Please, HELP!
 

I'm not sure if I'm posting this in the right section or not, but I really don't think its a training issue, so here goes.......

I got a new baby 3 weeks ago. I posted pictures of her in the picture section :D but for those who didn't see I will post another here.

Her name is Ivy Lou...she is 9 mos old, 5.5 lbs..Ivy is a very active and outgoing pup and happy or I thought anyways.

Ivy was returned to my breeder about 6 weeks ago...the new owner told my breeder that she couldn't keep her cause her hubby didn't like dogs, which throw my breeder for loop cause she never told her that her hubby didn't like dogs cause if she had she would have never sold Ivy to her. And Ivy waking them up at 3am to go potty :rolleyes: that was her excuse for returning her.

Yesterday my daughter stopped by for something to eat before going to class, she is in college. Well she left the bathroom door open and Harley my paper shredder, went in there and got a whole roll of toilet paper...he had it everwhere in the hall way and living room :eek: I always take a deep breath and let it out when I find that they have been bad...than I start singing the Cop song...bad boy bad boy what am I gonna do, what am I gonna do with you...LOL I change it to bad girl when its Bella LOL....well Bella and Harley thinks its a game and they start barking at me and dancing around...I say they are back talking me...but anyways...I noticed as soon as I took that deep breath Ivy Lou coward down and ran to her bed and just started shaking all over, she was scared to death :( it just broke my heart...I picked her up and cuddle her, held her close to me until she stopped shaking and I put her down, she was fine at this point but I wasn't I just cried my eyes out. none of my babies have ever been scared of me but Ivy was :(

I think Ivy was abused or yelled at very loudly by her first owners and their reaction before the yelling or abuse was taking a deep breath like I did...We could be wrong but I don't think so.

So my question is...do you think with Ivy's reaction to my deep breath, shaking to death with fear...is a sign of being abused? and along with love and building her trust in us, What else if any can I do to reassure this sweet baby I would NEVER hurt her?

I have never asked for advice here before, I have always been very confident in my training ability to raise happy healthy yorkies but Ivy's reaction yesterday has shook me to my core.:cry:

It is heartbreaking. Abby is only 4 months and I have had her for about a month now and I feel she doesn't trust me yet. She backs away from me when I go near her.
I wondered what happened in her little life before me and if it could affect her. I just ignore her when she backs away and pick her up and kiss her.
I know by the end of the day she will be in the bed with me so she can't be that afraid of me.

It could be but it also could be she is just a real submissive or nervous type of yorkie. I have a girl that has never been yelled at that that will cower. She is just a nervous type of yorkie. She also shakes when things arent quite right

I don't have a clue as to whether Ivy was abused, but for her to get that scared, it sure sounds that way. Maybe just be extra loving and calm around her until she adjusts to your home and realizes you aren't going to harm or allow anyone else to harm her.
What a cute little girl, I just don't understand how anyone could abuse an animal. Maybe it was the husband who didn't like dogs to begin with.:(

You say Ivy’s first owners returned her to the breeder, I'm wondering if she had been returned, because they couldn't pee pad train her as fast as they thought they should be able to? Some people don’t bother reading about housebreaking and just think they can “tell” the dog what to do, and when the dog doesn’t understand, they punish. I use to think this cowering behavior always meant a dog had been abused, but I don’t think this anymore. I shook a can of pennies to stop barking and my son’s dog acted like he was scared to death, it didn’t faze Joey, so it really depends on the dog. It probably would help if you would try and build her confidence. I do trick- training with Joey, and I think that makes him feel special. I'm glad Ivy Lou is in a great home now!

I've never had a yorkie be that submissive and fear me. broke my heart.

Thats what I was thinking too, maybe the hubby.

Nancy, I have had Ivy for 3 weeks now and she has not had any accidents in the house yet, she is doing very well with the potty training but I'm very consistent with my training I don't give them a chance to fail...and when they do I blame myself....And I always thought that cowaring down like that was a sign of abuse too...and I can see a can of pennies scaring her but it doesn't faze tham at all and it doesn't stiop the barking LOL...All I did was take a deep breath and she freaked with fear..thats what makes me think its abuses....like you said maybe they were not as consistent with the potty training and when she did have an accident they punished her.:mad:

And I will start her trick training today I was waitting until she got a little more comfortable with us...but I think thats a good idea..Thank you!

I just can't stand to think of a poor defenseless dog being abused. I mean for her to freak out just because you take a deep breath, it really makes you wonder. Best of luck, I’m sure you’ll be able to make her feel safe and loved.

I know it breaks your heart but things will improve with time.
You will give enough security it just will take a little longer since it
was a rough start.

Well said. I have a kitty that I adopted from a rescue who had been abused in her previous home. It just broke my heart ever time I saw her jerk or cower when someone moved too quickly around her. She was really "hand shy". Well, fast forward to a year and a half later and she is doing great! I honestly can't remember the last time I saw her flinch. With love and time, she'll grow to trust you. Oh, and I think trick training is a great idea!

Ivy is a beautiful little girl. She is very lucky that she found someone like you to show her the patience, love and compassion she deserves. It sounds like you are doing all the right things. Given enough time and training, I'm sure you can help her build her confidence.