New Yorkie - rescue (have questions)
 

Hi..
My sister and her family just got a little male yorkie. He was given to them this evening. The family who had him was moving out of town and didn't want him any longer. They said they were either going to dump him or shoot him if someone didn't take him :( All they know about him is that he is supposedly an older pup ... not a year old yet. Although they don't know if that is a fact. They hope the veteranarian can tell them his age when they take him. He has not been nuetered yet which they will have done soon as possible. He's a little guy... I'm guessing 5 pounds.
he looks healthy as far as weight and the way he looks and acts. He lived in a home with young kids /or atleast one young child. They also had a large German Shepherd dog.
He seems to be friendly for the most part and he has a sweet disposition but he does get "growly" sometimes and even snapped at my 12 year old niece and bit my nephew who was over to visit. He seems more likely to do the growling when you go to pick him up when he doesn't want to be picked up. ...or dong something to/with him that he doesn't want.
We are not sure about his house training. He did good in the house until a little bit ago, he went pee on the floor. They had just had him outside a couple of times giving him the oppertunity to go outside but he didn't.
After he went pee in the floor, he ran and hid and when my sister went to get him he was growling at her. (which led me to think that he has been hit on or something for doing this in his old home)
This is their first time having a house dog. I have had house dogs but they have always been young puppies when I got them and so I wasn't having to "un-do" wrong training or dealing with the growling. ...and I'm no Yorkie expert since Paisley is my first one.
I suggested that when he growl, they hold their hand up in front of him (in a "stop" position) and make noise, or "NO'..stern but not mean. That seems to be working. Honestly he seems like a very sweet dog. Any suggestions on what to do to help train him would be appreciated. He seems to be happy at their house.
Another thing.. he does sleep in a pet taxi at night... anyway that's what the people said. When they brought his pet taxi in he started barking like he was happy to see it. Please any input is appreciated!

Hi, I don't have any advice, but wanted to say Bless your family for taking him in. How awful to threaten to shoot a puppy because you don't want him anymore. Not even jokingly is this acceptable IMO. sounds like he is in a much better and healthier environment for him. Hope things work out for the best for him...

I am sure more experienced YTers will be along shortly to help with re training issues.

It sounds like this little guy will need alot of time to learn to trust. Whoever had him before didnt treat him very well. Lots of treats for good job done,stern commands but NO yelling,no chasing him when he does wrong. As for potty training they need to start from the beginning. Set a timer for every hour for a while,he goes out and does not come in until he potties and they learn his bodies schedule of when he will need to pee and poo. He should not be let out alone,if he pees he gets a treat and a major show of happy dance. If he poos,repeat treat and happy dance. I know that it sounds silly but what this little fellow needs is approval,love and gentle,firm talking.
Im sure that others will come along with other advice.

Thank you! Update... at bed time they put him in his pet taxi and he whimpered and bit at the door for just a little bit but then got quiet and went to sleep. He woke up at 7:30 this morning crying so they took him out and he went pee and they gave him a treat and told him how good he was! Then just a little biy later they took him out again and he peed again and so he got another treat (pup-a-roni) and some more praises. There was one growling episode this morning, he was sitting by my neice and I don't know if she reached for him or what but he growled. My sister went in and got him and just held him and talked soft and gentle to him and he curled up in her lap.
She said he seems to be real "cautious" of people when they reach for him. Which makes me think that he has most definately been mis-treated.

I will try and upload a pic of him. His name is Chaz. Which I think they're calling him Chazzy. This is the name he came with.

Edited to add... I have a wire crate that I am going to give them. The pet taxi is so tiny (it's the smallest you can buy) that he can barely stand or turn in it. I have a small wire crate that I think he would like better. A doggy bed fits nice it. Not too big to where there is room to potty in it but big enough to be able to have some room to be comfortable.

Thank you Sisters family for taking him in, sounds like the little guy has had little or no proper training.

