Our newly adopted Yorkie - YorkieTalk.com Forums

tosha_e_1 · 06-21-2013, 09:52 AM

Hello,
We have recently adopted a 3 year old male yorkie. He is not neutered. He is a very good dog. He loves to snuggle and play fetch with the kids. He sleeps with my daughter (12 years old). He loves to tag a long for car rides and go for walks.
But I am noticing an alarming behavior and wondering if I can get some advice on it? We have 4 kids. Ages 12, 7, 5 and 1. Parker (the yorkie) came from a home also with 4 kids.... all under the age of 5. I am told he is great with kids and has never had any problems. We visited with Parker for a long time before we decided he would be a good fit for our family. He is our only pet. I even took him to a park where there were many people to see how he would react to strangers and kids coming up to him. My kids crawled around with him and played with him for a great while. We have only had him 3 nights. He has been great. This afternoon though, while my 1 year old was pulling himself up near me on the couch, Parker SNAPPED at him!! He hasn't done ANY of that before with us. My 1 year old doesn't even typically pay any attention to him. He may pet him while he sits in my lap. And I work on gentle touch and hold his hand to teach him etc. He has never hit him or even pulled at his ears. In fact, a few times he has sat next to Parker while he was eating and Parker has been content. He has never shown any signs of stress.
Any idea as to WHY this sudden change? How worried should I be? We all love Parker, and I don't want to rehome him. Are there training methods that can help? What can we do in the meantime? I was considering verbally scolding him and sending him to his bed (crate) for a while. Then maybe having my one year old sit with me during treats time, and my 1 year old gently give him the treats. (unless of course Parker looks stressed) Thoughts?

rubymoon2072 · 06-21-2013, 10:59 AM

may be claiming you as his. so if i understand correctly parker was on the couch with you and growled when your child came close to you. next time correct parker with what language you would use "stop" , "no growling" or whichever term works for you and take him off the couch. you need to do this each time it happens. if not on the couch but another area you need to remove him from that area...i have a time out spot for my kidz. sometimes its the only way i can help them understand what im trying to correct. if you correct him right when the action happens and be consistent with terms he will get what you are trying to teach him. basically he is trying to tell your son he owns you and your son not to be near you...at least thats what i am reading from this. i hope others chime in ...in case im off on this...

tosha_e_1 · 06-21-2013, 11:59 AM

Yes, Parker and I were on the couch. My 1 year old was pulling himself up next to me. Parker didn't just growl. He snapped, jumped at and then ran off.

That is what I was sort of figuring too. Parker has been following me all around like nuts. I mean, I don't mind. But maybe he is territorial. I have him with my 12 year old this afternoon, and I have gone to him a few times to cuddle and pet him etc. I hope to have him spend more time with the other kids. They play with him, but he usually just cuddles with me.
I was thinking of telling him "NO" (seems easy right lol) and then putting him in his crate for a while. Not like an hour or anything lol. Just a while. And then I was thinking of getting him out and taking him back to where we were. For instance.... and maybe this sounds crazy.... but if he snaps at the baby while on the couch.... I would bring him back to the couch... with me AND the baby. I also think that it is hard because he cant really spend time with the baby.... lol he is a baby. So all we can do is cuddle together for now ???

LogansDaddy · 06-21-2013, 12:56 PM

Awwww... poor little guy. Remember, dogs are social/pack animals. Give him some time to adjust to his new "pack". He still has to feel a little disoriented having his old packmates suddenly gone, and a whole NEW pack suddenly there. If he's accepting you as the Alpha dog, he might be trying to keep the baby away from you... thinking he's helping YOU out. Just be patient. It has only been a few days... give it time.

The tricky thing with using the crate as punishment is... he will start to associate the crate as BAD. So if you guys all go somewhere, and you need to crate him... he's going to think he's being punished. So I would caution you against using the crate as punishment.

ALSO--- you're going to see a TOTAL behavior change once he's neutered.

We rescued a little 3 year old Yorkie last year, and we definitely had a bumpy few months while he got used to US and we got used to HIM. Just be patient and give it time. Snuggle him and socialize him and spend time with him and make sure EVERYONE in your house is doing the same.

