Needing advice.. is this behaviour normal?! - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Larry92 · 01-12-2015, 03:11 AM

I'm new to this but I am needing some advice regarding my boyfriends yorkie. I just want to know if this behaviour is normal for a Yorkshire terrier or if the dog is in fact just a little s**t! The dog is 2 and has lived with my boyfriend and his family since he was 6 months old. Is it normal for him not to come to call, even in the house? it seems as though it will only do something when it wants to do and even the simplest of things like wanting to shut the door to a room and it's sat in the way it will not move if you ask it to and growls at you if you try to move it, so you have to wait until its ready to move?! I have never seen anything like it in my life! It also climbs up on the kitchen work top to eat food (we are not sure how it gets up there is nothing for it to climb up!!) this happens literally in the space of two minutes when someone pops upstairs or goes to the toilet, its ridiculous! Also I have known yorkies to be friendly and happy dogs but this dog when me and my boyfriend even touch start whimpering and barking at us even though I have been there since they got the dog and am not new to its life. It cowers when I walk in the room even though I have never shouted at it or hit it in my life and when I pick it up to move it when people are in the room it yelps like I'm hurting it but it doesn't do it when anyone else picks it up and doesn't do it when I'm in the room on my own with it. It has just started to not go to the toilet outside really.. maybe a wee here and there but its walked 3 times a day and goes out in the garden and will not go for a poo and then comes inside (after they have to leave the door open for half an hour and it wont come inside when asked) and will go for one on places like the sofa and beds?!(this is a constant behaviour when I am not there as well) We really don't know what to do anymore. It has also bit me 3 times.. not broke the skin but hard enough to leave a bruise and scratches and they happened when I was sat on the sofa by myself but has never even gone to do it when people are in the room. It has different people in the house all the time and its behaviour with them is strange and unpredictable and it barks constantly.. pretty much all day even if there is someone in the house it chooses to sit and bark alllll day. We are really stuck on what to do! help

Wylie's Mom · 01-12-2015, 05:06 AM

Hi and welcome to YT

.

It doesn't sound like you have any real bond with this little dog, is that correct? I say that bc you only call it "it" or "the dog" - and that doesn't really convey that you have a bond with this little one.

I'm confused as to what you're needing advice on...is the dog living with you now, instead of the boyfriend's family? Or are you living w/ the bf's family?

Larry92 · 01-12-2015, 05:11 AM

I am living at my boyfriends pretty much all the time(not that it matters as most of the behaviours stated happen regardless of me being there or not). I did have a bond with the dog for a while but it's hard to when something becomes so hostile and aggressive towards you for no reason. I have always walked, groomed and played with him since the day they got him but now his behaviour is becoming ridiculous not just to me but to most people he meets.

SirTeddykins · 01-12-2015, 05:52 AM

There are a few issues from your post. It sounds like a trainer would be the ideal solution to a lot of your problems.

If you both work, for example, the dog may not have ever benefit from any leadership and so is acting how a dog would normally act instead of how a dog is expected to act as part of a human household.

I think if you were to allow yourself to feel a little more compassion and consider that your b/f may have contributed to some of the unwanted behavior (albeit, possibly unwittingly), then you may find that you are more motivated to assist.

Problems which arise do not do so over night so solutions will take time, effort and consistency.

It appears, at surface, that this dog has not had the benefit of any of the above from the owners.

What do you think?

Larry92 · 01-12-2015, 06:06 AM

I understand what you are saying and it honestly sounds like I have no compassion, this couldn't be further from the case. Maybe I have put my words wrong but I was honestly just trying to fit everything into a paragraph without going on for years! lol. I do love and care for him, and I understand what you are saying about the unwanted behaviours coming from my b/f but he has never been treated wrongly or without love and we have tried to give him leadership but that's one of the problems as he is so unresponsive. He has been to puppy training classes which they couldn't seem to understand why he wouldn't respond even to them. He has been checked over by the vet and his health is perfectly fine. I just wanted some advice in general from other yorkies owners about his over all behaviour as I don't think it's normal and we are running out of options with him. As you say I am unmotivated to assist, I'm not sure how you have come to this conclusion as I am posting on here to try and assist and have been the whole time they have had him and his behaviour was worse when they got him. I personally have my own dogs at home and they are perfectly well behaved but anything I did with them as puppies has not seemed to work on jake so we are now at a complete loss of what to do

