Adopted Yorkie
 

Lola has been with our family for only a week. She is 7 months old. She is beautiful and can be very sweet. However at times she is very hyper and can be somewhat vicious and unmanegeable. ( i dont think she was very loved in her other home / maybe even mistreated) The boys ( ages 5, 9, 14 ) have totally fallen in love with her. She has snapped / growled twice at my five year old simply because he ran past her. We want to show her that she is safe and loved with us but I also can't accept her doing that. Yesterday, I took her to the baseball park where my husband coaches and my boys play baseball. Everyone wanted to pet her but all she did was bark and growl at everyone. She even growled at me when I didnt let her have her way. Any advice ? ....our family spends a lot of time at the park and I would love for her to be a part of it. When we got home she was back to being loving and sweet. My husband and I played with her and she was as happy as can be!

She sounds like a dominant, high energy puppy who needs to be trained to me, not an abused puppy. Find a good, positive based (most are) obedience class for her as soon as you can.

And kudos to you for rescuing her.

I will definitely look into it! Do you think she will adapt? I really want her to be able to socialize with others.

Poor Lola, she has got to be confused and upset. I don't know what her previous home was like but it's possible she got to do anything she wanted because she was ignored. Now she is in a busy household with active children. I bet she is really wondering where she fits in. In dogs it's really important for their security and happiness that they know where in the "pack" they fit in. Lola is probably trying to figure that all out - especially with the changes in her life, and she may be telling the younger kids that she is "boss" over them in the "pack" by growling.

Besides the obedience class (which is a wonderful idea) I would recommend you look up the "Nothing In Life Is Free" (NILIF) program. You can google it and find out lots of information but basically the concept is that the dog has to do something for you before they get anything they want - food, attention, walks etc. The kids have to be involved in this as well because they have to be seen as "above" Lola in the "pack". Dogs feel more secure and happy when they know where they fit into the pack and that they can rely on the "pack leader" (you) to discipline the younger "pack members" (your kids) and she doesn't have to.

Also - remember that a tired dog is a good dog. Make sure she gets plenty of exercise and it will help with the hyperness and make her less inclined to be "queen of the rule book".

After she is more comfortable in her new home then take her out in public. I would suggest going to smaller places at first (walk around the block, city park) so she isn't overwhelmed with everything. Dogs who are not used to lots of strangers or crowds and are taken to a ballpark may be overwhelmed with sights, scents, noises, etc. She may have felt worried or scared and that was why she growled at strangers. I'm sure she will love going in the future but it may just be too much for her right now. Just start out by going to places where she meets a few people and then gradually work up to larger crowds.

Good luck with your new family member and good for you for taking her in.
I'm sure with a little work she will fit right in.

Teresa

When a puppy has spent months either neglected, abused or both, they are confused, fearful, and not knowing what their place is or what they are supposed to do. They end up so fearful they are skittish, growl or bark too much or are snappy. They need training and structure, and lots of love and attention. They need to know where they should be in a pack.
Your wonderful to take this baby and give her a safe home. There are lots of training books available. Get one on training a young puppy, because you really do need to start from scratch. Hope we can meet your baby real soon.