Need advise for new Yorkie
 

Hello!
My brother-in-law found a little Yorkie wandering lost, dirty, hungry, and matted. Couldn't find his owner. We agreed to take him because he was such a happy-go-lucky little guy and showed no signs of little dog syndrome. We brought him to our home last Sunday evening (Oct 3). He attached to us so quickly -- we couldn't get more than 5 feet from him without him following; we always received such happy greetings; he seemed to be a typical busy-body Yorkie. We named him Dexter and he started responding to his name. Had a few potty accidents, but that was improving. He even started making friends with Jake the 18 lb cat.

I took him to the vet on Thursday for shots. Re-checked the micro chip information -- none of the numbers were in service. Vet figures he's 4 yrs old, and is in good health, except for needing his teeth cleaned.

The next stop was the groomers. His mats were down to the skin. They had to keep him for 3 hours and ended up clipping his body quite short. The groomer told me he was fine while she was clipping his back end, but as she got to his front, he strongly objected and was jumping and squirming. She said she put the clippers away and used scissors.

Yesterday he was a bit lethargic, but we expected that as a result of the shots. He did eat a good dinner and drink water. His stools are normal.

Yesterday, and still today, he's not acting anything like he did the first 4 days we had him. He won't come to me anymore. Hides under the dining room table. Won't come back in the door after he's been outside -- he just stands at the open door. No more happy greetings. He'll just sit in one spot or in his bed. A lot of shaking too. He still has a good appetite and his stools are normal.

While I've had dogs all my life, I've never had a Yorkie, or another breed this small. I would use some advise on what might be the problem, and/or how I can help Dexter get back to his "old" self. Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated!

Humm i would give the vet a call, he might be sick? If he is ok he might just be scared. Did he start doing this after he went to the groomers? Maybe now all his hair is clipped down he might feel a little more exposed, you dont know what has happened to him in the past. Maybe try and give him LOTS of treats and encourage him with ''good boy'' ect. Good luck let us know how you get on xxx

My Ben will pout for a full day after a trip to the groomers. I know the groomer is a very kind and compassionate lady who takes great pains making him comfortable as possible. It is just Ben does not like getting groomed and he is not happy with me for letting it happen. He always comes out of it and will sooner if I take him out to play in the back yard, fetching toys I throw for him. (He also doesn't bring toys back, wanting you to chase him down for them instead.) He is a "me" kinda of dog but I love him anyway. I hope your new adoptee is a little like Ben and just pouting from the trip to the groomers with nothing wrong to worry over.

I would think a titer test should have been done before giving him shots - he may have had some not long ago.

How about a heartworm check? Did they do that?

Is he on flea treatment?

Has he been neutered?

He has major changes in his short life. Drastic grooming cuts can affect some of them. He may feel naked.:) I would try to coax him out of his "mood" by trying to play with him and offer him healthy treats for being a good boy.

The shaking is concerning. How much does he weigh? He may be having some issues with hypoglycemia. Do you have nutrical to give him?

The dr said he's healthy, but health isn't always obvious just by a visual check and blood work can tell a lot more.

Thanks everyone for your comments.

Dexter has been neutered and he weighs 8.2 lbs. He's eating real good. We're giving him treats for being a good boy. But he won't play and won't come to us. He doesn't act afraid... he just won't move. He doesn't run away from us either if we walk up to him.

In over 30 years of having dogs, I've never had one that suddenly started acting this way.

It's pretty standard to vaccinate rescues without titers.

Heartworm test would be a good idea and he should be put on a preventative like Heartguard.

Here is a great article that might help with his adjustment. Although it is titled rehabbing a puppymill rescue the suggestions would help in this situation too.

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...ll-rescue.html

The true personality in a rehomed dog will usually come out within 2 weeks. Just work with him to assure that things are alright. The grooming might have caused him some trauma. Good luck and keep us posted. :)

aww, poor guy. It's a good thing the right person found him, and hopefully he'll start perking up again.

gah- my edit time limit expired.

You might also want to consult with a dog behavior analyst if his health check comes back clean. They can be quite helpful with deciphering some of the reactions to different people and stimuli.

I would say that maybe he just had a bit much going on and needs time to readjust. If you are worried you can call your vet, but i would give him a week to readjust making sure to keep it low key.

maybe he needs a shirt.
 

My daughters small yorkie about 3.5lbs does that after she is groomed .We figure she is cold and feels naked so a tee shirt helps just a thought hope it helps.
Mugwee1:wink:

Ok, we spent a good part of the day and a ton of money at the emergency vet today. Dexter was eating and drinking ok, but still won't come to me and acts so completely different than he did the first 4 days we had him. Blood tests, exam, etc. are all normal. Diagnosis: neurotic!

I'm sure what I'm about to say will result in a lot of negative replies... but I'm going to say it anyway.

