A bit of an intro & looking for advice.
 

Hi Everyone. :wave4:

I'm Sarah, I live in SE London, in the UK & brought a Yorkie Pup (Bella) home from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home on Thursday afternoon. She's gorgeous!! They said that she was 12wks old, but her birthday is 25/5/14, so she's more like 18wks. Her previous family (a couple with no kids) were moving & their new landlord wouldn't allow pets, so they had to give her up. Battersea called me within 24hrs of her arrival, I visited the same day & brought her home 48hrs later, after she had been spayed. So she's had a real roller coaster of a week, but she was only at Battersea for 4days.

I grew up with a Yorkie, so when Battersea called to say they had a Yorkie Pup, it seemed like too much of a coincidence to be true!! :aimeeyork

I have 2 daughters, 6yrs & a very petite 3yr old. My 6 yr old is besotted with Bella already, & is managing basic commands ("off" if Bella mouths her, etc), but my 3 yr old is absolutely distraught every time Bella enters the room. She screams, cries, & hides behind or clings to me or hubby. Bella, of course thinks it's all a game & jumps up at her. :( We're trying to intervene, but we don't want to teach our youngest that she's right to be afraid, so we're also trying to teach her to manage things herself. She's a very bright, articulate child, but just doesn't really have the vocal presence to give commands that Bella will actually listen to.

Does anyone have any advice, any BTDT stories or help in any way?? I really want them to get along & for her to love Bella just as much as I loved my childhood Yorkie!

Hi and welcome to YT :)! CONGRATS on your precious new fur kid, she sounds darling. I don't have any BTDT stories, but my guess is that with time, your child will become as besotted w/ her as you are.

:D Hee hee!!!

:) :wavey: Hello and welcome from a fellow UK-er....my dad was actually born in the road opposite Battersea Dogs Home, and we always AVOIDED going there, because of all those dear, sweet innocent faces gazing out....thank goodness for you and rescuing your little Bella (did Paul O'Grady play any part in this....?!!!? ;) :D).

Wishing you the very best of luck, and look forward to getting to know you all :) Sally + Harry :aimeeyork xx

I think that for your young ones' peace of mind you should have your puppy on a lead when introducing them to each other. Also if you can, walk the two together even if only out in the backyard.


Until your daughter grows up a bit more, you just need to supervise their interactions - well actually puppies and children should never be left alone together particularly young children as yours are. Also your puppy is just recovering from major surgery, if I understand the date of the surgery as only 5days ago...


You can also consider an xpen for your pup, that would have food, water, toys and a bed in it, especially when you can't be there to supervise the interactions.


Welcome to YT and enjoy all those puppy antics.

Congratulations on the new pup!

My kids were 3 & 5 years old when I got my first yorkie, Chelsea. I trained her with hand signals along with voice commands. My kids loved to have her do her tricks so they could give her a treat. Even when a toddlers voice isn't very clear, a hand signal is. Getting the kids involved in training helps them to bond with their puppy.