06-21-2013, 09:52 AM	#1
tosha_e_1 YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Michigan Posts: 2	Our newly adopted Yorkie Hello, We have recently adopted a 3 year old male yorkie. He is not neutered. He is a very good dog. He loves to snuggle and play fetch with the kids. He sleeps with my daughter (12 years old). He loves to tag a long for car rides and go for walks. But I am noticing an alarming behavior and wondering if I can get some advice on it? We have 4 kids. Ages 12, 7, 5 and 1. Parker (the yorkie) came from a home also with 4 kids.... all under the age of 5. I am told he is great with kids and has never had any problems. We visited with Parker for a long time before we decided he would be a good fit for our family. He is our only pet. I even took him to a park where there were many people to see how he would react to strangers and kids coming up to him. My kids crawled around with him and played with him for a great while. We have only had him 3 nights. He has been great. This afternoon though, while my 1 year old was pulling himself up near me on the couch, Parker SNAPPED at him!! He hasn't done ANY of that before with us. My 1 year old doesn't even typically pay any attention to him. He may pet him while he sits in my lap. And I work on gentle touch and hold his hand to teach him etc. He has never hit him or even pulled at his ears. In fact, a few times he has sat next to Parker while he was eating and Parker has been content. He has never shown any signs of stress. Any idea as to WHY this sudden change? How worried should I be? We all love Parker, and I don't want to rehome him. Are there training methods that can help? What can we do in the meantime? I was considering verbally scolding him and sending him to his bed (crate) for a while. Then maybe having my one year old sit with me during treats time, and my 1 year old gently give him the treats. (unless of course Parker looks stressed) Thoughts?

06-21-2013, 10:59 AM	#2
rubymoon2072 Cedric♥Lola♥Keylo Donating Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Gilford, NH, USA Posts: 9,209	may be claiming you as his. so if i understand correctly parker was on the couch with you and growled when your child came close to you. next time correct parker with what language you would use "stop" , "no growling" or whichever term works for you and take him off the couch. you need to do this each time it happens. if not on the couch but another area you need to remove him from that area...i have a time out spot for my kidz. sometimes its the only way i can help them understand what im trying to correct. if you correct him right when the action happens and be consistent with terms he will get what you are trying to teach him. basically he is trying to tell your son he owns you and your son not to be near you...at least thats what i am reading from this. i hope others chime in ...in case im off on this... __________________ Cedric N Lola N Keylo RIP Punkee Princess

06-21-2013, 11:59 AM	#3
tosha_e_1 YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Michigan Posts: 2	Yes, Parker and I were on the couch. My 1 year old was pulling himself up next to me. Parker didn't just growl. He snapped, jumped at and then ran off. That is what I was sort of figuring too. Parker has been following me all around like nuts. I mean, I don't mind. But maybe he is territorial. I have him with my 12 year old this afternoon, and I have gone to him a few times to cuddle and pet him etc. I hope to have him spend more time with the other kids. They play with him, but he usually just cuddles with me. I was thinking of telling him "NO" (seems easy right lol) and then putting him in his crate for a while. Not like an hour or anything lol. Just a while. And then I was thinking of getting him out and taking him back to where we were. For instance.... and maybe this sounds crazy.... but if he snaps at the baby while on the couch.... I would bring him back to the couch... with me AND the baby. I also think that it is hard because he cant really spend time with the baby.... lol he is a baby. So all we can do is cuddle together for now ???

06-21-2013, 12:56 PM	#4
LogansDaddy Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 63	Awwww... poor little guy. Remember, dogs are social/pack animals. Give him some time to adjust to his new "pack". He still has to feel a little disoriented having his old packmates suddenly gone, and a whole NEW pack suddenly there. If he's accepting you as the Alpha dog, he might be trying to keep the baby away from you... thinking he's helping YOU out. Just be patient. It has only been a few days... give it time. The tricky thing with using the crate as punishment is... he will start to associate the crate as BAD. So if you guys all go somewhere, and you need to crate him... he's going to think he's being punished. So I would caution you against using the crate as punishment. ALSO--- you're going to see a TOTAL behavior change once he's neutered. We rescued a little 3 year old Yorkie last year, and we definitely had a bumpy few months while he got used to US and we got used to HIM. Just be patient and give it time. Snuggle him and socialize him and spend time with him and make sure EVERYONE in your house is doing the same.