Magnus · 01-12-2015, 06:28 AM

I 2nd SirTeddykins's advice on a trainer. Off the bat, it sounds to me that your yorkie seens to think he's the alpha.

mybellababy · 01-12-2015, 06:28 AM

Hi sorry thing arent going so well . Maybe a Vet visit is in order , maybe the poor baby isnt well and is trying to tell everyone. I know Im not so nice when Im not well lol

Larry92 · 01-12-2015, 06:39 AM

He had been to training classes since we got him but the trainer cannot seem to work out why he is so unresponsive so a vet visit was made and the vet said that he is in perfect health.

It so difficult because his behaviour from when we got him has improved so much ( I cant even explain how bad things were when he arrived) but everything we do on vet advice and trainer do not seem to work. His biting and unresponsiveness is getting worse and I don't want him to cause some one serious harm

Him not going to the toilet outside is a new thing and we do not know why he has decided to poo on peoples bed and the sofas as its completely bizarre as its not a thing he's ever done.

Magnus · 01-12-2015, 07:00 AM

The only time Zoey pee/poo where she's not supposed to is when she's upset with us. Like leaving them alone for more then few hours (the usual hours away is 2-3 hours).

How much time do you guys spend with him and do things? What is he motivated by? Food? Toys?

SirTeddykins · 01-12-2015, 07:05 AM

You need a behaviorist not a trainer to train the dog to sit, stay, etc. Someone who can show YOU how to behave to illicit the right responses from your dog. It sounds like there is a huge gap in communication between the dog and the occupants of the household. If the trainer cannot explain the behavior, ask for your money back. That excuse from the trainer is lame.

It's always a good idea to rule out medical conditions. So, if you've done that, great.

However, you do not go into detail about what YOU or others do when the dog bites, or poops or does anything else undesirable.

Do you scold it, ignore it, yell at it, praise it?

As I said before, we are partly responsible for our dogs behavior and once we admit that, it is normally easier to work towards results compassionately and effectively.

Larry92 · 01-12-2015, 07:10 AM

He is never really left on his own for long periods of time and never has been as my b/f granddad lives with us and doesn't really go anywhere part from to the shop to get his paper which Jake goes with him for that.

He loves toys and is played with constantly but has never been a big eater. He was taken to the vets as he once wouldn't eat any type of dog food that was put down for him for over two days but was drinking fine. The vet came to the conclusion that he must be a very stubborn little dog as he had been tried on different types of wet and dry food with no luck. But this hasn't been a problem since he now eats completely fine just not a lot.

Sirteddykins- As you say you think I have no compassion for the little dog that is completely wrong as I wouldn't be trying this hard to fix the problem if I did not. I did post early to reply to you but it doesn't seem to have posted so sorry if it appears. I clearly have come across as cold in trying to get my post into little words as possible but in no way do I not love Jake, he is part of the family and that is why we are trying to fix his behaviour

Larry92 · 01-12-2015, 07:25 AM

Sorry if posts come on here twice I'm not sure why some of them keep not posting.

Jake is never really left on his own as my b/f grandad lives with us and he doesn't really go anywhere apart from to walk him and pop to the shop.

He loves toys but is not really a big eater and never really has been no matter what he's fed but vet says he's not under weight in anyway.

SirTeddyKins- I understand what you are saying and I completely agree it is a lame excuse but he has been to three different people.
Of course he is scolded when he does bad things and put in his basket in the hall what else are you meant to do?
He has all the compassion he could need in his life and is loved by us all that's why I'm trying to fix the problem before he can no longer live with us. I'm clearly misunderstood if you think I lack compassion for him because that couldn't be further from the case.

