Are Chorkies a nervous dog??

[ProudPetOwner]

My Chorkie Chole will be 5mons. the 23rd of this month. This week will make it two weeks sense I have gotten her. Every sense I have bought her home she has been very hand shy, she ducks down and puts her little tail between her legs when my Husband and I go to pet her but she is fine with our 9 year old Son Richard, and our other dog Sophie.

My Husband and I thought Chole was just shy and a bit nervous to her new surroundings but now we are second guessing that thought.

Chole was advertised in "The Franklin Shopper". I bought her off of a Lady who said she didn't have time to stay at home with a young puppy due to working, and traveling. She told me Chole <she called her sqeeky> spent many hours in a crate.

My question is do any of you think/feel maybe she was mistreated? or the Breed that she is? I have been reading on both breeds, and also Chorkies and so far I can't find anything about hand-shyness.

If any of you can find any info to help me out please post it.

Thank You, Tracie

 

[RedyreRottweilers]

Please. There is no such thing as a Chorkie. Your dog is a Chihuahua/Yorkie cross.

Puppies who miss the critical socialization period between 8 and 20 weeks can often be fearful. Sometimes fearful behavior is inherited.

Her issues are likely the result of her missing this critical window of time for her to learn about new things.

 

[lizzybeth727]

I agree with Red. Many small breeds are easily scared by humans, simply because we are so much bigger and more powerful than they are. It's crucial to get chihuahuas and yorkies in particular into puppy socialization and/or training classes so that you can learn how to communicate better with her, and she can learn to be more confident in difficult situations. If you don't get a handle on the problem as soon as possible, the fear will turn into aggression, and believe me, those little guys certainly cause damage if they really want to. There's a good trainer search on www.apdt.com, good luck.

 

[TheGoldenRetriever]

Agree with Red ... your dog was not properly socialized, especially since her former owner admits the dog spent "many hours" in a crate. As a result, she probably feels safe while crated but anxious while not. But just because she missed that critical socialization window does not mean she's a lost cause!

What you might try is letting Chloe watch you interact with your other dog, Sophie. LEt her see you call Sophie over and watch Sophie get pets and treats from you and your husband. This way she can see that interaction with you is a positive thing ... while "safely" observing another dog doing it. Don't try to force your attention on her in the meantime ... instead if you play a little bit of hard-to-get she'll come around by curiousity and observation.

It's good that she's so comfortable with your 9 yr. old son! Perhaps that's because he's so much smaller than you and your husband ... and he probably sits on the floor with her, right? To such a tiny dog as a Chihuahua/Yorkie mix, an adult human bending over them must look like a bending building!

And Red is right ... there is no such thing as a "Chorkie" breed ... Chloe is a mixed breed of Chihuahua and Yorkshire terrier. It's difficult to predict "typical" temperaments in mixed breed dogs.

 

[DogstarAcademy]

I think lack of socialization is probably your primary culprit here, but there are SO many unstable chihs and Yorkies out there being bred by BYBs that you don't ahve a good chance as far as genetics go, either. Get yourself in a good puppy class NOW, with a trainre who is good with shy dogs.

 

[bubbatd]

Agree with all above ! Many people ( and breeders ) think that the first 6 to 8 weeks is the Mom's job . NOT so !!! Mom's should feed , clean and scold ....the rest is up to the breeder . I wish all who have a litter would read " How To Raise A Puppy You Can Live With "

 

[Tazwell]

I have a so-called "Chorkie." Never have I referred to her as such, I just call her a Yorkie. I'm not proud of the fact my Mother bought her from a friend at a Pet Store (At a severely "discounted" price-- HA!). If you want to be respected in the doggy world, don't say "Chorkie" She is a "Mixed Breed" with a fancy name.

Wonderful dog, mine is. She's not hand-shy, but she's unusually submissive to everything. Please enroll your new puppy in a training class, if not a regular trainer! Dogs like her, that aren't aggressive, just nervous, usually flourish in social classes with a good instructor to oversee any problems. It's a lot cheaper, too.

 

[Romy]

One of the big problems with the cross bred "designer breeds" is that traits like temperament, size, activity level, etc. are all pretty much a crapshoot that can span the spectrum of what is normal for either breed.

While a well bred yorkie or chihuahua isn't supposed to be timid or fearful, there are many out of standard animals out there churning out puppies for the $$$. If the fearfulness is genetic, it could have come from either or both parents.

Did you get a chance to meet the parents? What were their temperaments like? She doesn't sound mistreated to me. It sounds like what everybody else is saying, probably a dog with an innately timid temperament that didn't get socialized.

It's not too late though. How does she react to being held? Does she have any kinds of treats that she absolutely LOVES, that are so fabulous she would die for? If not, you need to find something that does it for her. It might be string cheese, maybe hot dogs, for my dog it is teriyaki duck skin.

What I would do is this: Whenever you approach her, try to crouch when you get within five feet of her. Try to keep your side facing her, instead of your front as this is much less threatening. Just hang out like that for a minute, then toss a little of that awesome to die for treat for her. Hopefully she will begin taking them from your hands, which will put you on the road towards her feeling able to trust you.

To me it sounds like, because she is fine with your son, it may partly be an issue of how you and your husband are approaching her. Eventually you want her to accept you walking up to her like normal, but for now you need to figure out what does and doesn't trigger the fearful reactions so you can start desensitizing her to them. Try watching your son interact with her and notice his body language. Something about him puts her at ease. Try to figure it out and copy him. A puppy class is a very very good idea. You may consider having your son handle her in the class since she already has some trust built in him. It will help her to progress and overcome her fears of the new things she will see in class if she has a trusted human to look up to and depend on to protect her.

 

[ProudPetOwner]

Yesterday afternoon we took Chole out with my Son and his Friends just to watch how she would act, Chole ran and played with them she had a ball. I watched her carefully with the Children they sit on the ground and call her to them, my Husband and I use to just bend over so we both learned a lesson. We also noticed as we are petting Sophie Chole will put her front paws on Shopies back and wag her tail for us to pet her and we did so.

As the day and evening went on my Husband and I sat on the ground to her level and she was a different Chole!!! opcorn:

I feel so much better! I really thought she was mistreated and now I know she was not. I Thank All of You for your advice.................( : Oh and she will fetch this tiny ball I bought her and bring it back :lol-sign:

Thanks Again, Tracie

P.S. I will keep all of you updated. I also want to apologize for calling her a Chorkie. I will just call Chole a Yorkie...

 

[Romy]

That's great! I am glad she is making progress and you found a way to approach her she is comfortable with.