As far as potty, in my opinion they need to start right now with crate training and getting the little guy on a potty schedule. They've seen the results from his morning experience, he will go outside after being crated. They did the right thing by taking him out and praising when he did go.

As far as the growling, that one may be a little tougher, I think a stern no and removing the dog from the situation may be a good starter. I would caution with the soft talking, that may set the tone to the dog that if he growls he will get that attention.

Good luck to your sisters family.

Thank you:) They are using the crate. Well, the pet taxi until I get mine from my daughter's house to give to them (hopefully later today). When they got home from church they took him out of the crate and outside and he peed and got his treat and his praises. I haven't talked to them since then.

Thanks for all of the input.

My niece may make an account here and she can post a picture of him.

awwww poor baby sooo glad he has a great home now .. he just needs time and tlc and training he will get it he seems like a smart lil guy

It does sound like this dog has been mistreated. Sometimes people let their kids tote a little dog around like it is a toy. The poor thing. I would be really careful about approaching this dog. Move very slowly and speak in a friendly calm voice. He is not ready to trust people and is apparently still very distressed about the way he has been treated in the past. He is also confused about his new situation. It is going to take time to get him to trust. Your sister might want to have the kids stay clear of him until these issues can be overcome. He needs a quiet and calm setting to set him at ease.

If they want to crate train he does need a bigger crate. I would never leave a dog in a crate that size for any length of time. If he is taken outside on a regular basis and rewarded for going when he is out there he will pick up the training. Being in a new home can be very confusing for any dog but this guy has got some other issues to overcome as well.

Thank you for all the replies and advice!

I do want to say that the dog does not seem nervous at all. He acts like he LOVES being at their house. He also loves the kids... they are older kids. They are gentle with him and he seems like he wants to be with them.

They bought him some toys which he didn't take interest in right at first but the girls just kept playing with the toys with him and he likes them now!
I agree he has got some trust issues about humans whether it be from being hurt by kids or spanked by adults or whatever the poor little dog has been through.

My sister did say the holding her hand upright (like in a stop position) in front of him and making the ungh! noise... just a short but firm noise. Now when he starts to growl she does that and he stops. He used to just continue growling for a bit but now he stops immediately. He seems to be catching on that the growling is not an accepted behavoir.

He is a sweet little dog. We took him up town to the dollar store (we're in a small town and that's all we have. No walmart and no pet shops) but they got him some toys, food/water dishes, leash and some things he needed. We took him inside with us and he was just quiet and calm and liked everyone in there. So he's a sweet dog with a good disposition. It almost seems like whenever he growls, it's to make sure he is in charge... not wanting to be picked up. Maybe because the kids at his other home did hurt him??? I don't know.

I do think he will make them a good little pet. He just needs some time to adjust and see that he will be treated well at his new home.

Thanks again for all the advice.. any help is appreciated!

Update: They gave Chaz a bath while ago. He tolorated it but it's obviously not his favorite thing to do! They tried to dry him with a hair dryer on low ( I dry Paisley like that) but he hated that so they just used towels and then wrapped him in a snuggy for a bit.

They got him one of those canvas doggy tent crate things. Actually their cousin had it and gave it to them. So he stayed in tht while they went to church tonight and he had plenty of room and he seems to like it.

There hasn't been anymore potty accidents so far! Only the one last night. He's been going outside and he knows where the treats are and is excited to get one after he goes potty! It's amazing the improvement already in only 1 day!

Adding a pic of Chaz. This was taken with a cell phone so it's dark and blury.

I am so glad Chaz has found a safe and loving home. It sounds like they are doing a good job of working with him. He is adorable.

What a cutie!!

That is great how far he's come in just 24 hours. As with many adopted/rescued parents, you will all understand that it will just take a lot of love, time and patience.

Zeus was adopted 10 months ago and he's come so far since then. He's still insecure in some things but his anxiety took about 8 months to get to a comfortable level. Because he's (most likely) been abused, it's very important not to be loud or show signs of what he would see as aggression or else he may relapse.