SirTeddykins · 01-12-2015, 09:40 AM

Apologies, I did not mean to imply that you lacked compassion but sometimes when we are frustrated our sight on the end goal means we avert our focus from how to attain it, if you know what I mean!

Obviously, you care. Otherwise, you wouldn't have bothered to come here for advice. Perhaps, patience would have been a better word over compassion?

Yorkies are notorious for being finicky eaters especially if they are ever given table food. Has this been the case?

Again, although you state numerous things the dog does to misbehave, you do not give any info re: what you do as far as correction. Can you elaborate and I'm sure that others here on YT will be able to help you all with advice.

Magnus · 01-12-2015, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry92

Sorry if posts come on here twice I'm not sure why some of them keep not posting.

Jake is never really left on his own as my b/f grandad lives with us and he doesn't really go anywhere apart from to walk him and pop to the shop.

He loves toys but is not really a big eater and never really has been no matter what he's fed but vet says he's not under weight in anyway.

SirTeddyKins- I understand what you are saying and I completely agree it is a lame excuse but he has been to three different people.
Of course he is scolded when he does bad things and put in his basket in the hall what else are you meant to do?
He has all the compassion he could need in his life and is loved by us all that's why I'm trying to fix the problem before he can no longer live with us. I'm clearly misunderstood if you think I lack compassion for him because that couldn't be further from the case.

To be completely honest, my first thought of from your original post, I thought you didn't care much for Jake. But then, I didn't think you'd bother to post on a forum asking for help if you really didn't care.

Alot of the members here refer to their yorkie(s) by their names, nicknames, furbutts, etcs. And you referring him as "it", "the dog", might have mislead me.

With that said... I know you said Jake's been to a trainer.. How about a behavioral consultant? I found this article and thought maybe of some good info...

Helping Pets Behave - Animal Behaviorist and Dog Training in Gaithersburg, MD

Lovetodream88 · 01-12-2015, 10:32 AM

He is a living being not an it. I'm guessing because your refering to him as it that there is no bond between you and I'm sure he knows that. It sounds maybe like lack or training more then anything.

01-12-2015, 03:11 AM	#1
Larry92 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Middlesbrough, UK Posts: 40	Needing advice.. is this behaviour normal?! I'm new to this but I am needing some advice regarding my boyfriends yorkie. I just want to know if this behaviour is normal for a Yorkshire terrier or if the dog is in fact just a little s**t! The dog is 2 and has lived with my boyfriend and his family since he was 6 months old. Is it normal for him not to come to call, even in the house? it seems as though it will only do something when it wants to do and even the simplest of things like wanting to shut the door to a room and it's sat in the way it will not move if you ask it to and growls at you if you try to move it, so you have to wait until its ready to move?! I have never seen anything like it in my life! It also climbs up on the kitchen work top to eat food (we are not sure how it gets up there is nothing for it to climb up!!) this happens literally in the space of two minutes when someone pops upstairs or goes to the toilet, its ridiculous! Also I have known yorkies to be friendly and happy dogs but this dog when me and my boyfriend even touch start whimpering and barking at us even though I have been there since they got the dog and am not new to its life. It cowers when I walk in the room even though I have never shouted at it or hit it in my life and when I pick it up to move it when people are in the room it yelps like I'm hurting it but it doesn't do it when anyone else picks it up and doesn't do it when I'm in the room on my own with it. It has just started to not go to the toilet outside really.. maybe a wee here and there but its walked 3 times a day and goes out in the garden and will not go for a poo and then comes inside (after they have to leave the door open for half an hour and it wont come inside when asked) and will go for one on places like the sofa and beds?!(this is a constant behaviour when I am not there as well) We really don't know what to do anymore. It has also bit me 3 times.. not broke the skin but hard enough to leave a bruise and scratches and they happened when I was sat on the sofa by myself but has never even gone to do it when people are in the room. It has different people in the house all the time and its behaviour with them is strange and unpredictable and it barks constantly.. pretty much all day even if there is someone in the house it chooses to sit and bark alllll day. We are really stuck on what to do! help

