Adult Yorkie and gerbils - YorkieTalk.com Forums

ZoeyGirl608 · 01-03-2019, 03:09 PM

My daughter has a 6-year old female yorkie and now just got 2 gerbils. It’s only been 2-days, but Zoey, our Yorkie, can’t relax for long knowing they’re around. I know I’ve read it’s not a great idea to have gerbils with a Yorkie, but my daughter was adamant and got them anyway. Does anyone have any experience with this? Over time, will our Yorkie relax with the gerbils around? I don’t foresee the gerbils and the dog being loose together since the gerbils are caged (and in a closed room when we’re not home), so I am not worried about Zoey harming them; however, I don’t want the continued undue stress on Zoey either..so I’m hoping there’s hope for them to all co-exist in same household. Any tips yo make this an easy transition? We can’t just pretend the gerbils aren’t there..and the only time the dog seems to relax a little bit is when us humans do not interact with the gerbils at all..lol. Thanks for any advice you can give!!

maxdog · 01-03-2019, 03:22 PM

This sounds like a time bomb waiting to explode. Yorkies are ratters - meaning they were specifically bred to catch and KILL rodents. It is Zoey's natural instinct to go after the gerbils and she doesn't want to play kissy face with them. I would be very worried about what effect this will have on your daughter if it happens. (how old is she?)

Lovetodream88 · 01-03-2019, 03:22 PM

I have a hamster and four Yorkies. After a week everyone was pretty good around them. I actually lifted each one up to show them the hamster in the cage. They pretty much ignore her now.

ZoeyGirl608 · 01-03-2019, 04:00 PM

Maxdog, I do know this about Yorkies, and intend to make a point to have the gerbils in a place that the dog cannot get at them. However, I want to get to the point that Zoey learns to co-exist with them, knowing they’re in the house. My daughter’s 15, and a real animal lover. She would be devastated if Zoey hurt chip or dale (lol the gerbils’ names); but she knew about yorkies’ heritage to capture rodents and chose to get them anyway. Will keep you all posted.

ZoeyGirl608 · 01-03-2019, 04:05 PM

Lovetodream, thanks, so there is hope!

I too also held Zoey up to the gerbils’ cage at first..figuring she has to get used to them, but wasn’t sure if this was more harm than good. That’s when I figured I’d see if anyone had some experience so I did not make for a bad start with this.
How old were your Yorkies when you got the hamster?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

I have a hamster and four Yorkies. After a week everyone was pretty good around them. I actually lifted each one up to show them the hamster in the cage. They pretty much ignore her now.

ZoeyGirl608 · 01-03-2019, 04:35 PM

Lovetodream, thanks, so there is hope!

I too also held Zoey up to the gerbils’ cage at first..figuring she has to get used to them, but wasn’t sure if this was more harm than good. That’s when I figured I’d see if anyone had some experience so I did not make for a bad start with this.
How old were your Yorkies when you got the hamster?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

I have a hamster and four Yorkies. After a week everyone was pretty good around them. I actually lifted each one up to show them the hamster in the cage. They pretty much ignore her now.

ZoeyGirl608 · 01-03-2019, 04:36 PM

Lovetodream, thanks! How old were your Yorkies when you brought the hamster home?

Britster · 01-03-2019, 05:54 PM

Jackson has A LOT of prey drive. He has killed grown rabbits right in front of me in the yard. My little sister has had gerbils and guinea pigs etc. If he is in the room with it and watching it, he will be intently focused on it, etc, but as long as they're in another room and up high enough for him to not to see (like on a tall dresser), he tends to not worry about them as much.

Lovetodream88 · 01-03-2019, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZoeyGirl608

Lovetodream, thanks! How old were your Yorkies when you brought the hamster home?

When Callie who is now 11 was a puppy and a year old I had a hamster as well as now but she has a very low prey drive. Joey is 3 so he was probably 1 or 2 and Penny was slightly under a year old. I brought Ollie home after the hamster when he was 5 months and he has the highest prey drive an actually cought and killed a mouse (not a pet) and couldn’t care less about the hamster. Joey and Penny were a little bit hyper about the hamster but it faded. The hamster is even in a common area. It’s doable.

