Added a second Yorkie...may have made a big mistake

[Ringo1]

We just went through this with a jealous Westie (alpha) and new female Yorkie. I would suggest investing in some baby gates for now and limit their time together. There is no need to rush. Also your newest baby could spend some time in his crate and your oldest could sniff around and get to know him that way - safely and not stressful for you or them.

Lavish attention on your oldest so he knows he is still the top dog and has not lost his status. Very important! This helped us a lot.

Try not to intervene too much in their interactions if you can help it. Ringo would stand over top of Lucy and dominate her (growl) and she would squeal like crazy - but there was never any biting. Biting should not be allowed. Yes, when Ringo went overboard in his 'corrections' of the new pup - I did step in.

Things should get better and your oldest should settle down. Many time in the first 3 weeks I regretted my decision. We're on week 4 now and things are pretty good. Yes, there are skirmishes, mainly over food or toys) so we don't leave high value toys laying around. Feed in separate rooms.

Good Luck! Keep us posted! Your vet will probably have some good advice . .

[JoeyP]

Okay ... the skinny on having two dogs

Everyone thinks that having two dogs will be wonderful
they'll be perfect companions for each other and all you'll have to do is whistle and they'll listen to anything you want to have them do

Wishful thinking .... dogs always have a hierarchy
they are pack animals
whenever two dogs meet they have to figure out a pecking order
I have two male littermates
They get along but believe me it's not all a bed of roses

when you introduce two adult dogs it's even harder
You're first dog had the run of the house
and now there's this intruder

[Ichabob]

I have two males they are half brothers a year apart, at first Wicket the oldest was very unhappy with his new baby brother but as time went by they became best buddies, now where one goes the other follows.

[jnsasha]

Any time you add a new dog into the pack it is an adjustment. I have four yorkies (3 boys and a girl). They all love each other and miss each other when one is at the doctor or groomer but they do have their moments. The bottom line is that you have to be the pack leader and once they know whose boss things should calm down. I've always had multiple dogs and wouldn't have it any other way. It's a win win situation-More love for mama and they have playmates lol. Just give them both plenty of love and attention and I'm sure things will get better.

[mkbartz]

Ugg. I am in the same boat as you. But I have to spayed female yorkies. They were fine for two years together but about month ago they decided to starting literally trying to kill eachother. I have no idea what changed!

I am trying to focus harder on being the pack leader, being more assertive, and more structured. We will see if that works. In the mean time, I tend to keep one in their cage or x pen while the other plays.

I will probably call in our dog trainer in the new year if things haven't improved!

Please keep me posted on your progress!

[rebeccag]

I'm thinking it could be the boy/boy thing too. I have an almost 13 year old Pekingnese who does not appreciate my male, Jonah. It stinks because Jonah loves him and always wants to be near him but "Grampa" seems set in his ways. He doesn't mind my female but doesn't want Jonah. My young male and female are together 24/7 but will go at it on occasion, usually over a bone or a chewy....one will steal it from the other and run etc. but they love eachother. I'm hoping your two will get used to eachother. Are you keeping them regardless?

[Critter]

I have been in your shoes, we got a yorkie a year and a half ago and he was the perfect dog, so easy to train, just a little love bug, never really got into much, doesn't really bark. I thought he needed a friend, did some research, asked some questions on the board and got another one in April of this year. I mean within 24 hours I thought I made a big mistake. This little 1.8lbs beast I bought home was dominating our lives. He was nothing like my Samson, so different and over the weeks it got worse. And he fought and dominated Samson like you would not believe. This little guy was totally the alpha male. I regretted my decision and cried about it, I even felt bad because I wanted him gone (I knew I wouldn't but it was how I felt). Fast forward to a lot of work, training, patience, and love and we made it through it. Do they still fight over things, yes. He can still be dominate at times but they have a love hate relationship. I always say they love hard and fight hard. Samson has learned to stand his own, I learned to be a pack leader more and Harley has learned his boundaries. I wouldn't trade Harley for anything. In many ways he can be more of a lovebug than Sam at times. They both bring so much to my live. I know its hard to see now but give it time, do be the pack leader, set boundaries for them and it will work out.

Good luck and keep us posted.

[maggiesmom_2007]

I just wanted to add something here,
I have 2 boys that are brothers and they are fixed. They get along because they have grown up together. Sometimes they fight and i have to holler knock it off, bu when the dust settles they are back to being the best of friends. My bond with either of the boys is very strong. Recently I brought another male home. I am currently showing him and at first there was some squabbling between all my stinkers and the new guy. But after everyone figured out their place they all get along very well.

[Yorkie24U]

I have 2 yorkie girls, same parents, 2 yrs apart. The older one just mothers her younger sister. They never have fights, being 10 and 12 yrs old, they are sweet ladies... such a joy !! They watch out for each other and are always together, no problems here. They even eat together out of a twin bowl.

Give your two some time, maybe they will settle down, good luck.

[cj125]

We have 2 - a boy and a girl - wouldn't have it any other way. It really is like having kids. You have to have rules/guidelines and you're the enforcer. I wouldn't separate them unless there was a major fight - but keep your eyes on them. If you put one in a cage/xpen and not the other - it will cause problems. If the first one is the stronger personality - then acknowledge that by giving him the treats first but don't totally separate them.