01-12-2015, 05:06 AM	#2
Wylie's Mom Furbutts = LOVE Donating Member Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 35,889 Blog Entries: 2	Hi and welcome to YT . It doesn't sound like you have any real bond with this little dog, is that correct? I say that bc you only call it "it" or "the dog" - and that doesn't really convey that you have a bond with this little one. I'm confused as to what you're needing advice on...is the dog living with you now, instead of the boyfriend's family? Or are you living w/ the bf's family? __________________ ~ A friend told me I was delusional. I nearly fell off my unicorn. ~ °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨° Ann \| Pfeiffer \| Marcel Verdel Purcell \| Wylie \| Artie °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨°

01-12-2015, 10:32 AM	#15
Lovetodream88 Yorkie mom of 4 Donating YT Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: LaPlata, Md Posts: 23,248	He is a living being not an it. I'm guessing because your refering to him as it that there is no bond between you and I'm sure he knows that. It sounds maybe like lack or training more then anything. __________________ Taylor My babies Joey, Penny ,Ollie & Dixie Callie Mae, you will forever be in my heart!

01-12-2015, 05:11 AM	#3
Larry92 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Middlesbrough, UK Posts: 40	I am living at my boyfriends pretty much all the time(not that it matters as most of the behaviours stated happen regardless of me being there or not). I did have a bond with the dog for a while but it's hard to when something becomes so hostile and aggressive towards you for no reason. I have always walked, groomed and played with him since the day they got him but now his behaviour is becoming ridiculous not just to me but to most people he meets.

01-12-2015, 05:52 AM	#4
SirTeddykins aka ♥SquishyFace♥ Donating Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: n/a Posts: 1,875	There are a few issues from your post. It sounds like a trainer would be the ideal solution to a lot of your problems. If you both work, for example, the dog may not have ever benefit from any leadership and so is acting how a dog would normally act instead of how a dog is expected to act as part of a human household. I think if you were to allow yourself to feel a little more compassion and consider that your b/f may have contributed to some of the unwanted behavior (albeit, possibly unwittingly), then you may find that you are more motivated to assist. Problems which arise do not do so over night so solutions will take time, effort and consistency. It appears, at surface, that this dog has not had the benefit of any of the above from the owners. What do you think?

01-12-2015, 06:06 AM	#5
Larry92 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Middlesbrough, UK Posts: 40	I understand what you are saying and it honestly sounds like I have no compassion, this couldn't be further from the case. Maybe I have put my words wrong but I was honestly just trying to fit everything into a paragraph without going on for years! lol. I do love and care for him, and I understand what you are saying about the unwanted behaviours coming from my b/f but he has never been treated wrongly or without love and we have tried to give him leadership but that's one of the problems as he is so unresponsive. He has been to puppy training classes which they couldn't seem to understand why he wouldn't respond even to them. He has been checked over by the vet and his health is perfectly fine. I just wanted some advice in general from other yorkies owners about his over all behaviour as I don't think it's normal and we are running out of options with him. As you say I am unmotivated to assist, I'm not sure how you have come to this conclusion as I am posting on here to try and assist and have been the whole time they have had him and his behaviour was worse when they got him. I personally have my own dogs at home and they are perfectly well behaved but anything I did with them as puppies has not seemed to work on jake so we are now at a complete loss of what to do

01-12-2015, 06:28 AM	#6
Magnus Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 3,192	I 2nd SirTeddykins's advice on a trainer. Off the bat, it sounds to me that your yorkie seens to think he's the alpha.