That's great that he's getting praise - he probably hasn't had very much of that and it's a huge confidence booster!

Just keep doing what you/they're doing and things will keep getting better :)

Update: Last night after everyone went to bed Chaz escaped from his tent crate! He got the zipper undone and climbed in bed with my nieces! :D They woke up and he was snuggled up with them sound asleep :D
My sister got up and put him back in his crate and wired the zipper so he couldn't escape.


...and he has a vet appointment tomorrow evening.


Thanks for all your input!

How cute!! That reminds me of the first scene in "Lady and the Tramp" :D

I'm glad he's fitting right in!

He seems to like his new family :) He does still have some trust issues about being picked up. But he's doing better.

I am so glad to hear of the improvement. Even dogs that have been mistreated suffer from anxiety when their surroundings are changed. It sounds like he is doing great with his potty training. The trust issue is the thing that they really need to keep working on. Approaching him slowly and quietly will make him feel more secure with his new people. It's wonderful that he now has a loving home with people he can trust.

So glad to hear he is doing so good. yorkies are the BEST

I am so happy he has a good and caring family. Sounds like he will be a loving member of the family in no time.

Hello.. I have been busy the last few days. We own a store and we were getting it ready for our Christmas Open House this weekend. My sister came here to YT and made an account and then posted on this thread. She introduced herself and gave an update on Chaz but for some reason her posts aren't showing up.

She took Chaz to his vet appointemnt last week and the vet estimated his age as 8 months old. His weight was 4.8 pounds. He got his first set of vaccinations and his worming and heart guard and everything he needs and he's got another appointment for more vaccintions and they will be scheduling for his neutering.

How did I miss this thread? I love happy continuations:) I don't know how on earth someone wouldn't just snuggle and love him to pieces! He is super cute! I am glad he is doing well adjusting and bless your sister and her family:)

Hello and welcome...I missed this thread as well..I just love a happy ending! Bless your sister for taking Chaz in...he is a cutie! I'm so happy he has a wonderful loving family now.

Hello,
I 'm the owner of Chas that my sister has been updating you on. I have enjoyed reading all the helpful advice since this is the first house dog we've had & therefore the first dog I've ever house trained. We have had him a full week now & he's doing great, I think. He has been to the vet for the first time ever and had a good visit. He loves to go with us anywhere we go and he even enjoyed trick- or-treating in a new jack-o-lantern sweater! House training is going well too. He actually sat by the door to let us know he need a potty break for the first time. He is still a little "growlly" we we pick him up if he doesn't want to be? Still working on that? Overall we're enjoying our new family member:)

Hi and Welcome to Yorkie Talk, Thank you for rescuing little Chaz.

As you can see from this thread we have a lot of experience Yorkie owners who are always willing to share advice.

Keep posting your questions.

Hello and Welcome...Chaz is a real cutie.
This is a wonderful forum, where there are many with a wealth of experience and knowledge. All are willing to share, with whatever it is you need...again welcome, when you figure it out please post some more pics of Chaz, we love pictures here...:D

Hey... I see your post finally showed up! :)

Welcome to you and Chaz! I am so glad he is in a loving home:) I can't wait to see more pics of him!:D

I don't think my sister will mind me posting this picture. She mentioned that Chaz went trick or treating with the kids. This is my niece dressed up as a farmer and Chaz dressed up in his jack-o-lantern shirt :)


...and just as a side note... those are fake (bubba) teeth my niece is wearing! LOL

Ae how cute!:) Love the teeth;)

I saw the pic. He is a doll! Just give him warning when you want to pick him up. It could be he was carried around by a youngster and has learned to dislike being picked up. The other thing to consider is that something may be hurting him when he is picked up. Either way be cautious and gentle with holding him. Hopefully he will get better about it. You have a little treasure there.