I need advice:(
 

Hello. I have an 8 year old male yorkie. He has been completely spoiled with constant love and attention since he was a pup. I recently had a baby and my yorkie is devastated. I think he has major depression. He no longer sleeps with me and he actually looks like he is crying all the time. He poops in the baby's nursery, but is not aggressive towards the baby. It seems he has a broken heart and it's killing me. I walk him on his regular schedule and he still gets attention. Just not the same amount as before I had the baby. He was used to being on my lap and not sharing me. I never thought I would consider rehoming him , but I am thinking maybe he would be happier in another home. I never thought I would be the type of person that had a baby and got rid of their dog. I don't know what to do. I love him dearly and just want him to be happy. I am not sure I could even find a good home for a dog this age. YT is the only community I trust when it comes to yorkies.

Congratulations on your new baby! I think that your little cutie Romeo needs time to adjust to sharing his mommy. I am sure that he is feeling very sad but I don't think rehoming him would a good decision. Try to give him special one-on-one time as much as you can. This is a huge change in his life and in time he will be back to normal. Maybe you can buy him some new toys and treats and give them to him when you have the baby so he will associate your new little one with good things. I'm sure that things will work out.

Congrats on the new baby Bernadette!

I'm sorry Romeo is feeling depressed about the baby. How old is the baby now and has he been acting this way since you brought the baby home? Did you do anything to prepare him for the baby?

Romeo is a tough cookie. I wouldn't rehome him unless he starts acting out towards the baby. Try to spend time with him and the baby at the same time. Also, try to set aside some alone time with him every day. I know that's hard with a new baby but it might make him feel special again.

also, close the door to the baby room or put up a gate so he can't go in there.

I agree with the last post that re-homing would only devastate him more. It's a change for everyone in the home. The one on one time is a great idea. Make sure he still feels like he has mommy time. He will adjust, he's just adapting to not being an only "child" anymore.

Congratulations on your baby!! How long has your little one had to get used to the new addition?

please please please do not rehome your dog!!!! that will only make things worse! and will feel abandonned by the family he loves.

poor little guy!

Congratulations to you! I agree with everyone else to keep your dog as he just needs a little more time to adjust. He's acting out right now because mines acts similiar when my grandaughter arrived. I try to let them smell the baby and let them hear her and see us interact with her so it's getting better. Neither of mines have been aggressive but the run away when they hear her cry or make a noise. If I am around sitting on the couch with the baby, they will come closer now and have fallen asleep by her. I say just get him sometime but still get on him about bad behaviour so that won't continue. Good luck to you!

I would give Romeo more time to adjust. My friend just went thru the same thing and she was going to let me adpot her female yorkie. The day I was going to pick the female up she changed her mind.

Please give Romeo some time. You have to think where he is coming from. All of a sudden is isn't number one in your book so he is going to act upset. Just try to give him some special time, and love and I think he will adjust.


BUT, I honetly think:
If you give him some time and he still isn't showing any signs of getting better then maybe you should find him a new home, if you honestly- in your heart think he is depressed, and if you think he would be happier being the only dog with no human kids.

Thats something you would have to think about it, and think about it hard. My friend was set on giving her female to me, and the day of she couldn't do it. Now the female is doing a lot better, but her baby is 1. The yorkie gets a little more time and attention. It scares me now because my friend is preggers again and I think I will end up getting her yorkie..

Give him some time, and then reevaluate the situation.

Good Luck to you, and Congrats on the baby!

I am sure he would be more depressed if you sent him to a new home- let him adjust- continue to spend one on one time with him- also try to spend some time with him and the baby- when the weather gets nicer maybe you could include the baby in your daily walks- this way he will see the baby as part of your life together- not the thing that prevents him from spending time with you. Find really yummy treats that he likes and only give him those treats when the baby is around- this will help him associate baby with good things. You are lucky- since he is not acting out towards the baby you have time to work on this.

Youve gotten some good advice already. Just sounds he needs some more time. After we got Maggie, I would take a day and spend it with hot rod running errands while hubby took care of Maggie. maybe you two could take a trip to the petstore and new get some new treats.

Congrats on your new addition. :)

My little maltese was about 6 when my son was born. And yes, Casper, was my first 'baby'. He had so much adjusting to do; but he did it. He did still sleep with me though.

I would try to include Casper as much as I could. Throw the ball for him while the baby was in my lap and my son loooved to go for stroller rides so Casper still got his walk.

He'll adjust. You simply do not have the same amount of time to spend with him as you did before. Much as younger children have to adjust when the newest baby comes home . .

Best of Luck.

Yes, please give it ample time.

Things will work themselves out.

Please don't rehome him, then he'd be even sadder. Just give him time and I'm sure he will adjust. YT is a smart breed, I'm sure Romeo will learn to share :D Congratz on your new baby! I hope things work out!

I think he is acting just as a young sibling would act. My daughter is pregnant with her second child and her 4yr old is not happy with the thought of "sharing".

I think he'll soon know that you still love him and eventually will have another that will love him too.

Congratulations on the baby!!

I would just give him lots of time.

