Danger - Yorkies at Play
 

I have a situation here which I am not sure about so I look for advice.

I have two little furbutts one male (Raggs) five months old the other female (Ruby) six months old.

They just love each other and play non stop all day long and this is where my problem is.

Raggs is an extremely vocal dog when playing. I am not talking about Barking but geezzz...he growls all the time when wrestling Ruby.
If you did not know them and heard the noise I would not blame you for thinking they were fighting.

Once the wrestling stops they both go into "chase" mode and now the fun really starts.

Raggs chases Ruby and I have never seen anything faster on four legs.
During the chase he has this strange noise he makes. It is not a growl or a bark. It is not even a Yap but is best described as a mixture of all.
Again, those who can not see what's going on would think I am being cruel and he is hurt.

After a time of Hide and go seek the chaser changes to Ruby who is always in silent mode but Raggs continues his strange noise.

This play can go on for an hour or so then they both collapse in a heap cuddled up together and sleep.

Now the reason I post this item.

I had a visit from the RSPCA who said it was a routine visit and asked if they could see my dogs.

During the inspection they both took off in a fantastic chase game and the RSPCA Inspector could not move for laughing.

There was Raggs with his toy in his teeth running like hell and making this strange noise.

The Inspector then looked at their sleeping quarters and outside pen and said it was an amazing set up for two little dogs.

I asked about the reason for his visit today and he said that he had to respond to a "possible cruelty" report.

He left saying he had never seen two dogs so happy in all his career.

Do any of you have this noise with your furbutts ???? if so do you stop it or not. ????


The photographs show the outside pen used when we have to leave them home during the day.

The other is their sleeping pen in the house ,

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Hi, Mr Bart makes an awful noise, it's kinda like a cross between a grunt and a sneeze! If my neighbours didn't know about it, I would suspect they would also think that something was wrong with him. He is quiet embarrasing when were out and about, but we love him for it!
I will try and video him so you can all hear the noise he makes, he especially does it when he gets excited at seeing me when i've been gone a while, or when someone else new comes into the house.

I am shiveribg with glee right now. I am so relieved. Choppa is the exact same way. I posted in a tgread about it last night. He is 4.1 pounds and Shanti is 14 pounds andthe play so rough i referee sometimes. His little growl never makrs Shanti react. She is almost 3 so i know its not bad. He charges anything with that growl then plays it to death. I was nervous about it but coupled with his wagging tail and kisses i realized its just his way of letting us know he is NOT a little dude. LOL
Try and think of whomevet called as being concerned which is good. Im glad your visitor also got a giggle as im sure his calls hardly ever lead him to a wonderful living situation like yours.

Sorry about typos. Im using my tablet

Jackson is soooo loud when he really gets to playing. He makes lots of growls, grumbles and barks. It's all just play though!!!

Sounds like they have great fun together! Do you leave them outside during the day while you are gone?

I'm thinking, if so, this could be the reason for the report?

My dogs (especially Ringo) sound very scary when they are playing rough. Westies are very vocal that way. I'd hate to get in trouble for the noises HE makes.

Seems odd that a neighbor would even hear the rough play, didn't look like you are in an apartment.

I'm not sure how your weather is there, but it makes sense that you were reported more to the fact that they are outside with the adverse temperatures (hot/cold/rain). Even though you have a nice shelter for them, it doesn't do anything to in the way of temps. These little ones are house dogs and not meant to be outside dogs.

I'm thinking this may be more to the reason for the reporting. With the inside shelter, can they not stay in when you are away during the day:confused:

I think you are making assumptions with your post.

I fully understand that my loved ones are indoor dogs this is why their shelter is fully insulated and heated with electric lights and radio.

They are in the shelter only when we are unable to take them with us and it would only be a short period of time like two hours maximum.

We feel this is far better for them than being locked in a room and having to toilet in a cage.

My visitor was extremely complimentary about the cabin and he did inspect it.

The noise they make is playing all day outside in the sunshine and I do have people walking past my home on the other side of a wooden fence.

I do not understand why you thought it was a neighbour who made the report, I never mentioned a neighbour. Is it unreasonable for it to be any person walking past or do you have neighbours who report things like this. :mad::mad::mad:

I glad to see this post because when Callie (who is a very non noise making dog) tries to play with Sammy she does what I think is growling but because she never does it any other time we didnt know what was going on but her little tail and his little tail wag like crazy. It really is a terrible noise but now that I know other yorkies do that too it makes me feel better :)

WOW if someone came to inspect my house, I'd slam the door in their faces unless they could show me a search warrant! I guess things are different in England...

