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Hello! Hi everyone I just wanted to say hi :) We are getting our little Yorkie at the beginning of February, can't wait! This may seem a little odd but we also have 13 rats who are also our babies, I know Yorkies were initially bred to kill rats but do you think if I introduced him straight away while he is young he might take to them? It is not too much of a problem as the rats have their own room in the house (yes a bit spoiled) I was just wondering if there was a remote chance the puppy would like the rats! :S Anything is possible right?? Lou :) |
Hi and welcome to Yorkietalk, it depends, Joey loves his little rat-like toys that squeak, but he grabs them by the neck and shakes the heck out of them. I think even if you could get them use to each other as a puppy, they would still have that instinct that could come out as an adult, so my advice would be to separate them always if you want to ensure the safety of your rats. It’s one of those things that they could get along beautifully – until they don’t. |
We had hamsters and yorkies and when we were introducing them Chachi put one in his mouth. I would never trust them alone together |
I'm going to second Nancy1999's advice and say keep them seperated; it's not worth the risk. |
Really?? Seriously?? :eek: |
Thanks all.for the replies, they will be kept apart, better safe than sorry. We used to have a boxer who passed away with old age and she loved one my old rats. They used to both sit and eat out of the dog bowl together! :) |
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Yes they were very cute together, I think you are right about the big dog thing, our boxer was a big softie. This is our first Yorkie so I have been doing a lot of research, my parents have a young westie and I will be introducing them straight away so hopefully they will be best buddies too. One of my rats did bite the westie on the nose, I think he stayed away from then on! I never let them loose with him of course but he would always sit in from of their cage wagging his tail and putting his nose up to the bars. One of my old girls, Bo, was like an old miserable granny and obviously didn't want to be bothered by the dog but the others are all little softies too. |
PLEASE DO NOT Mix Yorkies and Rats. Some Yorkies still have and instinct to hunt and kill rats. I would trust my Tabby Kitty, before I trusted any of my Yorkies with a rat ! |
If you get a yorkie, be prepared for unending barking and that yorkie trying to get to the rats. |
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My rats are kept upstairs in their own room with the door closed (they have the run of the room) so I am not expecting this to be a problem. |
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A rat next to a Yorkie is like putting a Dairy Queen Blizzard next to me... The outlook for both is very glim. |
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I love rats!!! I had 4 rats for almost a year. They were so awesome and I still think of them and miss them so much. I decided to re-home them to a really good home...they needed and deserved more attention then my kids were willing to give them Anyhow, Sophia was fine with them. She is a very sweet and quiet girl and doesn't have a mean bone in her body. I was very careful about introducing them. One day I came home and the rat cage was open. :eek: Two of the rats were being very well behaved and stayed in the cage. :) I couldn't find the other two at first. Sophia was as calm as could be. There was some wrapping paper shredded in the living room, so I knew the ratties had been in there at some point. Within 2 hours I had found the other two. One of them was climbing on the cage trying to get back in and the other was behind a couch cushion about a foot away from the cage. They are very intelligent animals. Sophia and the rats had been out together for about 6 hours total. I was really glad it had a happy ending. So, my thought it this, it probably depends on the Yorkie. This was before we had Peyton....I don't think I'd trust him within 5 feet of a rat. Please use caution and go slowly. Good luck to you. :) |
Just thought I'd butt in too!! :) Before getting Harry, we were all set to re-home a baby girl :aimeeyork. Her owner had rats - and even the faint smell of them in a different room sent that little girl sniffing at the door frame and getting in a state. The rats were aware of this, and it was driving them nuts too. Apparently there was chaos - but because the rats came first and belonged to 'the daughter' - it was the Yorkie that had to go. Worth just bearing in mind! Sally + Harry x |
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