Adopted Yorkie
 

We have only had our Yorkie for 5 days and I don't really know the breed traits. He is 6 and neutered but he gets a bit hyper at night. We walk him before bed and when we settle in, he jumps on the bed and digs the covers.

How do I know if he is settling in, I want him to be happy?

If he jumps on your bed to sleep with you and starts digging his nest, he's settled in. Yorkies and most dogs will dig at blankets before settling down to go to sleep.

Congratulations on your adoption!!!! :D
It sounds like he has found his forever home and he knows it!
My Yorkie is more playful at night also.

Hi Matese, we had a terrier cross for 13 years and we knew her ways inside out. Now we are finding our feet with this new boy. Not sure about his history but he can be defensive, and seems fearful. So we are trying to reassure him he is safe. He does guard his toys but I am not sure if he is playing or being aggressive.

Hi Buddybear,

He seems happy at times, we have only had him 5 days. Sometimes he scratched at the door even though he has been out. Not sure what he wants ?

I also have a rescue he was 2 1/2 when I adopted him, he boned with me overnight. I had to visit my vet the next day, he knew my met and the staff because that is where I got him from, when we got into the exam room he climbed up my body onto my shoulder like a parrot lol, my vet was amazed at how fast he trusted me. With rescues, not knowing their past, how they were treated or "mistreated", it takes time for a dog to bond, build trust in his new humans, and regain his confidence. I am very fortunate to know my boys past and am still in contact with his prev. owner. My boy was gotten for a 8 yo child. He had no toys, no chew things. They didn't want this dog to play with anything but the child, this little girl doted on this dog, carried him around like he was a baby. The dog became very sick, the mom just had a baby and had no finances for medical care for the dog, so he had to go. When I got him I knew nothing about his past for the first 4 weeks I had him. I bought him every kind of toy because I didn't know what he liked, he played with nothing, not even a ball. I couldn't entice him with anything. Then I spoke to the prev, owner and discovered he never had a toy, or any chews. So off I went to buy him chews and that is what he guarded. If he was chewing his body would stiffen up if I walked near him, you could tell he was afraid it was going to be taken away from him. I would tell him goooood boy you have your chewy. I would not walk near him when he had his chew, and would always tell him what a good boy he was. After a week I would stroke his back, his body would stiffen, so only 2 strokes and I left him alone. To get him away from his chew I would offer him a treat, then I would pick up the chew and put it away and give it to him the next day, I only let him chew for an hour. I did this about 3 weeks, I would let him chew in disturbed for 30 minutes, then I would stroke his back always saying gooood boy Cody has his chewy. After 3 weeks he saw I was not going to take his chew away, now after 3 years he is not obsessed with his chews, he plays with them a lot then chews a bit.
Your boy may never had, had any toys and that's he "may" be guarding them out of fear they will be taken from him, I would leave him alone when he's with his toys, but, have a ball that you keep that is NOT one of HIS toys, roll or toss it and play with him and just that ball.
You only have him 5 days, he is still adjusting to his new home, new humans, new routine, if you took him out and he scratches at the door maybe he needs to stay out longer, I would harness him up and take him out again.

When I got my boy I didn't know what words were used for pooping and peeing, I have always used the word poo-poo and pee-pee, every time Cody peed I would clap my hands and say gooood boy, Cody made a pee-pee, same thing for when he pooped. When we are inside I ask him do you have to MAKE a pee pee, or poo poo, now all I say is do you have to MAKE and off to the door he heads. Maybe you can train him that way to ley you know needs more, longer outside time.

It takes some rescues months to gain trust that they are in their forever home. Do not scold him in harsh tones, speak to him gently, he will come around in his time on his terms, do not force him into anything you see he does not want to do.

Training basic commands help in bonding with dogs, sit, stay, come, leave it, drop . Give high value treats when he gets it right, lots of praise, happy dance and clapping your hands to show him how pleased you are when he gets things right. Lots of patience is key to gaining his trust and confidence in his new family.

