I'm laughing...I don't mind the long post at all!!!! You could write a book and I would read every word!
I am definitely trying to avoid the fast movements...I'm just stuck with him and the potty-ing...He is usually very good and either holds it til I take him out or goes on the pee pad. Lately, though, he holds it for extrordinary amounts of time and will just not go for a long long time if he gets scared. I guess I'm confused about whether to just let him go wherever or risk him getting scared but going in the right place. I actually wasn't mad at him tonight, and I think he realized that because he recovered pretty fast.
You are definitely a God send friend...
PS...I'm thinking good things will happen for June...I absolutely believe older dogs are the best teachers...

[Marilize]

Hehe, glad you are happy to read what I write. I tried to get June to go on her pee pad by placing her there and keeping her there until she peed, but she got a bit scared and now she won't do anything. She just lays down and goes to sleep!
Now, I just keep her in her pen when I can't supervise and hope that Cash will train her! It doesn't help to get mad or frustrated. They will eventually learn, so give him a break and build your relationship first.

[Mom to Hot Rod]

Hi there, you've gotten a ton of good advice already. When I was potty training, I had several pads around the house so I could put him/her on one as soon as I saw signs of pottying. then I would say "do your stuff" then I would treat. As they got better I eliminated a couple of the pads--slowly.

sounds like you two are on your way to bonding. Do you think that when you pick him up from your friends home that he may be thinking you are taking him from his home and sees you as a "bad person"? When you pick him up, do you play for a few moments or do you just pick him up and leave with him? I think it might start from that point and how he perceives who you are in the scheme of things in his little world. He may just not understand where his home truly is. I would say make sure that it is a good/fun goodbye when he leaves the other houses and goes with you. If he is not happy to leave, this will probably carry over when he's home with you. You have said that he is afraid of you and hides in his kennel. Their kennels are usually their "safe" place. And the submissive peeing is another indication of fear.

When we first got ours, I would lay on the floor and let them come over and sniff me and get to know me. then I would slowly get up, for example, on my arms, then elbows, etc. while they came over to get to know me.

Just let him figure his boundaries on his own terms and I am sure that you two will be best buddies real soon. Good luck.

[JenniferLeigh]

I think you've gotten some good advice here, I would try playing with his toys by yourself. Get down on the ground, throw them up in the air, bat them around - pretend to be a puppy.

When I first brought Lexi home, she was pretty scared. I got down on all fours and pretended to be a dog ready to play. She warmed up instantly.

Lots of positive reinforcements!

Not sure if someone mentioned this, but why not have your friend (that your pup likes so much) to come over and spend some quality time with you and your pup. Does he act differently with your friend in YOUR house?

[Sway Says]

Harley and Nozzel are the same age and we probably got them around the same time.

When I first got Harley I kind of regretted it. No not kind of. I really thought I had made a huge mistake. I felt like you feel now.

I was overwhelemed, I was confused, I thought he didn't really like me.

Now Harls loves the crap out of me. I mean... this guy won't let me go to the bathroom alone, he waits for me beside the shower, he helps in the kitchen and he sits by my bed while I study. Why? I don't know. We started out with a bumpy start but somehow we really did end up bonding. He loves me. Nozzel'll love you too. Believe it.

You might think: Nozzel doesn't like me. I didn't think Harley liked me either. But I fed him long enough and he changed his mind.

You might think: I don't like Nozzel. Well let me tell you something... when a yorkie decides he loves you, it's a relationship you can't get out of. You'll learn to love Nozzel because he'll eventually adopt you. And you can't get a restraining order on him, so you'll have no choice but to go with it.

I think one of the main things that caused us to bond was the fact that I insisted he be in the room with me all the time. I think he probably thought it was because I had a crush on him, but it was really because I didn't want him to pee somewhere. I'll let him believe the crush thing, though.

But the big thing is: he sleeps in my room. Not in my bed, though. But in a crate beside my bed. He feels like he's part of the pack. He is, after all!

As a puppy I took care of him when he was extremely sick. I honestly thought he would die. But he didn't. And I don't know if dogs care about such things but it seems like he hasn't forgotten that I was there for him.

We play together. I throw the ball, if he brings it back to me he gets a bit of his dinner. I feed him his dinner one kibble at a time every time he brings the ball back.