My Mia was here first but is submissive on most things. The few things she insists on being the alpha about (going out any of the doors & being lead cat watcher) - Max respects. The other things don't matter to her so she lets Max think he's the Alpha with those.

The only problem we've ever had has just been recently. When we give them a flossie - it's at night when we go to bed and watch tv. Max decided he wanted both of them and would take off down the hall. I would have to go and take Mia's from him and give it back to her. Well, it escalated to where he looked like a shark going into a frenzy! If I just put my hand on the bed to look for the remote control he would make this weird sound and jump up scrambling around looking for the other flossie. After watching Victoria Stillwell I decided to try her "removal" method. Honestly, it only took 2 nights of removing him twice and it has stopped! I'll still stay on top of it but he now realizes that if he starts that - that he will be sent outside the bedroom door - separated from us. He does not like that! It was only for a few "seconds" but he's such a lovebug he doesn't want to be without us for one second.

Uh...one more thing. Both of mine are spayed/neutered. Maybe things will calm down when both of their hormones calm down.

[westieboy]

They're both young and it's only been a little while since you had them. As long as there is no blood drawn let them work it out - this is nature at work. Someone has to be the leader and I'm sure one of them will submit over time. If it looks like it is getting too rough just step in and break it up but try not to interfere too much.

They got along before but that was somewhere else. The submissive dog there might feel this is his territory - the shelter people should have known that.

[cthalhofer]

We got Kingston November 1st and finally a month later him and abby are finally settling in it all just takes time

[violet voon]

I'm quite new here, and I've never had 2 dogs at a time, but my mum's friend does.
She has male Golden retriever (GR) for some years and it's always good and tamed, that's why she decided to get a male shih tzu (ST) last year, both of them couldn't get along, GR hates ST and ST hates GR. They fought everyday, at first she just let them fight, naturally the one who wins in fight will become the leader, this was what she thought.
But after a while it didn't work out because there were times her GR bitten off the ST hairs and hurt it, the ST often injured and bleed. She decided to separate them, and place them together only under her supervision. She didn't give up in trying, she took months in trying
Until a day (recent months), my mum got a call from her friend, my mum's friend was admitted to the hospital because her GR intended to kill the ST, GR actually locked ST throat and the ST nearly died, so she used her hands, fingers to force open her GR's mouth and wanted to let ST go but the GR wouldn't allow, and actually bite even harder, she tried and tried until her index finger was bitten off by her GR! The bone cracked and her fleshes came out, the GR got very scared to hear his mum's scream and finally let the ST go!
So now, this friend of my mum lost 1/2 of her index finger and stopped the fight between her GR and ST. But sometimes they will still fight, but unlike previously.
I met her that day, she admitted it was definitely a horrible experience for her, but she still loves her furbabies, she told me
I didn't mean it's bad to have 2 dogs, because I still see a lot of people have 2 or more dogs and they get along well, I was just telling what I saw, it really much depends on the personalities of each furbabies, your furbabies are both young and I think they would be OK if you spend more time with them.
Best of luck, keep posting!

[westieboy]

Originally Posted by violet voon

I'm quite new here, and I've never had 2 dogs at a time, but my mum's friend does.
She has male Golden retriever (GR) for some years and it's always good and tamed, that's why she decided to get a male shih tzu (ST) last year, both of them couldn't get along, GR hates ST and ST hates GR. They fought everyday, at first she just let them fight, naturally the one who wins in fight will become the leader, this was what she thought.
But after a while it didn't work out because there were times her GR bitten off the ST hairs and hurt it, the ST often injured and bleed. She decided to separate them, and place them together only under her supervision. She didn't give up in trying, she took months in trying
Until a day (recent months), my mum got a call from her friend, my mum's friend was admitted to the hospital because her GR intended to kill the ST, GR actually locked ST throat and the ST nearly died, so she used her hands, fingers to force open her GR's mouth and wanted to let ST go but the GR wouldn't allow, and actually bite even harder, she tried and tried until her index finger was bitten off by her GR! The bone cracked and her fleshes came out, the GR got very scared to hear his mum's scream and finally let the ST go!
So now, this friend of my mum lost 1/2 of her index finger and stopped the fight between her GR and ST. But sometimes they will still fight, but unlike previously.
I met her that day, she admitted it was definitely a horrible experience for her, but she still loves her furbabies, she told me
I didn't mean it's bad to have 2 dogs, because I still see a lot of people have 2 or more dogs and they get along well, I was just telling what I saw, it really much depends on the personalities of each furbabies, your furbabies are both young and I think they would be OK if you spend more time with them.
Best of luck, keep posting!

If they are drawing blood, that's a sign that it is not a resolvable situation and better to rehome. Hopefully that's not the situation here. At the first sign of serious fighting, one has to consider that in nature it is sometimes a fight to the death.

[violet voon]

Originally Posted by westieboy

If they are drawing blood, that's a sign that it is not a resolvable situation and better to rehome. Hopefully that's not the situation here. At the first sign of serious fighting, one has to consider that in nature it is sometimes a fight to the death.

No, she keeps them both until today, sometimes they will still fight over things but not as aggressive as previously, most of the time they just ignore each other
Well it's her decision as she's the mum!