How to help my rescue Yorkie!

[Mummyjonno]

Hey everyone, was just after some general advice in regards to my rescue Yorkie.

I've had him a few days now so he's slowly settling in. However I'm having a few issues and I'm not sure how to help him.

1) he's extremely nervous. If any of us go to stroke him or get too close he backs away

2) he's dying to go on a walk and is constantly jumping up at the lamp table which is where his lead is, and grumbling at the front door. However as above he's too scared for me to put it on to take him.

3) he hasn't really eaten yet. I have kept him on the food the foster was giving him however he just noses the bowl away and returns to where he was laying. I have been able to hand feed him a little bit of chicken but beyond that nothing.

I'm just not really sure how to help him, I'm being patient and giving him lots of space but I'm a little worried and thought maybe you guys would have some tips or tricks?

Thanks in advance

[yavenay]

Welcome and thank you for rescuing him.

How long have you had him? I know my rescue yorkie took a few days before they started eating regularly. If has been awhile, make sure he doesn't have an physical issues first. If you didn't get a vet check, you should get one to rule out any physical reasons why he's not eating. If everything checks out okay, I would entice him to eat by putting on a topper like boiled chicken or parmesan cheese. If that fails, you may have to try a different brand

I've rescue yorkies and was able to turn them into shy, timid yorkies into bonafide divas. My first yorkie came from a backyard breeded and was very shy and timid. She was used for breeding and probably didn't have much human contact. I let her adapt to me on her own time. The yorkie I have now is so goofy, as soon as I got in the house she was off and running like she had been living there for years but then again, she came from a loving home.

Patience is the key. Normally what I did in the beginning was gave her a safe place (a little memory foam doghouse) all to herself where she could watch what was going and feel safe. I went about my normal routines, just sort of ignoring her until she was ready to come to me. I never forced myself on her. I didn't try to pet her and I didn't approach her. I let her approach me. Once she figured out that I was not going to hurt her, she slowly began to approach me and that was when I was able to put her harness and leash on. It took awhile for me to gain her trust but she eventually became by Velcro baby.

Also I was aware of how I approached her in the beginning. When I needed to approached her, I would also get on the floor so she wouldn't feel so intimidated. I notice she wouldn't back away from me when I did this.

[matese]

Thank you for rescuing this sweet lil guy.

Have you tried offering him treats to get him to come close to you. Put a few treats on the floor that will lead to you, then hand feed him the last treat.

He needs to be walked other wise he will start using your entire home as his toilet.

I would hold his lead in one hand and a treat in the other hand offering it to him, when he comes to you pick him up and give him the treat, put his lead on then give another treat then take him for his walk giving him a treat or two while on his walk.
It is best to keep him on the same food the foster mom had him on, he is going through many changes right now and changing his food will cause him stomach issues. Try mixing the chicken in with his food, hand feed him if you have to. In a week he should be more settled in and a slow transition can be made.

It will be trial and error as to what food he will like.

Hopefully other members will chime in with suggestions and advise.

[Lovetodream88]

Walking him is a good way to bond with him so if you can get that leash on that would be a good thing. You don’t know his history so it might take him awhile to come to you. You might could use the chicken or some really good treats to get him to come to you while you sit on the floor. On his food have you tried mixing parmesan cheese or the chicken in with his food? It might take him awhile to get used to everything and eat. If the anxiety seems really bad you might want to talk to the vet about an anxiety medicine just until he gets used to everything.

[danniko]

Our rescue yorkie was really timid when we first adopted him as well. He still has his moments but he’s a lot better now.

He also backed away when we tried to pet him and was picky about his food/treats. The way we got him to come near us was I boiled some chicken breasts and shredded them and kept it near me. I would sit on the floor (sometimes for hours) and just throw little pieces of chicken to him and would gradually bring them closer.

He also hated having his harness put on as he hated anything near his face so we bought him a step in harness that just went up and over his front feet (sometimes took a while to get near him to do it though).

We kept noises to a minimum for the first few days (quieter voices, lowered the tv volume, turned phones to silent/vibrate) and praised him/gave chicken or canned food meatballs anytime he came near us or went near his harness. Sometimes he would take it and other times he would grab the food and run away.

We also found that he relied on his crate a lot when he was overwhelmed and let him have access to it as much as he wanted.

After a few months he had made a lot of progress but we ended up signing him up for basic obedience classes just to help his confidence and strengthen his bond with us. The first 6 weeks were mostly about him being confident in a room of other people and dogs and then we repeated the class and the next 6 weeks we worked really hard on the basic commands.

The difference in him now is amazing and we’ve had him for 11 months. He knows basic commands, lets us put his boots on (refused to let us near his feet last winter) and will cuddle with us on the couch.

Hang in there. I know I felt the same after we brought him home because I was afraid he wasn’t going to be happy with us or we weren’t doing enough for him but patience and a lot of work has really paid off for him.