Jax doesn't make a lot of noise, but my Toy Fox terrier, Zipper, snarls a lot when playing, and my dad's yorkie, Max, makes this constant growling that sounds like an angry bee. They are happy and playing, and there's no way to make them be quiet so I don't try.

Please don't take it personal when someone voices an opinion that you disagree with. This is a back and forth type of chat, sometimes we don't have all the facts and make wrong assumptions. My own feelings have been hurt and at times and I felt unjustly attacked. But over time, I realized that the people on here LOVE YORKIES and go to extraordinary measures to do what they think is right for them. There are some very strong opinions and diverse idiosyncratic ways of dealing with the same issue. I don't think many people here are familiar with the lovely outside cabin you have made for your doggies. I even noticed the nice doggie door. Perhaps some assumed it was an outside building for garden tools or something. I think you have wonderful set up for your Yorkies. Now to chat about the loud growl noises. I have two, 5 month old puppies. They make astounding sounds. If I had not raised puppies before and heard the yips, growls,whines, screeches coming from someones home, I would think something was very wrong ! I think this is what happened to you. Not to worry, your puppies are healthy, happy and have a wonderful home. As they get older the play will get calmer and less noisy. Hugs Teresa

I would assume she thought it was a neighbor because a mere passerby wouldn't hear the noises often enough, or know about your "outside shelter" like a neighbor would. As a neighbor, I hear when my neighbors come home, I hear when they argue, I hear when they have a party in their backyard. If I were to hear noises as you yourself described "sound like I'm being cruel and they're being hurt" every day, all day from my neighbors, I might call too. I probably wouldn't call if I heard those things one time from simply passing by someone's house/yard.

Excuse me if you are offended by my "assumption" . You came looking for advise and I was trying to sit on the out and see what others may be hearing/feeling from the street.

Neighbor was used as a general term..(someone is walking in the neighborhood) not necesarily the guy/gal next door.

Sounds like Raggs is having so much fun that he just cannot contain himself. Gracie likes to bark when she is having fun and when she wants to have fun. She will come up to me while I am on my laptop and drop her ball and start to bark until I give up and engage in a game of fetch with her. I have thought of getting a friend for her to play with but we might have so much fun that she is barking all the time! That and the fact that if she bonded too much with another dog I would miss the time she spends with me.
Your set up looks wonderful. I was just reading an article that someone posted on facebook. It's a piece by the AKC about the increase of registered dogs being taken from their owners. It says to be sure not to leave your dogs in the back or front yard unattended as these thieves have been known to take the dogs right out of their yards. I hope your enclosure is secure from that type of threat. Your babies sound like a delight.

This is the situation in my home.

We have lots of play area for my loved ones the first picture shows the area and the fence.

The second picture shows the public side of the fence so you should now understand the situation.

AQs far as my house being "inspected" is concerned the RSPCA have a duty to protect all animals but can only request entry they can not force entry only the police can do that.

I fully support the RSPCA who have a terrible job at times and willingly allowed them in to see whatever they wanted to see nothing but nothing was refused.

From that visit I got a full clean bill of health and congratulated on my animal welfare.

My question was about the noise Raggs makes asking if anyone else had the same thing.

Now I know they do so I am feeling better about it.

I have no complaint about people reporting possible cruelty in fact it is my belief that there is not enough of it.

I do really want to understand my puppies and do my level best for them.


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Yes, I do see now and I can see why someone walking by (I would think on a regular basis, not just once walking by though) they would be concerned and report. I'm all about protecting animals too, as they cannot help themselves and count on us.

I would like to believe everyone did that, but we live in the real world and unfortunately know that is not the case.

Thanks for sharing these pictures, and I agree, your set up is very nice. They look well protected with lots of room to run.