About punishment... I do punish Harley. He may get that little rumbleseat popped if he decides to pee somewhere he knows he shouldn't. But after I finish fussing I show him some love and usually half-way through my fussing he's trying to lick me and cuddle. He's the worst person to argue with.

Ways to bond with your dog: Let him have an article of clothing of yours in his crate so he can smell you when you're away, let him sleep in your room, spend quality time, groom your dog every couple days, or go to obedience school.

I would suggest touching your dog softly. Even though I do pop Harley's behind now and then I do massage him every day. We sit in my recliner and I pet him, touch his paws, scratch his belly, play with his ears, snuggle him, tell him he's a good boy and let him take a nap in my lap.

Your dog knows you're frustrated. It's not a secret. Yorkies are little ninjas. They know everything. Just calm down and so will he. Currently he's scared of you. Perhaps because you're so tense and he feels negative energy from you. Just be neutral for like a week. I promise things will get better.

[tritsy]

Wow! So many caring yorkie lovers here, I could just cry!!! I agree with everyone-patience, consistency! I don't have the same situation, as my yorkie is 9 years old, but he was a puppy mill rescue, so we did have the fear factor in common.

Your puppy wants to love and trust you, and he will! With Sammy, I always kept him in the same room with me (for the potty training!). He was afraid of a human voice, so talking was out. This made it harder-but here's how it did work for us, and you may be able to use it too.

I sat on the floor for HOURS every day! At first, he would just cower in a corner. But when he did come to me, I mostly ignored him-until that little paw came up to touch me (and that's when we bonded!). I just sat there on the floor (and eventually we made it to the couch) with a book or the tv (and he was so scared i couldn't even open a can of pop), and held him. cuddled him like a baby, stroked him when he wasn't too scared. then i was able to coo and not scare him. Every time I moved or made any noise, we were back to square one, but each time, he recovered faster, approached me sooner, and was scared for shorter periods of time. I think the trust really came in when we started going for walks together, but that was months later.

Everyone says not to treat your dog like a baby, but, for sammy and i, this is what worked for us.... I mean, how can you not love a baby? Now, I am slowly starting to let him act like a dog again! I'm sure Nozzel will show his love for you, as you fall for him, too.

[yorkiepuppie]

Originally Posted by hotpinktrouble

I'm laughing...I don't mind the long post at all!!!! You could write a book and I would read every word!
I am definitely trying to avoid the fast movements...I'm just stuck with him and the potty-ing...He is usually very good and either holds it til I take him out or goes on the pee pad. Lately, though, he holds it for extrordinary amounts of time and will just not go for a long long time if he gets scared. I guess I'm confused about whether to just let him go wherever or risk him getting scared but going in the right place. I actually wasn't mad at him tonight, and I think he realized that because he recovered pretty fast.
You are definitely a God send friend...
PS...I'm thinking good things will happen for June...I absolutely believe older dogs are the best teachers...

since you said that he used to be good with pee pad and going outside to go potty, maybe it's because of recent changes in his life that made him start having accidents again. (maybe because he was staying at your friends house and now he is back at your house?)

things that happen in dog's life can add stress to them since they dont understand what is going on. so i think that given some time and working with him, he will pick it back up and not have accidents in the house once he gets used to the new situation again.

every dog is different. when i am working with milu, i won't use negative tone, because she is very sensitive, she doesn't understand the negative tone, she just gets scared. so with her personality, i have to always use positive reinforcements only, because nothing else works anyways.

i turn everything into a positive experience for her. like potty training, she LOVES her pee pad, because she knows that she will get a treat and praise everytime she goes there. so she loves her pee pads. basically, with every problem that i encounter, i try to think of a way that will be positive but still discourage her from doing things i don't want her to do.

i don't know about clicker training. but i did go to puppy school with milu, and i think that you don't really NEED a clicker, just have a key word, and it works the same as a clicker.

our keyword for milu is YES. everytime she does something good, i say YES. and YES = treat. always. you have to be fair and consistent leader to them. if you are unfair, then they don't respect you.

i wish you good luck with your baby, and don't hesitate to ask if you are having anymore problems working with him. there are a lot of knowledgable people here willing to help.