Just adopted a teacup yorkie and struggling
 

I found this site and I have found myself in a very different situation. I recently came into looking after a 4 year old teacup yorkie that my girlfriends mother could no longer look after. There is myriad of issues with this dog has and I hoping to find some kind of help.

I have been around dogs my whole life and I even raised sheep herding border collies and I have trained several bird hunting labradors, but this thing is driving me far more nuts than any of my other dogs.

to start this dog has a major potty training issue. I have proven that he is fully capable of holding it and does not have a problem with incontinence. if he is not held or i set him on an elevated surface where he cant move he will manage to roam the house and piddle where ever he pleases. again i have put him in a kennel several nights and he has had no accidents, but he seems to have issues when he is just sitting around the house. I read another post that said I should let him roam our backyard for awhile and get used to peeing out there. unfortunately i live in oregon and the day i chose to leave him outside for the day it poured rain all day and my girlfriend has not forgiven me for leaving him outside soaking.

my second problem with this dog is his eating habits. he only eats if there is someone around to watch him eat and there has to be boilded chicken mixed in with his food. I died a little the first time i saw this and it was kind of the straw that broke the camels back and I decided to look at some training. i put him in a closed fenced area with his food for an hour by himself and the issue with having someone there for him to eat seem to be solved, but he is only eating a small portion of food and I am worried he is not getting enough nutrients.

I believe these problems stemmed from the previous owner and how they raised him so far. They would constantly carry him, pamper him, spoil him and they chose to not to discipline him for his piddle problem. also if he did not eat his special dog food, they would just give him a bowl of boiled chicken.

I am hoping to find some answer and learn how to recondition this dog. I will not let this dog run our lives and I also know i cant treat it like one of my collies or bird dogs.I would like him to let us know when he needs to use the restroom and hopefully figure out if there is something wrong with his eating habits.

to help put things in perspective for my training methods, my last dog was a 60 pound border collie that I trained for sheep herding. I treated her like a normal human, fed her scraps of meat and other bad foods, swatted her when she disobeyed or did something bad, and was very stern with her, but i never had a single issue with aggression, running away and she was always attached to my hip and she lived to be 16.

any help will be greatly appreciated.

Please call a local rescue and surrender the dog to someone familiar with the breed.... your post made my skin crawl! Please give him/her to someone who appreciates the dog:mad:

You do not leave the dog out in the pouring rain!!!!!
You do not swat the dog!!!!!!!
You do not recondition the dog!!!!!

As the previous poster said, please surrender this dog to a rescue.
If I was closer to you I would take him in a minute.

Having owned and trained several different types of small dogs,let me just start by saying that a yorkie is NOTHING,I repeat NOTHING like any other breed. They do not respond well to raised voices,spanking or a show of anger at any other time. A dog that weighs only 4lbs should NEVER be left in a yard without a person,not even for 15min. Yes they do eat differently and yes they will refuse to eat and become ill. Its not that they are spoiled rotten,its because they are more like a child. Their personality is more human like than any dog I have ever worked with.

If everything he does has a purpose then he will respond. Teach him to ring a bell when he wishes to go out. If he rings the bell give him a treat,if he pottys outside then treat. Boiled chicken is one of the best things to give and it needs to be a tiny,very tiny piece so he wont fill up and not eat when he should. Remember he is in a new place with new people and everything is strange and scary to him. He is tiny and even a finger being shaken in his face looks like a tree branch.
There are many suggestions on how to train these little ones in the library here. The first thing that you have to wrap your head around is that this breed is VERY different. If you can come to that realization it will become easier to create a trusting relationship with this little fellow and he will respond better.

HI and welcome to YT!

Getting this new dog is not only stressful for you, but for HIM aswell, please take this into consideration when it comes to the way you will be handling training this dog from here on:)

I have had big dogs all my life too and now that I have a yorkie, I do believe different dogs respond to different training methods (though I would never hit a dog, big or small). My advice to you would be to treat this as if you just got a new tiny yorkie puppy.