Zhoie is singleton, so not much chance to get to carried away. ;) She's not a barker. But I will tell you, occasionally we see our friends in MD who have 3 yorkies and as soon as we hit the door, she takes charge and holds the girls down one at a time....it sounds ferocious! But after a few times of this and she made it apparent...the BOSS is now in house....they all settle and play. However, if one of the girls gets around/jumps on her head....oh, it's on again. Can be a vicious cycle. :D

Thank you for taking the trouble to respond to me I really do appreciate that. The last thing in the world I wanted was a misunderstanding about how I am looking after my "rug rats". :D:D:D

I can tell you that my two babies can be very vocal when playing. The other day I was on the phone with my sister (who has a lab and a golden) and she was alarmed at the noises she heard from my two when they were romping around the yard. I laughed and assured her they were playing. I guess people unfamiliar with yorkie noises really do think they sound alarming. :rolleyes:

BTW, I absolutely love the set up you have! It's really quite lovely. I so wish I was able to have a doggie door to some type of outdoor enclosure so they could come and go at will. I have cats, though, who would definitely escape and we have quite a few hawks in the area, so I'd never be able to let them out alone. Now if I could just figure out a way to set up an outside enclosure that was somehow attached to the house that could be completely closed in with a roof...

OK here is the offer....as I am a retired builder send me a plane ticket and I will come over and build one for you....lol

We don't have trouble with birds of any kind here so I am lucky.

The reason I built this Yorkie House was because I did not like the idea of locking my puppies up in the house while we went out I felt that was just so wrong if I could avoid it.

Now they love this house they really do and they will go in and out at their leisure and can often be found during the day sleeping in the place, they just love it.

The little dog house has heating and air conditioning and they have a radio on all the time. I refused to pay for a TV let them save up if they want one....lol and as far as a telephone goes...forget it...rofl

The pictures show the house under construction not completed.

At night they are always in the house with us and I get out of bed at 5.30 every morning let them pee then take them to bed with Joan and I where they settle down for another hour or so.

Thank you for telling me about your noisy little one I feel so much better knowing that it is not just Raggs....:rolleyes::)


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Sorry I forgot this one showing it nearly completed.

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I have to say I am green with envy at just your outer fence! I don't think anyone is going to try to scale that fence for any reason!

Ha! Now I think I remember you! You've posted pictures of their house before, right? Trust me, if I had the funds, I would fly you over in a heartbeat! I would love for my babies to have such a nice area and to be able to come in and out (safely) during the day. :D

Guilty as charged your honour...lol

I think I know EXACTLY the sound you mean!!! My Lucy makes this sound if she runs over uncarpeted flooring when my two are playing chase. It's a squealing, yelpy prolonged sort of bark, rt? Really high pitched and when you first heard it, you freaked, because you would have SWORN your baby was in pain? I know it scared me to death!!! Her vet didn't seem worried about it when i mentioned it, and she never seems to be in any pain but... actually I still worry about it, because I've wondered if her little feet are sliding out from under her and maybe hurting her knees? I just don't know. So I try to stop mine from running on the hard bits of the flooring as much as I can. I don't know that it's really necessary... I just feel more comfortable when she runs around and doesn't make that pitiable sound! :D

That is an excellent description of the sound I am talking about.
Raggs only makes this noise when he is in chase mode.

When they are play wrestling he makes his growling noise and from the other side of the fence you would thing we had a terribly vicious dog so between the two different noises, chase then wrestle I can understand what a passer by would think.

I think you did the best thing you could in the circumstances.
If you denied the rspca entrance, it would have looked like you had something to hide!
I know it sucks when you're not doing anything wrong but some ppl just don't know/understand.
How about making a few fliers explaining you've had a visit from the rspca, have been cleared and explain the doggie sounds at play and pop them through the doors of ppl living near by?
It's not their fault if they dont know its a play noise (might not be dog people) and the best thing we can do is to teach them about it. They (whoever called the rspca) clearly love and care about animals so that's a good thing!

I totally agree with you and I have no problem with whoever reported it either.

You idea is good and will be done right away.

Thank you. :D

Wow your pups have a Fabulous situation there!! Lucky dogs;);)

OMG poppy does this sound too!!! Like she has sooooo many toys to play with and she only EVER plays with her huge eeyore toy haha thats like twice her size. She jumps on it and bites eeyores ears and drags him round by the ears growling and making sure eeyore knows whos boss lol. Then she might see the cat and they will play chease from one room into the other, first poppy running after the cat and then the cat running after poppy LOL. Poppy makes some REALLY weird sounds, makes me laugh ALOT lol hahaha :D xx

I would love to have such a nice set up for my two as well. It looks lovely. Great work!