01-12-2015, 06:28 AM	#7
mybellababy YT Addict Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Ontario canada Posts: 365	Hi sorry thing arent going so well . Maybe a Vet visit is in order , maybe the poor baby isnt well and is trying to tell everyone. I know Im not so nice when Im not well lol

01-12-2015, 06:39 AM	#8
Larry92 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Middlesbrough, UK Posts: 40	He had been to training classes since we got him but the trainer cannot seem to work out why he is so unresponsive so a vet visit was made and the vet said that he is in perfect health. It so difficult because his behaviour from when we got him has improved so much ( I cant even explain how bad things were when he arrived) but everything we do on vet advice and trainer do not seem to work. His biting and unresponsiveness is getting worse and I don't want him to cause some one serious harm Him not going to the toilet outside is a new thing and we do not know why he has decided to poo on peoples bed and the sofas as its completely bizarre as its not a thing he's ever done.

01-12-2015, 07:00 AM	#9
Magnus Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 3,192	The only time Zoey pee/poo where she's not supposed to is when she's upset with us. Like leaving them alone for more then few hours (the usual hours away is 2-3 hours). How much time do you guys spend with him and do things? What is he motivated by? Food? Toys?

01-12-2015, 07:05 AM	#10
SirTeddykins aka ♥SquishyFace♥ Donating Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: n/a Posts: 1,875	You need a behaviorist not a trainer to train the dog to sit, stay, etc. Someone who can show YOU how to behave to illicit the right responses from your dog. It sounds like there is a huge gap in communication between the dog and the occupants of the household. If the trainer cannot explain the behavior, ask for your money back. That excuse from the trainer is lame. It's always a good idea to rule out medical conditions. So, if you've done that, great. However, you do not go into detail about what YOU or others do when the dog bites, or poops or does anything else undesirable. Do you scold it, ignore it, yell at it, praise it? As I said before, we are partly responsible for our dogs behavior and once we admit that, it is normally easier to work towards results compassionately and effectively.

01-12-2015, 07:10 AM	#11
Larry92 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Middlesbrough, UK Posts: 40	He is never really left on his own for long periods of time and never has been as my b/f granddad lives with us and doesn't really go anywhere part from to the shop to get his paper which Jake goes with him for that. He loves toys and is played with constantly but has never been a big eater. He was taken to the vets as he once wouldn't eat any type of dog food that was put down for him for over two days but was drinking fine. The vet came to the conclusion that he must be a very stubborn little dog as he had been tried on different types of wet and dry food with no luck. But this hasn't been a problem since he now eats completely fine just not a lot. Sirteddykins- As you say you think I have no compassion for the little dog that is completely wrong as I wouldn't be trying this hard to fix the problem if I did not. I did post early to reply to you but it doesn't seem to have posted so sorry if it appears. I clearly have come across as cold in trying to get my post into little words as possible but in no way do I not love Jake, he is part of the family and that is why we are trying to fix his behaviour

01-12-2015, 07:25 AM	#12
Larry92 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Middlesbrough, UK Posts: 40	Sorry if posts come on here twice I'm not sure why some of them keep not posting. Jake is never really left on his own as my b/f grandad lives with us and he doesn't really go anywhere apart from to walk him and pop to the shop. He loves toys but is not really a big eater and never really has been no matter what he's fed but vet says he's not under weight in anyway. SirTeddyKins- I understand what you are saying and I completely agree it is a lame excuse but he has been to three different people. Of course he is scolded when he does bad things and put in his basket in the hall what else are you meant to do? He has all the compassion he could need in his life and is loved by us all that's why I'm trying to fix the problem before he can no longer live with us. I'm clearly misunderstood if you think I lack compassion for him because that couldn't be further from the case.

01-12-2015, 09:40 AM	#13
SirTeddykins aka ♥SquishyFace♥ Donating Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: n/a Posts: 1,875	Apologies, I did not mean to imply that you lacked compassion but sometimes when we are frustrated our sight on the end goal means we avert our focus from how to attain it, if you know what I mean! Obviously, you care. Otherwise, you wouldn't have bothered to come here for advice. Perhaps, patience would have been a better word over compassion? Yorkies are notorious for being finicky eaters especially if they are ever given table food. Has this been the case? Again, although you state numerous things the dog does to misbehave, you do not give any info re: what you do as far as correction. Can you elaborate and I'm sure that others here on YT will be able to help you all with advice.