1. Yorkies are notorious for being difficult to potty train, if the previous owner lapsed on this, it is now up to you. Do not enter into this training with frustration or anger, as this will not accomplish anything but confusion and even fear in your dog. I trained Ziggy to be able to use pee pads and go outside. Firstly I took him to his potty area every hour or so and waited no longer than 5 minutes for him to do his business. If he did it I would give LOTS of praise and say "Good Potty" (yes I named the action, now I can tell him to pee on command:D) if he didn't, we would go back inside and try an hour later. This continues and eventually your dog will learn that there is a specific place they should pee. When you catch him in the act of peeing where he is not supposed to use a stern NO POTTY!, and take him where he is allowed to pee. If you do NOT catch him in the act and find "evidence" DO NOT rub his face in it as he will not understand what he did wrong. Just clean it up and try again. This will take patience and understanding if you are to succeed, but it can be done.

2. Yorkies are notorious for also being fussy eaters. How much does your dog weigh? Depending on his size, he might not eat alot/ You could follow the weight/size of food guideline on the side of the pack of food, and your vet would definately be able to assist you on this. I believe your yorkie should be eating quality DOG food. To help him adjust to eating on his own, I have read on here about time restrictions. You could break up his daily meal into 2-4 servings (depending on his size) You place the food down in his eating area, give him 15 minutes to eat, then remove it at the end of that time. Eventually they learn to eat in that time. I personally FREE feed Ziggy because of his tiny size, but I do watch him and make sure he eats periodicly.

Above everything else I would really hope that you BOND with this dog, if you show him love and attention he is more likely to WANT to please you.. There is one last thing yorkies are notorious for, and that is UNCONDITIONAL love. See him as an individual and find training techniques that work for him, love him and he will reward you with positive behaviour and ofcourse great yorkie kisses!

Good lick and I hope some other member have more suggestings for you that might help

I understand frustrations. Yorkies are not for everyone. They are a unique breed and do require a little more. Here are my opinions. Number 1, if you don't want accidents in the house don't get an inside dog. There are options available in helping this problem. For example, belly bands. Number 2, I don't understand why the boiled chicken bothers you. I home cook for both my pups so I don't see a problem with giving him the chicken. Number 3, you should never hit a Yorkie. They are too tiny and you can cause serious problems for them by hitting them. Number 4, rain or shine, a yorkie should not be left outside all day in my opinion. Do you know how many of these pups are stolen? Number 5, please keep in mind this pup is going through major adjustments by being placed in a new home. He is having to make changes just like you. If you want this to work, then you are going to have to be patient and be willing to make adjustments with yourself as well. If you are not willing, then consideration of a rescue is a good idea. They will take the time to find the right home for him.

Thank you so much for your comments and concerns. I understand your frustrations with me and I have in no way used my collie methods on this dog. I know they wont work and im perfectly aware of that size difference, i should have been more clear.
I know im going to make mistakes and that is exactly why i am on this site because i know my old methods will not work and im trying to learn. giving this dog up doesnt exactly work. we attempted to give him to another family with yorkies, but he would not eat and lost half his body weight. he had a very strong connection to my girlfriends mother and the only other person he is comfortable with is my girlfriend. he only weighs 3 pounds and im trying to figure things out. yes i made a mistake with leaving him outside, but im trying to figure this out.

I appreciate your comments and concerns. We are going to a professional trainer to hopefully help ease this situation.

I know its a last effort, but does anyone know of a source where we could find a good family in the northwest to adopt if this doesnt work. my girlfriend initially brought this up but the thought made me feel uneasy, but after a couple weeks with him someone who has more experience may be the answer if training doesnt work

Yorkietalk is a wonderful place to find out lots of information. There are many people who are on here that has lots of experience with yorkies. You have come to the right place. And yes you will make mistakes. I have made my fair share. But I have learned from them as you will too. A professional trainer may be a good idea. I hope it works out. I am sure there is a rescue in your area if needed. I am not sure which ones are but I am sure someone here can help you with that.

It is great to hear that you will be working with a trainer, or if all else fails, trying to get him a loving family that he deserves. This tiny one really needs help.

I am in SA, so hopefully some one else on here who knows about rescue/rehoming in your area will be able to help you and the little man.

Another thought, Ladyjane on here would probably know if there was a rescue in your area. You could send her a pm (private message) and ask her. She is VERY knowledable about Yorkies.

I beg you, please find him another home, someone that is familiar with a yorkie and their needs these babies need the kind of attention and special care that you are finding frustrating, its the right thing to do. and it makes my heart ache to read how he has had to live while under your care.

alright, first take a rolled up newspaper, and every time your dog pees where he shouldn't HIT yourself with it. You are the one that made the mistake.