Little dogs are emotional, and Yorkies are very emotional.
You will figure him out. He will probably look to you for some direction. I think protecting the toys could become a problem, so I would let him know that you expect him to let you take his toys.
I would also touch him everywhere. Someone gave me this advice when we got Dink, and it really helps when we have to give him meds, check his ears, mess with his feet, whatever, He might let you do that now, but I would suggest working at it.
the digging in before sleep is a good sign, I think. he is making a place for himself.
Enjoy this little guy!

Thank you for taking the time to reply Matese. I am finding Geoff settles a bit more everyday. I gave him a chew bone today and he lost interest very quickly, I think he is realising there is no threat.
He played fetch with his ball in the garden and brought it back. He let me lift it when I approached slowly, he doesn't like sudden movements. We also did two walks today with great distraction if he felt threatened and no barking.

Thanks Dinkster,

He likes being touched, not lifted but stroked on the ground. He had a sore eye and he lets me wash and put drops in. Today for the first time to licked my hand, is that a good sign ?

That's an excellent sign.

It just takes time with some rescues to trust their new humans. You will see changes in him everyday. And everyday you are learning more about him. Please keep us updated on his progress in his new home. We LOVE happy endings.

I can see improvements @matese as the days go on.
I think I am nervous of him a bit as the rescue centre did say he can snap. So I am trying to figure out his triggers, both times strangers have tried to touch him and he snapped, but I want him to be friendly so maybe it's a confidence issue.

I am happy to let him do his own thing and let him comes to me for attention. My husband is impatient and wants to pick him up and cuddle him, and he's not really into it. So I am trying to train them both !

You have to relax around him, if you're nervous the dog can sense this and feed off your fear, I know getting your emotions under control is difficult cos no lone wants to get bitten, but you have to show him you have confidence in him. Him being in a shelter, dogs barking, crying, whining, strangers coming and going, this baby was is scared and yes, he would snap out of fear. Once he builds a trust in you and hubby, once he knows he is safe with you and knows no harm will come to him, the snapping "may" stop, if it doesn't you can train that out of him. I wouldn't have strangers around him at this time, he is going through a LOT of adjustments, you and hubby are still strangers to him, let him build his trust with you, when he has 100% confidence in YOU that YOU will protect him, then you can start introducing him to strangers, but limited, say one new person at a time, some dogs don't like ALL ppl, they are just not ppl friendly, It's all about his past, which you will never know about. And yes, let him come to you for attention. Your hubby has to have patience and again can not show his frustration, annoyance , impatience, the dog will sense this and feed off it causing fear in the dog. No picking up, some dogs don't like to be held, have their feet not touch the ground. 3 years and I am still training my rescue he's safe with me when I pick him up and press him against my chest for snuggles and smooches, trusting I am not going to drop him. He has gotten better with that lol, but it's still work in progress. Let your hubby offer him a treat, cheerios are a favorite for a lot of dogs, let the dog jump up on the hubby then give him the treat. Have hubby praise him, stroke him and if the dogs wants down, let him go. Sounds like he is coming around. Do you know how long he was in the shelter.

I know he was in the pound for at least a month, then the shelter. He had been adopted before to a family with teenagers but they returned him because he was snappy with their friends. I think it was a busy house too much coming and going. He was back in the shelter for 2 weeks when we adopted him.

Poor lil guy, he's been through a lot, no wonder he's snappy. Now he's in a calm house, he'll come around as soon as he feels safe, everything in baby steps, to much of anything right now is to over whelming to him. In another week you'll see a greater change in him, he won't be perfect, but he would have come a long way, that is not to say there won't be more work to do with him but it will be better. You're doing a good job mommy.

Thanks Matese, I read over the notes from the shelter and they said he was very nervous when he was first brought in. His behaviour did improve as he learnt to trust people. Not sure of the full story with the previous adoption but they were obviously concerned about his snappy outbursts.

They did say he will need a lot of patience and training but I am prepared to work with him. Sometimes I feel a bit overwhelmed and it easy to focus on the negative, even when he is making progress.

