Shopping Help!
 

So, ok, my little 5 month old male Yorkie HATES going bye bye.
He acts really bad in car seat, cries and wines the whole time we are shopping.
Went to Lowes today, a short trip. I have his leash on & put a towel down in the cart. He wines and tries his best to come out of the cart, reason for secure leash, and while at Lowes he pooped in the cart!! 😱 I had hand wipes so picked it up and looked everywhere for a trash can. I had him outside a long time before we left. Oh boy, what to do getting him to like going bye, bye.
I take him places about twice a week, always a battle. Help!

You need to back up his exposure. Start with very very short exposure to his stressors. Like maybe play with him outside then with treats let him go into his car seat - do not close the doors - stay there and treat him all the time and immediately when he is quiet. Then work with you and him the car still with the doors open again multi treat for quiet - then in the car with doors closed multi treat again for quiet and good behaviour. Then drive around the block - ignore whines if he whines if he is good pull over and treat him multiple times.


The trick is to break up into small steps and gradually build up to the behaviour you want in him.


A shopping cart has all those uncomfy cross bar pieces and a towel is insufficient to provide a firm surface for his wee paws. So forget Lowe for now and especially with him in a shopping cart! He is tellin you he is very uncomfy in this cart so Listen to him.

Have you tried carrying him? It's a big, scary world with lots of strange people swarming the cute yorkie, being in your arms may make him feel more secure.

After he's comfortable you can try putting him in the cart again.

I started my girl by using a cozy carrier. I would keep her in it while in the cart most of the time and let her out on the leash for short durations. The first time, she was a bit nervous being in it and didn't like to stay in it for long. She was even a bit motion sick (had to be careful not to sway her carrier too much). But I kept doing it regularly and brought treats for her and fed them to her through the holes. Also took her to mostly fun places, like petsmart (where she got people petting her the first few visits and every since then, she gets excited when people come nearby cause she thinks she's getting pettings) or a park. Then when she was old enough, to her groomers.
Now, she adores her carrier(s) cause she knows she gets to get out of the house and to someplace more interesting. At this point, if I leave her flap closed, she'll get get more upset about being caged in after a while of driving, so what I have started to do was open the flap (and pet her some) and she does much better. I even bought a booster seat, but she's only used that a couple of times and seems to do well, but I think she's used to having the den feel cause she showed signs that she wasn't used to it. There was only one time when the carrier had to be used by one of the other dogs (I had to work and my mom needed to take her girl to the vet) and my mom told me she was livid by not only having her carrier being used by another, but being left home ^^;;; lol

I did what LunarBerry did with my puppy. I started her as soon as it was safe to take her out, but putting her in a carrier. I was lucky that she actually did like the car, so that wasnt a problem. But I did start that in a similar way to what Gemy suggested by just taking her for a short ride around the block, then home and walk around the yard a bit..then inside. I also used her carrier at home when she was tiny instead of a crate...I left the door up, but I'd put her in there and tell her to sleep...and I would zip her in for about 10 - 15 minutes..then treat her when she came out...Oh, yeah...I would put her treat at the back of the little carrier, to get her to go in on her own. To this day she will go into it when she's in the mood. But when we go out, shes in the carrier. The top opens and she's clipped into it...cozy sheepskin bottom so its comfortable and fits in the shopping carts. We go to Home Goods, Lowes and Home Depot and Pet Smart. She loves it now and can be on a leash at Home Depot, Lowes and Pet Smart. Needs to be in the carriage at Home Goods. I do that just so I dont end up buying the whole store, lol. It really just took a little time. Little starts at first and eventually, she looks forward to it now. I''m not sure if shes just releived the car is turning the opposite way of the vet, lol. She does know when we are going there and by now, she's not thrilled with it. I do have to just stop in there sometimes for visits where they aren't examining her or poking and prodding, lol. She loves the staff, so we should work on that now.

Luckily, Magnus/Zoey is both good about car rides. As for shopping or being anywhere out in public, I ALWAYS carry Z's carrier. M prefers to walk (which is great since he's 16 lbs..) but Z doesn't like strangers. I tried putting her in a cart few times and figured out she didn't like the "feel" of it under her paws. I put a blanket in it once and she seemed to be more tolerant. But the only thing that gets her comfortable enough to somewhat enjoy the outing is either when I hold her in my arms or is in her backpack.

Thanks to all of you with your good advice. I have tried all the advice you have given. Short trips in car seat, treats, kongs, toys, his crate while in shopping cart, carrying him, people petting. As I have increased the time, we are only gone for an hour. He's so unhappy going places. My 1 st Yorkie, RIP, even at an early age, jumped at the word bye, bye.
I haven't tried the soft carriers that zip, but I don't see that working either since he acts this way in his crate, which is loves when home.
I'm not giving up, but sure in a hurry getting home. Lol

Hang in there...I'm sure it will get better with some time, patience, and effort like you're already doing. Some dogs are just naturally more shy than others..but may blossom over time. Plus, this pup is really quite young yet - and has a lot of maturing to still do...he'll get there! :)

Thank you, Wylie's Mom for your encouragement. I just love seeing dogs shopping with their families, so I want to also.

:thumbup::thumbup: I agree.

Max did not like car rides his first year. Now he gets so excited at the mention of the car. He still is not fond of riding in a shopping cart. He would prefer to walk or sit in my arms or a carrier.

As Ann wrote, your pup is very young and has a lot of maturing to do. Be happy and confident when you take him out, but don't overwhelm him with expectations.

You can also try changing little things that might have become cues for a negative reaction. Try replacing "go bye bye" with "Do you want to go out?" or some other keywords.