Second: This dog should be vet checked to see if everything is okay. UTI is one thing you want ruled out.

Third: There is nothing wrong with a few pieces of boiled chicken in with his kibble. If he likes you to watch, feed him while you are having breakfast, or dinner, or lunch. He will feel like part of the pack.

Fourth: A trainer is a good idea. So is exercising your dog on a regular schedule. Three pounds doesn't mean the dog doesn't need exercise, discipline, and training.

Have your trainer show you how to effectively correct/discipline your dog.

Your dog and you and your girlfriend, are all in a new relationship. Anything new has trials and tribulations. Stick with it. Train some every day, walk some, and laugh some. Pretty good recipe for a successful relationship

I am a foster parent through Yorkie Haven Rescue and am located just a few hours north of you. I could foster this guy if you decided to give surrender him to YHR.

It sounds like you need a little more patience and maybe a trainer. Good luck with him.

ok, i have to take a deep breath.
You never leave a yorkie alone, not even for 5 min, many of these babies are stolen, or taken by a predator.
You never hit/swat show anger, yell at a yorkie as they are a very sensitive breed.
They are small, they dont eat much, certainly not the same amount as a 60lb border collie.
They are truly a unique breed..unlike any other i have ever come across.
They are notorious for being difficult to potty train, my two are a year old and still have the occasional accident....my fault not theirs!
I am relieved you are enlisting the help of a professional trainer...this will take time and patience.
Take some time to read 'Yorshire Terriers for Dummies', its a great resource book.
If all else fails please contact Ladyjane with Yorkie Haven Rescue, she is very knowledgable and most likely will be able to point you in the right direction if you decide to give him up to rescue.
Good Luck

Hello and welcome to YT - you came to the right place to look for answers. Though your original post was a bit, how shall I say.... worrisome to me, I read all the posts here and note that you accepted responsibility and clarified a few things.

That said, when you say he potties all over, has he been neutered? If not, he could be marking his territory. He could have a urinary tract infection as someone else said. He may have some other medical issue, so if he is neutered, you may want to have him vet checked. Or, it could just be that he doesn't know any different and if that is the case, persistence and repetitiveness along with a few treats for good behavior are going to be the best way to potty train him.

Like some of the others have said, yorkies are a special breed and truly are more human like than any other breed I have ever seen/had.

I do hope the trainer you have decided to bring in really works out and that you are able to keep this very special little bundle of love. Good luck!

A small dog can absolutely not be left outside all day and if it is small enough to be pray for a hawk or anything in your area it should not be left out alone ever. In the rain is a huge no no if its all day it could become very very sick. Yorkies don't necessarily have to be "spoiled" but most of the time time they do require more attention and human interaction then other breeds. Hitting a dog not matter if it light or hard is never acceptable. You need to take the dog out to the bath room every hour I would say when potty training and give lots of praise when they go potty outside and a treat. If this dog is to much for you I would suggest surrendering it to a rescue. It can be hard to change behaviors it has had for 4 years and you really have to be willing to do that.

If I were you, I wouldn't put myself through all of the time, vet bills & brain drain it is going to take to learn how to deal with a dog this tiny and with these issues with the lack of experience that you have with the breed. I, too, would tend to recommend that you rehome this tiny dog with a rescue group that can place her with someone who has the experience, knowledge, time & patience to deal with the problems present now & those that will arise later.

:thumbup::thumbup: I agree. It takes a lot of patience and perseverance to deal with training issues, and so far it sounds like the OP might not be cut out for it. You really have to love and want the dog in the first place in order to go the extra mile to make it work. Due to the circumstances of acquiring this dog, that might not be the case.

There are some people out there who are up for the challenge and ready to do whatever it takes, and to love the dog unconditionally even if it all fails. It might be best to let him go be with one of those people, and do him and yourself a favor.

Welcome to YT. If you and your girlfriend do decide to keep this little one the best thing you can do is to LOVE him. They respond to the feeling of love more than they do anything. In order to train him he needs to feel safe with you above all and once you have his trust the training will be so much easier. Have you tried pee pads for him? We started ours (even our 5 year old rescue) out on them and gradually moved them closer to the door each day and then to the porch, then the yard. It takes time but it works. If after a trainer and trying you find you just cannot bond with him then yes it is best to find him a new home. I will tell you yorkies are one of the most loyal dogs you will ever have. Good luck.

