My yorkie is starting to snap at me when I bend down to pick him up :( HELP!
 

Hello :) I have a 8 yr old make yorkie and I've had him since he was a puppy so my husband and I are all he's ever known and we adore him but he has started snapping at us when we bend down to pick him up, rather it be picking him up to take him outside or just in genera and he also has started doing it if he is laying in his bed and we bend down to get him he literally gets so mean sounding a snaps and absolutely WILL bite us :( he has not always done this and he normally is a pretty loving lil fella so of course I'm freaking out because I'm thinking since we are all he's ever known he shouldn't ever snap at one of us in that manner because we have alway treated him with love and care! He literally acts like we are grabbing him to be mean or something even tho we have never once grabbed him in any kind of hurtful mean way. We can bend down and pet him all we want but if we start to pick him up grawl and bite :( we have started trying to talk softly to him right before we bend down to pick him up thinking this might work if he is feeling intimidated but even talking sweet and peting him still doesn't stop him. I am so confused as to why he has started doing this and I have no clue how to stop it! I try not to let it hurt my feelings lol but I said I am his mommy and he has been with me all of his life and I would think he wouldn't ever wanna do any harm to me but I guess it doesn't matter how good his life is because at that point when we bend to pick him up you would think he was the most mistreated yorkie ever lol he is so dramatic about it!! So I'm hoping somebody ANYbody has heard of an adult yorkie starting to do this and I'm hoping you can HELP us make this stop because I am so dishearted that my yorkie of 8 yrs turns on us like that :(

I think a Vet visit is in order to have him cheked over and have blood work drawn to see if anything is going on.
It sounds like he may be in some kind of pain and doesn't want to be touched. Is he starting to loose any vision or hearing?
I hope your baby is ok.

I agree with TxVicki. From what you're saying, sounds like something's bothering him when being touched/picked up.

Since they can't tell us in words when they're not feeling well. They'd show unusual signs so try not to take it too personally. I'm sure he still loves you and your hubby very much. I hope he feels better soon.

My vote is a visit to your vet, sounds like he's in pain, that was the only time Megan, my last Yorkie ever snapped at me. Hope he is fine, but please get him checked out soon.
Cheers Quad

How are his eyes?

A friend of mine had a dog that reacted in a similar way as she got older. She was fine being petted, but absolutely did not like being picked up. Turns out she wasn't able to see well. You can imagine how scary it must be to be lifted up and not being able to see clearly looking down from a height.

Sounds like a trip to the vet is in order for a checkup.

Pain is exactly what I was thinking too. If he was ok with being picked up for 8 years, and all of the sudden he's not....I am guessing there is a good reason he doesn't want to be picked up.

If it were my little one, we'd be heading to the vet to see if they can pinpoint what's happening and why.

Maybe you can try to wrap/swaddle him in a towel when you pick him up to go to the vet, that may keep him from biting you...or maybe put him in a crate and then pick the crate up and put it in the car.

You can also use gauze as a muzzle...gently wrap it around his muzzle and tie it in a bow. Make sure his nose and eyes aren't covered though!!

Keep us posted on what happens!!

I agree with everyone that a trip to the vet is a good idea. Maybe your baby isn't feeling well or something hurts when you pick him up. Hope you find out what's going on and that it's nothing serious. Good luck!

Yorkie baby09,

Let's get something understood UP FRONT !

That little guy loves you and your DH more than anything else in this whole world ! :thumbup:

As has been stated, there's a definite reason for his actions, and I'm certain when your Vet finds out what's hurting him, he'll be back to his loving and affectionate nature.

Be patient and understanding, we're all hoping and praying for his recovery. ;)

I agree with what everyone else has said. ANY time you have a change in behavior you should consider a vet visit.

In your little guy's case the snapping/biting is akin to us pulling away from someone when they are about to touch a sore arm or wonded arm. He is at a disadvantage in not being about to talk, but he is also covered with hair that hides his skin! There is no way you will be able to tell what is wrong. I hope you have already made an appointment with your vet. If not PLEASE do so now. And let us know how it goes. We care.

Just as a follow-up on the "reason"...

You'd be able to see him limp or shy if it were an appendage. A fractured bone, or torn tendon would make him limp, so...

Got to be something internal...
Possibly he jumped to far and damaged a Vertebra, or possibly swallowed something and when you pick/try him up, it gouges in.

You might try a front/rear double hand pickup...
One slipped between his two front legs, and the other between his back two. That'll relive any pressure on his torso or stomach/intestines.

I agree with everyone.
Go to your vet and let him check everything.
Good luck with your fur baby and let us know how it goes.

Just checking in to see if the little guy got taken care of. Guess this is another one we'll never know about. sigh