timid behavior - not norm...
 

Hi,
We just got our first yorkie 2 weeks ago, her name is Harley. She is 9 1/2 months and belonged to a friend from HS. She is blending in with our family (kiddos, parents and golden retriever) just fine. We were home w/ her all day the first week we had her, but this past Monday my husband and I both had to go back to work. We bought a crate for her, but she just looked terrified in there. So, we decided to leave her out with Cali (golden) during the day and let her out to potty mid day. That is going well. For about 2 days now though her behavior seems a bit timid or afraid. She typically follows me (mom) around everywhere and she sleeps on the bed w/ my husband and I. For the last 2 days though when I go to pick her up she kind of scoots back like she's afraid. She usually sits right next to me when I work from home, but today she prefers to be in the little nook under the bathroom counter (like a spot for a chair).

My 3 kids adore her and are gentle with her and so is Cali.

My husband thinks I'm crazy, but we took her to the groomer Tue. and they shaved her :( Is it possible that she is self conscious or something of her mutt looking hair cut? I cannot think of any situation where anyone yelled at her or wasn't gentle w/ her that would cause her to behave this way. It breaks my heart that she seems scared!

Any ideas???

Thanks,
Teana

When you leave her during the day, is the house quiet? I know that when I am home and there are no radios or tvs on my dogs are quicker to jump or bark at noises like a branch hitting the house, car doors from neighbors, and such. So, I wonder if something got the dogs' attention and Golden's reaction to the noise, like barking, could have scared the new little girl into hiding. You might try leaving a radio or tv on when you are not home to muffle car noises or other noises from outside that they normally wouldn't listen to if you were home. Just a thought.

Hiding can sometimes indicate the dog is in pain. I would check her entire body closely.

If the shaving was a big change, she could feel strange with her new hairdo.

Also, exercise caution leaving her free with your Golden Retriever without supervision, especially since she is such a recent addition to your family.

I neglected to say, welcome to YorkieTalk. :)

Just a thought, but could the Golden be picking on her while you are gone and making her scared?

I wonder if the groomer nicked her or something bad happened at the groomer that scared her. She should come around. She is such a new addition to your family she may still be warming up. Welcome to YT and Congrats on the new addition also!

I was thinking the same thing. Although there are some Yorkies (like my Rio) that back up when you bend down to pick them up, but not out of fear but more like "ha ha you can't catch me!"

Firstly, WELCOME TO YORKIETALK! Anyway, I must agree with these two people. Something could have happened at the groomer. Where I work we have a groomer as well. So, it's a vet clinic and there is A LOT of noise of course. I don't know where you take yours or how it's set up. but maybe the noise of being there? could have scared the little York, or the groomer could have nicked her as well. I'm not sure. I have seen animals be not comfy with their new hair dues. Our office kitties (vanessa and casper) sometimes has to be shaved down. (which I HATE) and they just sit in their cage all day...for like a week...cause so many people make fun of them. :( it's just rude. So, that is a possibility too. maybe your new addition isn't use to her hair cut, yet. I'm sure she will snap out of it SOON. :animal-pa

Welcome to Yorkietalk Tena! My Ben will usually give me a cold shoulder the day he comes home from the groomers. He really dislikes the process and having to sit inside a cage is not something he is used to. So he pouts a while and makes me know for sure he is displeased with his treatment. By the next day he is usually back to normal. I try to bribe him with extra treats and tell him what a handsome little guy he is but he still has to wait for his own good time to be happy with me again. I know my groomer is especially good with him. She is partial to yorkies and knows Ben doesn't like his grooming so she really tries to treat him special. He just does not like being groomed.

Tiburonkid -- why do they have to shave the cats down? :confused: Just curious, as I did not know this had to be done for cats -- is there a medical reason or ?????

No, no medical issues they were just real matted. They are long haired cats... They hate it. So, this year I have vowed to brush them daily or at least twice a week to reduce this and it seems the whole office is on board. No one wants to them to be shaved. (the photos I attached are just the photos of our office kitties where I work...):animal-pa