ElizabethS · 09-22-2022, 11:48 AM

You should have no problems with proper care and the right conditions for your pets. Limit the space for your dog and your gerbils and prevent them from spending time together. Also, much depends on the character of the dog. If your Yorkshire terrier is calm enough, you can avoid problems. It's good that you have two gerbils. These rodents love company, so having them in pairs is better. When I bought gerbils, I studied a lot of information about their life, habits, and needs. Spicyanimals.com has a lot of helpful information that is sure to be helpful to all owners of these rodents.

01-03-2019, 03:09 PM	#1
ZoeyGirl608 YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Staten, Island, NY, USA Posts: 9	Adult Yorkie and gerbils My daughter has a 6-year old female yorkie and now just got 2 gerbils. It’s only been 2-days, but Zoey, our Yorkie, can’t relax for long knowing they’re around. I know I’ve read it’s not a great idea to have gerbils with a Yorkie, but my daughter was adamant and got them anyway. Does anyone have any experience with this? Over time, will our Yorkie relax with the gerbils around? I don’t foresee the gerbils and the dog being loose together since the gerbils are caged (and in a closed room when we’re not home), so I am not worried about Zoey harming them; however, I don’t want the continued undue stress on Zoey either..so I’m hoping there’s hope for them to all co-exist in same household. Any tips yo make this an easy transition? We can’t just pretend the gerbils aren’t there..and the only time the dog seems to relax a little bit is when us humans do not interact with the gerbils at all..lol. Thanks for any advice you can give!!

01-03-2019, 03:22 PM	#2
maxdog Donating YT 5000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Brownstown MI USA Posts: 18,650	This sounds like a time bomb waiting to explode. Yorkies are ratters - meaning they were specifically bred to catch and KILL rodents. It is Zoey's natural instinct to go after the gerbils and she doesn't want to play kissy face with them. I would be very worried about what effect this will have on your daughter if it happens. (how old is she?) __________________ Max & Sasha's daddy

01-03-2019, 03:22 PM	#3
Lovetodream88 Yorkie mom of 4 Donating YT Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: LaPlata, Md Posts: 23,246	I have a hamster and four Yorkies. After a week everyone was pretty good around them. I actually lifted each one up to show them the hamster in the cage. They pretty much ignore her now. __________________ Taylor My babies Joey, Penny ,Ollie & Dixie Callie Mae, you will forever be in my heart!

01-03-2019, 05:54 PM	#8
Britster Action Jackson ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Maryland Posts: 17,814	Jackson has A LOT of prey drive. He has killed grown rabbits right in front of me in the yard. My little sister has had gerbils and guinea pigs etc. If he is in the room with it and watching it, he will be intently focused on it, etc, but as long as they're in another room and up high enough for him to not to see (like on a tall dresser), he tends to not worry about them as much. __________________ ~ Brit & Lights! Camera! Jackson! CGC ETD TKP ~ Follow Jackson on Instagram: https://instagram.com/jacksontheterrier

01-03-2019, 04:00 PM	#4
ZoeyGirl608 YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Staten, Island, NY, USA Posts: 9	Maxdog, I do know this about Yorkies, and intend to make a point to have the gerbils in a place that the dog cannot get at them. However, I want to get to the point that Zoey learns to co-exist with them, knowing they’re in the house. My daughter’s 15, and a real animal lover. She would be devastated if Zoey hurt chip or dale (lol the gerbils’ names); but she knew about yorkies’ heritage to capture rodents and chose to get them anyway. Will keep you all posted.

01-03-2019, 04:36 PM	#7
ZoeyGirl608 YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Staten, Island, NY, USA Posts: 9	Lovetodream, thanks! How old were your Yorkies when you brought the hamster home?

09-22-2022, 11:48 AM	#10
ElizabethS YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: USA,NY Posts: 9	You should have no problems with proper care and the right conditions for your pets. Limit the space for your dog and your gerbils and prevent them from spending time together. Also, much depends on the character of the dog. If your Yorkshire terrier is calm enough, you can avoid problems. It's good that you have two gerbils. These rodents love company, so having them in pairs is better. When I bought gerbils, I studied a lot of information about their life, habits, and needs. Spicyanimals.com has a lot of helpful information that is sure to be helpful to all owners of these rodents.