:wavey: Welcome to YT ! First let me ask, Is a small indoor dog something you want to deal with ? If yes then prepare yourself as this dog WILL steel your heart once all the kinks are worked out BUT you may be in for the ride of your life as they are absolutely NOTHING like a large dog. So now lets get started, 1st you need to confine this pup at all times when you can't keep an eye on him with every move he makes & I don't mean in a crate. You can get an x-pen or put a baby gate up & keep him in the kitchen with his bed, food & water bowls & potty pads. Keep his bed, food & water at one end of the room & the potty pad at the other end. When you can be there to dedicate 100% of your attention then let him out of confinement & the second you let him out of confinement, take him outside & while he is in the act of doing his potty business tell him good boy go pee/poop & reward him. Do not give human food until you research what is acceptable to feed that is safe & will not cause pancreatitis. Take him for walks & do things to bond with him. Yorkies don't like to be alone at bed time so either let him sleep with you or put a crate in your bedroom for him to sleep in at night. Also as someone has already mentioned NEVER let him outside alone & while you are outside with him, keep an eye out for hawks & owls as they WILL make off with him. Yorkies are not like large dogs & are runners so he will need to be leashed at all times while outdoors & not behind a fenced area & they can be escape artists so make sure the fenced area is secure & that there are no small openings that he can slip through. Also when walking him use a harness & not a collar as collars can cause collapsing trachea in small dogs & this is life threatening & can't be reversed. When vaccinating do NOT do all vacs at one time as it's too much in their tiny bodies.Always use positive training. If all of this is not something you were prepared for & you don't have the desire to change your life style then as others have mentioned, you need to consider a reputable yorkie rescue, otherwise Welcome to being owned be a Yorkie.:)

Since tiny dogs are fragile, watch the dog closely to keep it from jumping off couches, chairs, beds, etc., since they can be easily injured, sometimes dislocating a joint or fracturing a bone or two & requiring even surgery to set or internally fix the fracture. Other dogs can hurt them fairly easily in rough play or an attack.

I just saw your other similar post : http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/gen...e-help-me.html

And all I can say is please let someone else rehome this dog. It doesn't sound like he will ever be a good fit for you.

If you do decide to surrender him to the rescue, I would be happy to help transport him from Portland to Couversmom in Washington.

Dog training is not an either/or. It's very possible that previously this dog WAS spoiled and untrained. However, that does not mean that he needs military discipline. It just means he's untaught. It's perfectly possible to train dogs with positive-only methods.

As others have said, yorkies can have tremendous difficulty with potty training. This can frustrate even the most gentle souls, so really consider if you have the patience to work on this for months. Literally, months. Take a look at the Training section, that has dozens of potty training threads.

Also consider that border collies are genius dogs. I volunteer as a dog walker, and there is a world of difference between a smart large breed dog and some of the not-so-smart little dogs. A Labrador will usually figure out that he should sit at street corners after one or two tries. Some small dogs don't grasp that for months, or ever.

To be honest, I'm not sure why it bothers you that he wants to be near you when he eats. Put his bowl down and read a magazine for 15 minutes. As long as you are giving him a good quality food, he will eventually eat it, though again, maybe without as much gusto as the large dogs you are used to.

Yorkies are known for being exceptionally attached dogs, and absolutely cannot be treated as outside dogs. One, because they will be miserable, and two, because they are easy prey. Owls have been known to try to take dogs as heavy as 14lbs.

Having raised and cared for 27 (including the 2 I have now) St. Bernard, Sheepdog, Pointers, Bloodhounds, Coon hounds, Black Labs, Pit Bulls, German Shepherds, and Yorkiepoos, I can honestly say there is no comparison between a Yorkie and any other dogs I've ever had, ever. Yorkies are different in so many ways.

Unless you fully educate yourself and really dive right in to a committment of training and caring for your Yorkie, you really should give it to a rescue.

I am an excellent trainer, infact I once got a call at work from my neighbor because my poor Black Lab was crying in the yard....problem was: when feeding them that morning and cleaning up after them, I told him to sit and stay.....I forgot to "release" him!!! He was not tethered, he was just very obedient. I left work, pulled up to the house, "come Shine" and gave him a kiss and hug and a treat...I felt so bad. With that said, My Yorkies will laydown, stay, roll over, give paw, give five, give kiss, go in your house, and hand signals with my deaf one, they listen almost all the time....however; not all the time. There are days when I can't get them to do a single thing I want, when litter box training goes right out the window, when hurt feelings make them stop eating and get sick. When I just don't know where I went wrong....Come here now...and they both go running under the bed...arrrghhhh, I just clean up, and start over again...they drive me crazy....but I long ago decided this is just the way they are! They are very different then other dogs, very....