When I had my first baby I had an American Eskimo. He loved me soooooo much and was always on my lap (barely), by my side, with me on a walk, and so on. We prepared him for the birth, brought clothes and blankets home to him while we were still in the hospital and I went in to see him when bringing her home BEFORE bringing her in.
It took him about 2 minutes to go over to the hearth, face the fireplace and lay down with his back to the room. He went there for 2 weeks straight. We were devastated. Over time he spent more and more time with my hubby and was always happy with my kids. While things were never exactly the same, he had a happy home he loved and was totally devoted to my hubby.

Have lots of patience and keep that little guy around. He will adjust in his own time and his own way.

Thanks for the advice. My baby is 4 months old now. Romeo just seems to be getting worse and not better. I am very good to him. He gets more treats and walks plus one on one time with me. I am getting ready to go back to work and I am afraid he will be completely crushed:( It is difficult to see him so sad.

Maybe when the weather warms up he will feel better. This is my only hope.

Is there anyone in the family that could maybe take him for a week to see how he'd do away from you for a little while? This way you would be able to tell if he'd be happier with someone else or with you. It may make the decision easier for you.

I don't know if this is a good suggestion or not but have you tried pretending that your baby is giving him a bunch of yummy treats? That way, maybe he'll be more happy that the baby is there as time goes on.

For example, while holding your baby, take a treat from his/her belly and give it to your dog. Make it a very yummy treat like chicken or something.

I don't have kids, but I'm thinking the one way we've gotten our yorkie to like people is by having them give him food. After a few days, he warms up to them.

Maybe that'll help your yorkie like your baby more and be more happy around him?

Update .. he is still very depressed. I don't know anyone that can take him.

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

i really don't think giving him a new home will help in depression. have you tried a private dog trainer to come and help you learn how to love him more and give him more attention. try something like that before you just give up on him. what you are dealing with is a GOOD situation. he's not aggressive so what's the problem? are you worried about his well-being or are you actually just done with your dog? because his happiness depends on staying with his family NOT being rehomed.

try the trainer thing and see if they can help give you more advice to break him out of his lonely shell. it takes a long long time. just don't give up.

if you decide that it's YOU that doesn't want HIM anymore then please find someone on YT or a YT rescue to take him to a forever home that will never give him up no matter what happens.

I'm sorry to hear this, has he had a checkup lately, could there be a medical reason for this? Pooping in the nursery isn't so bad; he's just claiming the space for himself. In fact, dogs often poop on things they like, like their masters slippers, it doesn't mean that they don't like you. I agree with Rachel, a dog trainer could help answer these questions, such as why he no longer wants to sleep with you. Best of luck, and let us know what you learn.

I was talking to someone about your problem and they said that you have to include the dog in everything you do with the baby. Just walking the dog alone won't be enough, you have to include the baby on the walk, so that you can walk as a pack. When you feed the baby, tell your dog you are going to feed the baby now, and let him smell the baby and give him a treat after you feed the baby. Just include him in everything you do with the baby changing diapers, everything.

This sounds like great advice! :thumbup:

Pooping in baby's room is a serious sign of him saying I'm dominant over you in a passive way...he's just establishing pack order and responding to all these crazy new smells was he ever around a baby before he had one come into "his" home?

Are you expressing sadness over him being sad when you are with him...he'll pick right up on it...walking him with baby is great, maybe he needs more intellectual stimulation right now...4 months is certainly an adjustment period but it has to be handled in the right way... and who says when and how long an adjustment takes?

Then again I might be the one posting this in a month...dogs don't love the new baby...

Are you seriously thinking of re-homing a dog you have had for 8 years because you now have a baby and the adjustment period hasn't been going well? Or is there more going on? If you don't answer that's fine I'm just personally curious...

I was thinking the same thing. Just show him love like you would a first child when you bring a second child home. I bet it is hard because you are tired and have so much going on. I think if you rehome him you will feel guilty in a while and that would not be good.

Even when bringing puppies home the first dog has to adjust... Remy has been here a year and just now Sammy is playing with her and cuddling with her.. before he would mope and lay by himself..so there is hope if my grumppy ole man sammy can adjust :p

Congratulations and I wish you the best.. hang in there:thumbup:

I include ROmeo in everything "baby". She goes on walks with us too. He just sits on the couch all day with a sad look. He went to the vet and she said he needs to adjust. I really don't know if I could turn down a good home for him. People on YT know I am an over the top good mommy to Romeo. I really feel bad for him and tried everything to cheer him up. It is like the baby ruined his life:(

Romeo is so lovely! He is sulking that's for sure but you know in your heart that he loves you and is your heart as you are his. Perhaps some one on one time with Mommy as well as the pack stuff? I have seen you on here many times and I know how you feel about that little guy...He is working you. Teddi sulks too. Especially when I am on the computer doing programming. They get used to new routines...Yorkies are just more tenacious about trying to get their way! ♥ Sometimes...the harder we try the more they reflect our stress and worry. He would be lost without you...please reconsider and watch his diet and water intake.

Despite what the vet says on physical examination, there are a few medical conditions that will cause depression as well. Two that I know of first hand are - Pancreatitis and Kidney Disease. I am not telling you this to alarm you but so that you can watch his habits a bit closer. Drinking more often, peeing more often, not eating as much etc...all warrant a full panel workup.