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What can I do? I have a 6 month old yorkie male. He runs from us when we start to pick him up. He doesn't want us to touch him on the head. We have never been mean to him. We treat him like a King. I don't know how to make him come to me when I call him, rather than running away. HELP!!! |
I'm sorry I don't have any advice....my mother in laws male chihuahua is this way....Winnie is not and we have no clue why. Like your boy Tag has had no meanness from us. He was raised the same way we are raising Winnie. I hope someone can help you out! |
Be patient, do not force anything, and give him reason to want to come to you. Make sure when you ask him to come to you that it isn't just for undesirable things. Practice asking him to come, give him a food reward and then let him go on his way. Make sure he never feels like a prisoner if you are holding him for snuggling/affection. That should always be on his own terms and he should always feel free to go his way at any time. Things can change with age too. My Teddy didn't like to be touched when he was sleeping. Now I can give him belly rubs, reposition him, and do whatever and he loves it. It might be that your pup will never like being petted on the head. My boys don't like traditional petting like stroking the hand down the back. Try scratching behind the ears or gently massaging the shoulders, chest area. Find out what he likes. |
Don't chase or he will think it's a game and don't pick him up with you call him to you because if you do and he doesn't like it he will never come. Also try using treats to get him to come. |
Lola was the same way, what worked well for me is telling her what I'm going to do. When I bend to pick her up I always say "Can I pick you up?" and she'll usually stop and let me (other times she uses her No! growl, but that's rare). If I just bend she still runs away and she's almost 2. Also if I tell her to come she won't come unless I squat down, the trainer at petsmart said that's not unusual for small dogs. It's not unusual for dogs to not like having their head touched, but he needs to at least let you remove eye boogers and brush his teeth. |
You might want to consider how you are picking him up. Don't really know hoe important it is, but Cali does not like to be picked up with one hand, but is fine with two hands. Maybe the one hand puts more stain on her back or something like that that she does not like. Just. Thought. |
In addition to what others have already said, look up "training for shy dogs" on google. You want to build his confidence in his own safety, and certain training exercises can help with that. |
My 3 y/o adopted boy use to do the running away. I have him 14 months now. He doesn't like to be picked up period. I bend down, strech my arms out, tell him to come to momma, he'll lay down now on his side and wait for me to pick him up. I have always picked up my dogs by scooping them up, I put one hand under their butt and the other hand I put under their front legs, this puts no pressure on any body parts, and it's a secure hold. |
Dutch is sort the same way but she is getting better. However I've only had for 6 months so in my case, she maybe just figuring out if she can trust me. She seems like she is so scared of me even though she is completely spoiled and never been hit or even yelled at. She has no problem coming to me if I have boiled chicken. It is getting better though. Now when I call her she does come. I pet her and let her go on her way. It was the same with cuddles. When I first brought her home she wouldn't sleep anywhere near me. She would sleep down by my legs. Now she lays on my chest but only for about 20 minutes. But even that is increasing. |
Petting a nervous dog on the head can actually be very unenjoyable and threatening for them. Try reaching to his side or under his head at his chest and give him a good rubbing there. My kids have had to make a habit of that with our little rescue. Otherwise, he just runs away from them. Google "dealing with timid dogs" and you will find some great resources. Good luck. We are in the midst of teaching our new little guy to trust us as well and it can be very frustrating. There may also be a bit of his behavior that you have inadvertently reinforced. It can be tricky with dogs at times! |
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