When I read this thread my first thought was that you think of all dogs as "animals" and I couldn't help but think a Yorkie just may not be for you.

They are so different. I am not criticizing, I am just letting you know that you are in a whole different league with a Yorkie...everything you know about dogs does NOT pertain to a Yorkie...Word.

:thumbup::thumbup:
I too am a trainer (30 + years) I have trained all kinds, working dog, therapy dogs, pets and search & rescue breeds. For the last 15 years I have mainly worked with toy breeds and have developed training geared especially for them. Honestly,Yorkies really are unique. Many tried and true methods just don't work with them. Personally I think absolute outside potty training is very difficult. I prefer washable potty pads or litterbox. If you are not completely in love with this little fellow, please give him up to a rescue. People should not just put up with a dog. Like children ,I think every Yorkie should be cherished, wanted and loved. There is always a perfect match waiting to happen.

Welcome to YT, as others have said you have come to the right place. I have had my baby for 4 months, I got her when she was 12 weeks old. This was my first experience with a yorkie and I was going to do everything just right. So I read all the books I could get my hand on, had my plan all laid out of how to potty train her, etc. the only thing I didn't account for is that these little babies are simply that, babies. They get their feelings hurt so easy, and need more attention than I ever realized. I have told many people that say her and then decide they want one too, that I have spent the past few months more tired than I have ever been due to taking care of my new baby. I can't just put her down and go about my business. I watch her constantly, what is she chewing on? Does she need to pee pee? Zoe do you need a drink? Let's play a game with your food so you will eat, etc, etc. and my baby is even pretty well behaved and not nearly as small as yours at 4 1/2 pounds. Maybe she is spoiled, but I love her more than anything in the world and realize if I'm not willing to give her my all that I shouldn't have her in the first place. However the awesomeness, if you spend time with them is that she looks at me and cocks her head when I talk to her, she follows me everywhere I go, she gives me kisses when we go to bed, she sleeps all night right next to me, she loves me more than anything and brings me more joy than anyone or anything I have ever been with. But yes, she pees in the house from time to time, not always, but occasionally. I have to spend time with her when she eats because she likes to eat it out of my hand rather than her bowl. She insists I play with her in the evenings when I would rather sit and watch tv. She brings me her squeaky worm and doesn't stop squeaking until I play.

So my best advice to you is that if you are not willing to totally change your lifestyle for this baby then you should find someone who is. I'm not saying that is the case and maybe you are committed, I just think you need to be aware that it is a lifestyle change and not just an extra moving thing around.

Good luck to you

You know... Im sorry, I know I already posted on this but I am so upset about it I just cry. I cannot even imagine doing these things to my baby. I am in the midst of trying to find out if he has a liver shunt, I have emptied my savings for surgery, doctors etc... and yes he eats boiled chicken. I cant even imagine "taking him to the back yard and ..." if he was ill or injured (I have read your other post)

You should not have this baby in your home, all the things that you are listing are typical yorkie things. Im sure he can be trained to potty outside or on pads IF you take the time to do so but it doesnt sound to me like you want to.

And just as an FYI: even abused dog love their owners that doesnt make the abuse right.

There is a Yorkie Rescue and New Homes needed on YT. You might consider posting there. There are also Yorkie rescue people her at YT who will hopefully be able to help you. You can go to petfinder.com and do a search for a rescue in your area. It sounds like your little guy is going through quite a bit. Yorkie rescues are well prepared to deal with the stresses that Yorkies that have to be re-homed have to deal with. Please consider doing this little one a kindness and put him in a good Yorkie rescue.

Yorkies are terriers and have a totally different personality than the dogs you are accustomed to dealing with. They have to be trained much differently. A small Yorkie does run a person's life. They are lap dogs. They get cold very easily and really think they are human. It sounds like you do not have the personality for that type of companion. Please, never hit, swat or in anyway physically or psychologically harm a dog. Positive reinforcement always works best.

Excellent post.