Yorkie and Other dogs
 

Hi I'm getting a yorkie puppy for myself but also considering to get a bigger dog (old English shepherd dog or wheaten terrier) for my son who is 2.5 and absolutely crazy about dogs (he's happier to play fetch with dogs in the park than playing with other children on the playground).
Given the size the yorkie puppy, I was wondering whether I should wait until my yorkie is fully grown and then get the other dog? Or perhaps get them at the same time? How do yorkies generally do with bigger dogs?

Please don't comment on how I shouldn't get a yorkie with a young child. We had a yorkie when my son was born (unfortunately my yorkie passed away a month ago at 16). My son is extremely gentle with dogs and was taught not grab or pick my yorkie up. In any case I never leave my dogs and my child unsupervised.

When we first got Wookie we were sure we would never be able to walk her off lead, because of the fear that she would be hurt/frightened by bigger dogs.

We've just got home from her morning walk with her 'Pack', which includes a Springer Spaniel, A Golden Lab, A Dogue de Dordeaux, three Border Collies, a Rottie and two German Shepherds. She is totally happy and relaxed with all of them, and even vies with Virgil, the Springer, to chase a ball.

We started letting Wookie walk off lead when she was 4 months old. Yes, we were really worried at first, but as she isn't scared by bigger dogs, and never yaps at them or acts aggressively in self defence or out of fear, she has never yet had an issue, and she has met literally hundreds of other dogs over the last 5 months off lead. If we meet another dog being walked on lead, we will call her away, as these are often dogs that aren't particularly sociable, and letting her run up to them wouldn't be right or fair to either dog.

Whether you should get both dogs at the same time is a tough one. Personally, purely given how small your Yorkie puppy will be, I would wait until it was at least six months old, purely because a much bigger puppy could hurt it without meaning to.

Now that I'm reading this thread again probably not a good idea. Perhaps if I already had a grown up and well behaved bigger dog, it could have worked.
My previous yorkie adored big dogs but I never let him off the leash in the dog park. It only takes one bite after all. Plus he wasn't very obedient. This time I'm definitely taking a puppy training course.

I have been a member here a long time and have yorkies for almost 30 years so for what it's worth I am going to site personal experiences. I know it can work but it often doesn't, and when it doesn't it can be a disaster. it's takes a special yorkie and a special big dog to make it work. My friend had two Weatons for a long time and things went great then they both passed, she wound up getting a puppy she named Boomer when Boomer was less than a year she got another Weaton puppy well they never got along the puppy was aggressive, she got bit and bloodied many times trying to break them up, she actually started to hide the dog fights from us because she was embarrassed by her dogs not getting along. Boomer got bit and blood was drawn many times, finally after about three years they rehomed the younger dog to a one dog family. I know another couple that had an older German shepherd and the wife got yorkie puppy the yorkie ruled the Shepherd and they got on fine, the Shepherd died so the husband wound up getting himself a Shepherd puppy well like all puppies the Shepherd was playful but in no time was to big for the yorkie and playing became dangerous for the yorkie, play biting resulted in some blood and a torn cornea, so then the dogs had to be crated at different times, lots of barking and the yorkie started hiding under the bed and becoming withdrawn, the couple started fighting because the wife wanted the husband to get rid of the shepherd she even left twice and went to her moms with the yorkie finally the husband's brother agreed to take the shepherd. Gail a member here has a yorkie and a big Russian Black dog she does well with the two but it is constant watching and crating on her part but I remember her telling how one time the yorkie was on the couch and the Black Russian walked by and the yorkie lunged out at the BR, had she not been their the result could have been bad. IMHO and only since you asked I think would have enough on your hands with a toddler and one dog let alone two of very different sizes to worry about and the worse of it, is what if there was some type of altercation and you son was in the middle of it.

I once brought a Bichon puppy home after having my first yorkie for about 2 years while they were not that far off in size my yorkie hated that Bichon and bit him any chance he could the Bichon learned to stay away but it was not fair to either dog so after about a year of hoping things would change I found a new home for the Sweet little Bichon. I honestly think the best way to insure you have two dogs that will get along even if they are different sizes is to get them at the same time. Good luck with what ever you decide to do.

I was just thinking about the three stories I mentioned plus myself, in all cases not one had a child, so their focus was always on the dogs and believe me and Gemy/Gail the member here will tell you it takes a lot of focus to watch two dogs of different sizes especially if one happens to be aggressive. I am in no way saying that you should not have a dog and a toddler but I would assume like all moms your focus will always and should be first on your son, so managing two different size dogs might be harder on you than it would be for someone childless like me.

Thank you for your reply. I don't think I will be getting two different breeds. I can see now how it could easily turn into a disaster.

I think that is a wise decision. Believe you me after something like sixteen yrs of no puppies underfoot you are in for some puppy shock. Lol. My last puppy was three yrs ago and let me tell you I had forgotten the time involved!

Speaking as a breeder, I am mostly concerned with placing pups in a home that they will get a rich rewarding environment and lots of love.

I do hope that things work for you, and I would strongly suggest you create a safe place for the pup to be when you are busy with other jobs. Xpen,crate,or gated off area.

Yes it does Donna,routines help a lot. The crate and rotate is especially key when the pups are young. And continue until I have new pup trained and I have confidence in their response to my wee Yorkie. But it is of note that might never happen, so one goes in knowing that crate and rotate might be a constant part of your life now.

Lol! I think you're forgetting that I had a child 2 and a half years ago. Now that was truly shocking! Some days you don't get to shower and having a meal becomes a privilege. 1 year of pure hell! I really don't think it's hard to take care of a puppy. I think people who find it hard shouldn't have a dog at all. it should be a pleasure because you love and care about them. I've had dogs all my life (different breeds) and I never found it hard but of course, you need to sacrifice some things but that's life. I do have 2 play pens + 1 travel play pen. I would never advise on the crate though because last time I found it absolutely useless. I couldn't leave water or pee pad in there so I ended up securing a puppy proof area for my baby. I totally agree with you that mixing yorkie with a bigger dog isn't a good idea. I was just curious whether anyone had an experience and what it was like.