If your dog strongly disliked any member of your family....
 

....would you keep the dog??

As many here may remember, we do have a Yorkie now...only for about a week...but it STRONGLY favors Heidi...it won't sit near me, it won't play with me, it acts scared of me, etc. We've tried many things, but the behavior hasn't seemed to change yet. It hasn't been long...that I'll grant you...but it is concerning us to say the least.

I'm of the STRONG opinion we cannot have an animal of any sort that doesn't like one of us...after all, we're a package deal (Heidi and I). Heidi absolutely feels awful about the situation and would really dread having to get rid of the dog....but we both agree it's a last resort.

However, Heidi can understand how badly it sucks when one animal appears to not like you, because she freaked out when a cat of ours didn't seem to like her for a few HOURS. Little did she know, that's just the personality of a cat.

Anyway......if you had a dog that just seemed to dislike your spouse or another person that's very important to you whom you live with....would you still keep the dog?? Imagine in this situation that the other person actually CARES if the dog spends any time with him/her and likes him/her.

(Edit: I'm not saying we're getting rid of the dog here. Like I said, it's a last resort. However, we DID talk about it coming to that in the long run, and I'm wondering how many people would agree.)

Skoshi would choose me over anyone in my house anyday. He likes us all and will love on everyone but when im home he doesnt care where anyone is but me. And hes mine and my moms and i dont think my mom would give him up for the world. I wouldnt give it away just because of that. It will grow to like you. or get another dog for you and keep that one for your hiedi (sp!!)

Yes I would keep any dog I brought into my life unless for their own good I had no choice but to rehome - but I'd do everything in my power to not let that happen.

My girls bonded to me BIG time within the 1st 24 hours - and while they love my husband they don't have too much to do with him unless I'm right there. As long as you love the dog then let them bond in their own time and even if they never do - providing the best home possible is something every dog deserves.

I don't want to sound rude but you keep calling your Yorkie an 'it' ...do you have a male or female ? It doesn't sound like you bonded yet as you haven't even called him/her by name in your post...and that's just an observation only !!!:)

If one of My dogs was aggresive and bite my Daughter I would get rid of them but that would be the only reason

if you wanted a family dog i think you picked the wrong breed most small dogs do stick to one person they may play with or sit with other people but that one person will be there main person right now that seems to be Heidi the puppy may be all about you when full grown but only time will tell that
Oh and my dogs always come first and they can tell when they dont feel that from people he/she prob feels that you even have the idea of getting rid of it already

I would give the dog more time to warm up to you. Sometimes they mellow out as they get a little older. And if my boyfriend loved a dog and it disliked me. I would never ask him to rehome his dog. As long as it wasn't biting me. It would NEVER happen, and I would never do it for someone else. At worst case scenario, can't you just ign or each other

The dog is a male...sorry, I just tend to use "it" when talking about a non-human...I don't know why...always been that way...even when I had my kitty as a kid that I ADORED....still an "it". haha.

You sound a tad hypocritical there. Basically saying if an animal, the cat, doesn't like Heidi that cool and that's their nature, but if an an animal, the yorkie, doesn't like you you freak out. :rolleyes: Maybe the dog is picking up on your vibes of hypocritcalness.

Heidi feels absolutely terrible about the situation...it breaks her heart. She really tries to get teh dog to lay on me or whatever...but it just leaves me for her. The look on Heidi's face is really sad....I feel bad for her.

I never said it was cool. Literacy will help you here.

When the cat was ignoring Heidi...I ignored the cat until it would pay attention to Heidi again. And guess what?? It did. Now everything's fine.

Well we operate a little differently....animals come 2nd to us...people come 1st. I'll always be first to Heidi, and she'll always be first to me. We don't put animals above one another...that's silly.

LOL OK !! got it - I thought that may be it - we tend to humanize our pets and I guess that's a thing with me - I've never called my girls an 'it' even though they can be little monsters sometimes lol - :D

I would let nature take it's course...it took my Chanel 2 full months to warm up to Cheri when we got her - Chanel would pout so bad when I kissed or held Cheri - she'd put any toddler to shame.....Is Heidi your daughter ??? I was confused

Heidi is my fiancee....my adorable fiancee....she's such a girl, which I guess shows why she wanted a Yorkie so badly.

She won't admit it, but she favors the dog over the cats too....we agreed there'd be no favoritism...but I'm seein it!

And you've only had this baby a week! You need to give it some time! Sounds like the baby has already bonded with your girlfriend/wife. I repeat...It's only been a week. Give it some time, be gentle, speak softly and eventually I think this baby will come around.

99% of the people here feel there yorkies are like children and thats why your yorkie will prob never like you its a breed that likes to be babied and feel liked
please do not tell me what i feel is silly ..............my animals like me
:animal-pa

Well I know Heidi feels as I do, that's the thing. I told her how some people equate dogs to their children...and she didn't agree with that at all...so I know her and I are on the same page at least....