Thank you for rescuing your sweet baby and I hope things get easier for you soon.

[Mummyjonno]

Thanks for your replies I really appreciate it. Well, I have managed to get him out for a walk, several times now. Although he doesn't come freely but seems happy when we get home. He's allowing more touching and even came to me of his own will last night and curled up on my knee like a cat.

Still really really struggling with food though. The only food he will go near is chicken, if it's hand fed. I decided to try mixing cheese and chicken in with his dry food in his bowl but he won't go near. It's been 3 days since he's eaten anything and although he's still drinking I'm getting really worried now.

I'm torn because I want him to eat so I want to feed chicken by hand

But that won't be his actual diet and I can't hand feed him forever

I'm stumped and little man is sleeping alot although is well

[matese]

Did you use grated Parmesan cheese sprinkled over his dry food with the chicken. Most dogs love the smell of Parmesan cheese and will eat anything with that on it. If you tried the Parmesan cheese and he still did not eat it may be time to change his food which is going to be a hit and miss game.

Pet stores such as Pet Supplies, PetSmart and PetCo sometimes have trial size bags of dry food, that would be ideal to try different types of kibble to see what Mr Picky eater likes.

The 3 above stores will take back open dry food if your dog will not eat it, that is providing it is not 1/2 a bag you are returning. Just remember, it has to be a slow transition when changing his food.

[yorkiemini]

We are 4 weeks into our rescue saga and the main thing we have learned is that NOTHING moves as quickly as we would like!
It is getting better weekly, even daily, but still it takes more patience that we thought - but we are getting there

Out Little CeCe was very abused and neglected so guess it is going to take a while to reverse that as she experiences the Diva life!

[danniko]

I know it’s not the best but have you tried something like Cesar wet food? Our little man wouldn’t touch his dry food and the first few weeks the only wet food he would eat was the Cesar.

We didn’t mind using it temporarily just to get him to eat something and transitioned him off of it when he was better about eating.

He also really liked Royal Canin canned food (after a few weeks of refusing it lol), if you aren’t comfortable with Cesar.

We would mix some wet food with his Royal Canin small breed dry food and sprinkle chicken on top of it as well. Sometimes he ate it and other times he would just lick the parts he liked.

Oh and this may seem stupid but have you tried different bowls? We first tried stainless steel bowls with Bronx and he wouldn’t eat anything in it. We realized he was scared of his tags hitting the metal and the reflection seemed to confuse him. We bought him a plastic bowl and he did a lot better with not only wanting to be handfed pieces of food. On the other hand, our previous dog wouldn’t eat out of plastic and only like ceramic or stainless steel. Picky little creatures.

Our last dog was just picky. She had foods that upset her belly but when she decided she was done with a food, there was no convincing her! We would just go buy a different one or find sample bags and hope she liked one of them (she ended up really liking Natural Balance duck and potato dry and canned).

Good luck with him and I hope he starts eating for you soon!

[matese]

Years back I read not to feed dogs in plastic bowls, dishes, as the chemicals in the plastic can get into the food. Ceramic is a good choice just make sure no lead has been used in making the bowl or dish, glass dishes are also good.

I had one girl that would eat only out of a flat dish, no bowls for her.

I agree with danniko, type of dish could be the cause, try changing that also.

[PenelopePendlet]

My little girl was a rescue. I have had her for just over a year now. She was biting everyone in our house when I first got her. She wouldn't let anyone touch her, play with her, or hold her. Our older dog we had before her wouldn't even play with her. She mad tiny strides during 3 months, then six months, 0 months-- But now at 12 months.. she is like a new dog. It took 12 months for our older dog to finally play with Simba (that is her name)- We are very cautious when family comes over to visit, but she lets them pet her.

I had my doubts I could keep her when I got her. She bit everyone. The home she came from had small kids-- I am sure they thought they were good to her.But I suspect they treated her like a toy.
My point for this very long post is.. They just need time to adjust. My Simba girl did..

[danniko]

I read that too about plastic but Bronx refuses to eat from any other type of bowl still. Sometimes he uses a snuffle mat but at the moment, he doesn’t leave his food in the bowl for long. After pancreatitis his diet was changed and he acts like we starve him (we don’t, he’s still the same weight lol) and eats his food as soon as it’s down. We are trying to get him to eat from stainless steal...he just has some fears still.

I forgot about plates...our previous dog also loved eating her food right off the floor or from a napkin.

Also try different locations. Also seems odd but I remember a post on here once that said their dog only liked eating in the car! And Sophie preferred eating on the bed or the couch...picky little things!

[lilgidget]

Yes, they are picky little creatures. Gidget will be 3 in January. She only wants to eat her food in the living room but only wants her water bowl in one place in the kitchen. Sigh--they do seem to have minds of their own.