In the past 35 years I've VERY successfully raised/owned rotties, goldens, cocker, cockapoo, shepherd/aussie mix, and newfie mix. Most have been rescues, some even geriatrics. I've obedience trained them all. My dogs were always well cared for, faithful, and affectionate. I take being a dog owner very seriously and can't stand the people who treat dogs as something disposable. I've had a lot of people ask my advice concerning training, behavior, etc. I've worked dogs through previous abuse and neglect issues -- they've been the best dogs!! I've had very large dogs who were extemely sensitive and shy. Some have had to been clipped close because of the condition I got them in. But none have ever behaved the way Dexter has.

I know a lot of people personify their pets. I've been guilty of that as well to some degree at different times. But, we have to remember they are still dogs -- they aren't human and not capable of most human emotions. Pampering and rewards while displaying inappropriate or unwanted behavior isn't going to help in the long run.

I understand that different dogs require different handling/training -- level of firmess, etc. Just because a dog is small doesn't mean they don't have to follow the same rules a large dog does. They should be held to the same standard of obedience. If not for household harmony, then for the dog's safety.

For a week now I've had people telling me I should just let Dexter do whatever, and most recently to give him treats until he "snaps" out of it since he was a stray and got a hair cut 4 days ago; that's it's ok to allow him to not respond or come when he's called. I can't live like this and I don't think it's fair to Dexter either. So, beginning tomorrow we're going to keep the harness on, and the leash if necessary, and start obedience training from the beginning -- gently, of course. Since he does well on a lead, maybe this will help. If it doesn't, I don't know what I'll do. But in order to fit into this household, Dexter has to first and foremost be a dog, and secondly, he has to mind.

Before a gazzilion people send me ugly replies, think for a minute... would Cesar Millan allow this type of behavior?????

I don't know what you are talking about really. MY dog is too cute to be reprimanded, they are just tiny little things, you did not describe misbehavior. I'm no dog expert and am owned by my Yorkie for 1 year now, she won't always come, and I don't expect her to do what I wanna all the time. I do expect obedience, of course, but we also know each other and I respect Melanie being Melanie. You barely know him, he barely know you, so please give him some time before going to harsh on him. Try to play with him, speak to him kindly and softly, run around, play wrestling, teach him tricks and praise him when he gets that right. Bond with him, try to gain his trust, you CAN NOT expect that the dog will obey you after a week in your home.

I don't know what first and foremost be a dog means, most of us here think of our yorkies as our little babies. So really, I have no idea about what you are talking about. You will need lots of patience in order to gain his trust, if you can't be patient about that you may wanna think about making him available to someone else who does.

Ah! And if you were already expecting ugly replies, then you shouldn't have posted this here. Most of us personify our pets.

Glad you had some blood tests done. I was kind of worried about the vaccinations. Yorkies may be dogs. Who knows?:D However, many also have reactions to vaccinations and many times over vets ( the so-called know-it-alls ) over-vaccinate. By that, I mean, they give them all of their shots in one day. Lepto is famous for reactions in yorkies. I don't give that vaccine to mine. Also, I never get the rabies vaccine at the same time as the other shots. I've seen the results that often occur by doing so. Vets are too quick to jump on the neuro bandwagon sometimes. If they can't categorize it - they're neurotic!

I hope your training works out well. FYI - yorkies are very independent and are very famous for not coming to their people and like to make a game of it.

You have lots of experience with dogs, but please also consider that all breeds are not the same just because they are dogs.

Don't negate the effects of over-vaccinating a small dog. I don't think anyone will send you any mean replies. People here often use the leash when they are training their little one's. However, I can only say that he is very small and you have no idea what he has been through in the past. Please let us know how his training goes. I'm sure things will work out in the end. I'd be a little neurotic if I was only 8 lbs and became lost from my family, too!:(

A dog will obey his owners commands but wont obey a stranger.
You are a stranger to him and he a stranger to you at this moment in time.
You need to gain his trust before he will begin to respond to training.
You know nothing about this dogs history, he may well have been abused and could be frightened of people.
Chances are he has never been groomed before so it was probably a bit of a shock to him, you may have lost any trust that he first had in you.
You need to show him that he CAN trust you and then I am sure he will begin to obey you.
It dosnt matter if you have owned dogs for 100 years, every dog and breed has a different personality, and as yorkieusa already mentioned yorkies are famous for being independent.
I recommend you read up on the breed before you begin training.
And nobody here is giving you ugly replies, we are giving you advice. :)

I'm so happy that physical reasons have been ruled out. Now he just needs to heal from his emotional and mental scarring.
Have you read the training book Nothing in Life is Free?

I have found my Razz to be quite independent and strong willed/stubborn. Very different from my other breed. He can try my patience at times. Also with the unknown history of your rescue, he might have been disciplined harshly on the come command. How I've worked with Razz on the come command, is with a very long retractable lead. That might work for your boy. gradually shorting up the lead until he comes to you.

I wish you all the best, and let us know how you two progress.