I think you just have to let him be her dog and after you get more relaxed about the whole situation your puppy will warm up to you too. That happened in my family. Even though Tom is "all my baby" but he warmed up to my husband and he knows his place in out family is after my hubby unfortunately right along with my daughter :rolleyes: He thinks he is even with her). Your gf should also help to establish the order. I do not think that Tom will ever be totally cuddly with my husband (it's almost 100% male yorkie thing) but they sure have a great time together. We plan to get a female yorkie pretty soon.

When I first met my husband Mitzi was already 4 years old and never took to another person but him. Even his ex-girlfriend for 2 years never had a chance with her. It took about half a year until Mitzi warmed up to me but still daddie is number 1 in her life (6 years later.) If I would be a jealous person it would drive me nuts b/c I love her with all my heart. She is just "daddies little girl" and I accept and respect that. Maybe it would make sense for you to learn about the breed and just give it time... a lot of time... and maybe a second dog just for you. You can't force a dog (or anybody to love you) but you still can love "it" and respect and accept "it's" preferences. Love is to feel good about what you give and not about what you get in return.

If you, and she, feel the way you do about dogs just being dogs, why on earth did you get a Yorkie, why not a breed a little more hearty and lower maintenance. I'm thinking more and more you SHOULD rehome the dog......

My two cents worth. From your Yorkies point of view his entire whole world changed in the blink of an eye. He was taken from everything that was familar and comfortable and brought into a strange and scary place. For whatever reason he found comfort in Heidi. I would almost guarantee that given ample time -- your Yorkie will warm up to you. With animals sometimes it's best to take the aloof approach -- ignore him.... totally and completely. In fact it would be better to find an irrestible treat (that ONLY you have) and put them around your feet when you sit in a chair.... then try putting them IN your chair... and then try putting them in a pocket. Just don't try to touch him, eventually he will warm up and touch you. Make yourself VALUABLE to the Yorkie .... having 100% possession of high value treats would make you a high value human.

In human terms, maybe this is bribing, maybe not. We have to learn to communicate in terms that your dog can understand. Good Luck!

We already have 2 cats too....I think 3 animals is perhaps a bit much to be honest...especially, as I've mentioned before, we're only home 4 or 5 hours a day. So another dog would just spread our attention even thinner...and i really believe we aren't around enough for the one dog as it is....I just feel it'd be unfair to both dogs if we got another one....

Well...dogs ARE dogs...I don't know why anybody would disagree with this sentiment. It doesn't mean they aren't important and can't be members of the family...but at the end of the day, they are still dogs and they are not people. I'm not trying to be callous....I'm just saying my point of view on this.

Yeah, the treat idea is something we need to look into more....as it is, when I give him a treat...he comes to me, but then runs away after he gets the treat...so I'm not sure if it's really doing anything towards bonding.

can i ask then whyd you get a puppy?Besides Heidi wanting one?
who takes the puppy out while your not there all the time 4 hours aday isnt enough time to spend with a puppy or any dog

Ok...now I see - Heidi is your human fiance lol - I thought she was another pet....sorry !! :eek: :eek: and the way I see it is Yorkies are high maintence both emotionally and physically - maybe you don't have the time to offer your new yorkie what he needs and if you feel in the long run it's not going to work out then I'd consider a new home.....as far as the bonding thing - I wouldn't worry too much as you've only had the dog a short time. Someone just said your yorkie just had his whole life changed and it's true - it does take them time to adjust.

The thing that catches my attention is how little you guys are home....they get very lonely being left alone....but having 2 doesn't take away from the attention you can give one....it actually gives the dog someone to hang out with - my girls are attached at the hip and would be so miserable if not together all the time but as you said - you aren't really home that much so IF I were to offer advise I'd say not to get another just for that reason.

Nobody does...I posted this in another thread, but it stays in its crate all day while we're gone...it's not a SMALL crate though, it has room for a bed, litter box, food, water....and a couple toys. So it's not your typical little carrier or anything like that.

And why we got one?? Heidi wanted it...that's the only reason...I'm not sure what other reason there could be....although, I do feel if we have a little dog, I'd like it to like both of us...and i've had plenty of people tell me they are one person dogs for the most part...so that's nto good...

Who wouldn't favor a yorkie over cats? There is so much more personality in a dog than a cat!!!

Most little dogs favor someone in the family above the other members. They also have a sense that tells them if someone doesn't think they are the best thing in the world. Remedy the situation. Don't get rid of the pet. If you do that, then I would suggest you not ever get another pet. When you bring them into your home and family, it should be forever - for better or worse.

Well what we're thinking about doing, is caging off a room (kitchen probably) for the dog...so he has more room...in that case, perhaps having another dog would work because they'd have room to play....maybe that'd work?? I'd hope so, because I don't want the dog to be completely lonely msot of the day...and I'm sure attention from another dog would substitute well for human attention.

However, if we got another one....it'd have to be female....for sure.

Ah, I find cats to be cuddlier and more fun to lay with....plus they don't "yip". :D