Just like a little puppy, it takes a lot of training to get them to where they should be. I can understand it is overwhelming, but you have to stay positive with this little guy, they sense negativity, anger, fear, stress and happiness in their humans and feed off your emotions. Remember, "baby steps" in everything you want from this boy. Everything is still new to him, he is still learning who you are. Him sleeping in your bed is a good sign, but you still have a long way to go. No one knows what this little guy went through in his past, first he was in a pound, then the shelter, then a family, back to the shelter and now to you. As far as you know he has lived in 6 different places, and who knows how many places he may have lived in before going to the pound. 6 different homes in perhaps less then a year, just wow. I would suggest a professional trainer to talk with, get some tips, I hate to suggest bringing in a trainer to work with him as he fears strangers and I honestly don't know if that could make him worse, more fearful. But you need professional guidance. Why don't you work with him for a month, that will give him time to know you better and build a bond with you and your husband. See how he is at the end of a month. If you feel he's aggressive with you, hubby or strangers, then seek a professional trainer. The trainer will give you the learning tools to work with this dog. 6 different living quarters in less then a year is huge for any dog. Please keep us posted on this little guy, he's had such a tragic life until he came to you.

I feel so sorry for the wee man. He is an adorable wee dog and so brave. After all he has been through he still shows trust and affection when he feels safe. And I think that is going to be my approach, making him feel safe so he can learn to trust and be more confident.

I know one of the handlers who works at the shelter so if I need some help with training I can speak to him as he has worked with Geoff before. It has only been a week and I can see positive changes as he starts to feel more secure. My hubby and I have decided no more introducing him to strangers for a while. He can see people from a distance when walking but until he feels safe we aren't doing to risk it, after all we are still strangers to him.

I really want to do my best for him, I couldn't even consider sending him back to the shelter. I do believe with patience and time he will find himself and like you said he may not be perfect but who is.

I really want to thank you Matese for taking the time to read my posts and replying. I think my own confidence was low and needed some reassure.

I am trying to decide if I should try and socialise Geoff more or let him settle in more first. I don't want to avoid people and other dogs all the time. Maybe letting him see them from a safe distance ?

I would let Geoff gain 100% confidence in you, his new care giver, he needs to trust that will keep him safe, two weeks for some dogs is not enough especially with all the places Geoff has lived in, in such a short period of time. You will know when Geoff has complete trust in you. When you see this then you can slowly have him pass by ppl and carry treats with you. Preferably just a single person across the street from you, if he carries on reassure him "it's ok" when he settles down give him a treat and praise him, tell him gooooood boy and pet him. Once he has over come seeing ppl from a distance, then you can work on passing ppl at a closer distance, always having treats with you, treat when he behaves.

Baby steps sounds like he's is settling in and your doing an excellent job
Sammi digs on our bed before settling down for the night it's quite funny to watch he takes at least 15 minutes of digging in one space then another and just when I think he's settles he's not quite happy with were he is he will start again
Don't stress to much about weather he's doing this or doing that it will all fall into place as long as he has security and lots and lots of love

We are choosing walking times when there aren't many people about. We did see a man and a dog this morning from a distance and Geoff was barking and growling from across the road. I managed to reassure him he was ok, and gave him a treat when he calmed down.

That's good he calmed down and you rewarded him
Sammi is nearly 6 and when he was a pup he was bitten by another larger dog so as a result he cannot stand bigger dogs with the exception of my sisters German shepherd and goes mad growling h etc when he sees any other dog

Thanks samsmummy, I think I am worried I case he bites someone. He snaps if taken unawares so we are trying not to put him in that position we're he feels he has to defend himself of his toys.

I have noticed he gets more anxious at night when it's dark, so we are keeping a light on until he falls asleep.

I can understand him snapping if taken unawares and your doing the best thing for him one word of advice tho I've found because our babies look so cute ppl tend to just stroke them without asking I dread this because Sammi can be snappy as well so I always tell ppl to ask first as he's not to good with strangers
As for the dark he will get used to it he sounds adorable Mary Edith but aren't all of them ��

I really hate when people just stick their hand out to touch a strange dog, especially children and the parents don't warn them. With my previous dog I had people say 'oh she won't bite me' and she did try.

He has been biting my feet a lot, like being snappy and growling when I walk past.

Thanks Samsmummy, I really don't like anyone touching dogs without asking. We used to warn people about our previous dog and they would reply 'oh she won't bite me'. This usually meant they got to close and she started barking like mad.

We managed to have 2 good walks today with no reacting to people or dogs. We picked a quiet area and although he seen people and dogs at a distance he didn't react.