PLZ HELP ME........I have a MEAN lil' yorkie!!!!

[yorkieluva]

Hello everyone, I'm new to this forum but I'd like to meet and make new friends. All the while getting assistance with my new dog owning responsibilities. I have a 3.5 year old female yorkie that a friend had but could not take care of. I just got her full-time but for the past year I've had her off and on for a few weeks to a month or so at a time. With the exception of myself, she gets along with very few people. She barks, growls and even bites whenever I have company over. I love her so much that I told my friend if she ever wanted to get rid of her, I'd take her. She laughed it off saying she'd never get rid of her baby. Knowing that she wasn't mine to keep I went looking to get my own puppy. I found a breeder a few months ago that said she would contact me when her newest litter was born. Almost a week ago, I picked up my 6 week old male yorkie/pomeranian mix. A few days prior to that, my friend let me know I could keep the older dog. So now I have two dogs. The younger is an innocent, playful pup and the older just can't be bothered with him. She runs from him and whenever I have him, she will not come to me. She has growled at him but has never snapped or bitten him. Is there a chance that they may never get along or does she just need more time to warm up to the pup? I also need to know, what can I do to help the two get along better? I make sure to play with them equally just to make sure that she's comfortable and doesn't feel left out. Considering the temprament of the yorkie, is there really nothing I can do to make things better? I would hate for anything to happen to her if I don't keep her. But I've also taken on the responsibility of caring for this puppy and can't push him off to the side. Plz excuse the long book but I wanted to make sure I included all factors. I'm in need of immediate advice so I'll up awaiting your posts. Thx

[Zoom]

Give it time. :) It takes a few weeks, maybe even months, for things to settle down. Not to mention that the older yorkie just went through two major upheavals in her life. She's lost the only home she's ever known and now she's got this rambunctious thing yapping in her face. But they should both figure out some sort of living arrangement and be just fine. Just never leave the two alone together, even after they start getting along. You never know when one will go too far and something will happen.

It also sounds like your friend never bothered to socialize her dog much, which is the reason for barking, growling and biting other people in your house. It's not cute behavior, it's dangerous and a warning. Just because she's under 10 pounds doesn't mean it shouldn't be taken seriously. Obviously you are taking it seriously, otherwise you wouldn't be here.

The first thing to do is to make sure you never reinforce her bad behavior. This means do not pick up, cuddle, pet or coo at her when she's acting up. You may think you're soothing her, to her she's being told that she's doing just what she should be doing. If you do pick her up, which you probably should if she bites, do it in a very neutral matter of fact way and take her to another room or her crate if she has one and put her in there until she can settle down. At the very least, put her on a leash and everyone needs to ignore her until she calms down. Then you can give her a treat. If she's still calm, have the company give her a treat. Start making strangers means good things to her.

I know more people will have more advice and suggestions; I'm very tired right now and can't think well enough to do more tonight.

[girlbuffalo1]

I first would work on commands with the older dog--work on sit and stay. This way when you have friends over and you want to let them in the door you can work on this behavior so that she stays calm.

Also I must reiterrate how important Zooms information about not picking them up or babying them is. It's easy to see a small dog parking at a person and pick them up to get them out of the way but really you are get reinforcing the behavior--do not let her hide by your feet--sit on your lap or stand on you while acting in this manner. She most likely is acting this way out of fear and you cannot reinforce it.

[yorkieluva]

I never under any circumstances leave the two alone b/c I am too afraid of the "What if's?". I will also be taking a firmer hold on Sky's bad behavior. I too thought she wasn't socialized enough. When I first started getting her and when I was looking into getting my own, I read books, magazines and all kinds of information on the yorkshire terrier. One of the many things that was stressed about a new pup is to socialize. I'm doing all I can to make sure that Cody is around different people. And that he's handled and played with lovingly. He absolutely adores attention. He knows his name and comes wagging when he's called. I just need for Sky to get in where she's supposed to fit in and we can all be a happy family.

I appreciate your replies and will do all that I can to help make this transition as easy as possible for all parties. I just want to say this site is the best. It's great that you experts, in your own right, can give sound advice/expertise to those of us that are novices with little or no experience.

[Beanie]

Your little puppy isn't from a reputable breeder. =/ Six weeks is too old to leave their mother, and it's a mix you said..? You might want to post on the puppy forums for some advice on what to do with your new little buddy, since he was taken from his mom too early.

In time they should settle down to each other! Zoom is right, the older dog has just gone through two big life-shaking events... they need time to adjust to their new lives and to each other. I know how you feel - my sister moved in and brought her two dogs with her, and I wondered if Auggie and her dog Happy would ever get along. It can be a really really slow process, but in the end I think they'll learn to live together. =>
But I wonder if, because Cody was taken from his mom too early, if he hasn't fully learned how to act around other dogs yet..? That might be part of what irritates Sky...

You can try a beginner's obedience class with Sky, too - she'll be around other people and other dogs. It might be a good experience for her. =>