LONG - Need help - My dog hates my Toddler. May have to find him a New Home.

I am in a tough spot. We have 2 Yorkies. We got them at separate times. the first one got ALL the attention in the house until we got the second dog and then got jealous. Didn't hurt the puppy, but started peeing, etc. in the house.

He has always needed ALOT of attention and of course later when DD was born it got worse.

She is a year and a half and LOVES to play with both dogs, but only the second one loves her back. The first one has snarled at her a few times and recently nipped her finger

There have been times where if we stopped petting/playing with him, he would pee (after just being walked).

It got to a point where we actually did try to let a family we are close to and see like every weekend(no kids or other animals to compete) keep him for a few weeks ....they ended up bringing him back saying he was just too much. He needs constant attention and when he didn't get it, he'd pee - again... 10 minutes after going for a long walk.

NOW I feel terrible, because we have to keep the dog and baby separated at all times because we don't trust him. It's really unfair to both dogs and the baby.

I feel like he is sad and ALL he wants is attention and to be with the family, but the second he doesn't get attention, he does something.

Any advice would be appreciated - I am pregnant again and fear it may get worse. Sadly dh and I agree that it's probably best for all if we do look for another family to take him.

We definitely do not want to bring him to a shelter and prefer a family we know (but nobody we know is willing with the problems).

Thanks

Re: LONG - Need help - My dog hates my Toddler. May have to find him a New Home.

Sounds like he is confused about where he is in the pack order and feels as if he's lost his connection to his alpha (you). He feels he is dominant over the second dog and your DC. You could try a doggie boot camp to get him in line but he'll need a lot of attention.

For the safety of your DC and baby to be I'd either put him into a strict boot camp or contact a rescue group and see of you can find a childless family to take him.

Re: LONG - Need help - My dog hates my Toddler. May have to find him a New Home.

I highly suggest www.barkbusters.com

As the above poster said, they look to us for pack order to keep them in control. Barkbusters will help you gain pack order so you are the leader and they calm down in your presence, which helps to curb these sort of behaviors.

I am sorry you are going through this. My male dog is like this, and we used Barkbusters and it helped alot. But my male doesnt pee in the house or do anything like that either.

Re: LONG - Need help - My dog hates my Toddler. May have to find him a New Home.

we have two high maintenance, attention loving dogs - LOL! - so I know exactly how you feel.

How about getting a dog walker or dog sitter to take the dogs out for a walk and given them that "special attention"? or put him in doggy daycare a few hours a day?

I also agree that training works wonders -- we used Best Friends and were really happy with them

Good luck!!!

Message edited 10/6/2010 5:20:43 PM.

Re: LONG - Need help - My dog hates my Toddler. May have to find him a New Home.

Have you tried keeping a diaper on him in between his walks?
Maybe if that stopped him, someone with no children would be more willing to take him.
How old is he?
Has a vet checked him for any urinary issues?
I know first hand how jealous and stubborn yorkies can be .

Re: LONG - Need help - My dog hates my Toddler. May have to find him a New Home.

Thanks everyone. I will try giving those trainers a call before we look further into finding another home... though we actually did have a trainer come to work on the peeing issue right before the baby was born.

I have to say he has gotten ALOT better with peeing and won't go when he is confined to one room, but if he's in the main part of the house, every once in a while, if we are all too busy for him (even though he was walked) he will pee.

He is walked a minimum of 4xs per day plus taken out whenever he sits at the door (he sometimes sits for 30 secs or so, but we have to catch him right then).

We have asked the vet - no medical issues. He also does hold it all night.

Though peeing is a big issue, it has gotten better, but my main concern is nipping the baby.

I've never tried the diapers (lol this was recommended by another trainer that the other family consulted), but I have to say that is where I draw the line...I am not sure of anyone who would be willing to do that... like I said, he does not go when he is confined to one room.

I guess if someone else wanted to they could try wee-wee pads. He used them as a puppy, but I can't revert back to that, especially with the other dog who would also use them and the baby walking around picking everything up.

Ideally I asked dh if we could make a doggy door leading to a dog run, but we are not even close to being able to do that project (and who knows if he'd use it)

Thanks so much for the suggestions!

Re: LONG - Need help - My dog hates my Toddler. May have to find him a New Home.

Re: LONG - Need help - My dog hates my Toddler. May have to find him a New Home.

Yup, you need to seriously invest time in training both of them, a service is only going to show you how. The rest is up to you and your husband. The success of training is a direct result of the time and work that you put into it. If you're not having reasonable success, you're not putting enough in for him.

If you and your husband can't foresee spending time every single day to reinforce training, find him a loving forever home before it gets worse. He deserves a chance at a stable family and strong pack leaders now.

Unfortunately, I've seen this same scenario here on the Pets board before. Yorkies don't seem to handle change well and need a strong boss. Good luck and congratulations on your second child.

Re: LONG - Need help - My dog hates my Toddler. May have to find him a New Home.

Re: LONG - Need help - My dog hates my Toddler. May have to find him a New Home.

Re: LONG - Need help - My dog hates my Toddler. May have to find him a New Home.

You're absolutely right about personality, they're all so different. Sounds like your other dog can roll with the punches better.

What I meant by a stable family was one that would have less change that he can't handle. Changing family members, changing houses, adding new pets, etc... I didn't mean your family is unstable in the negative sense. He sounds like he needs things to be more static.

You sound like you are dedicated to looking for a new home for him. Have you looked for Yorkie rescues? Would you travel out of state to get him to one that can put him in a foster home until he's adopted?

Re: LONG - Need help - My dog hates my Toddler. May have to find him a New Home.

Re: LONG - Need help - My dog hates my Toddler. May have to find him a New Home.

My dog had some issues with my DD also. (And he has a history of agression) Since Murray will do anything for food , I let DD give him treats. This way he can associate DD with a positive experience. He has done a complete 180 when it comes to DD

For the first time ever, the other day, Murray actually played with her! And then licked her nose.

Re: LONG - Need help - My dog hates my Toddler. May have to find him a New Home.

I have written this same post several times on here if you do a search. I also have 2 yorkies who were wonderful pets, and still are, but just dont like my kids.

My male yorkie constantly growls if my kids come within 5 ft. of him and if my 3 yr. old tries to pet him he nips at his hand. My female yorkie is terrified and hides most of the time and pee's in the baby's nursery constantly (although I have been trying to keep the door closed). I have tried re-crate training them and my male dogs would go to the bathroom in his crate creating a larger mess. It got better over the summer because I put them outside a lot in their pen. Now that it is cold out and they are inside more the old habits are coming back.

I think they are just terrified of my kids. I have two boys that run, jump, scream, etc. all day long. They like quiet, calm environment. I spent a lot of money on a trainer a few years ago and it did nothing. A few people on here have recommended trainers and I did contact two but they couldnt guarantee anything would change...if a dog does not like kids, you cant train them too, KWIM? I would definetley contact a trainer and explain your situation. Any good trainer will tell you from the get go if they think they can help your situation.

Message edited 11/7/2010 12:35:05 PM.

Re: LONG - Need help - My dog hates my Toddler. May have to find him a New Home.

I would try a trainer before giving them up

call Best Friends they are a vendor on here. they will give you a free consultation, and let you know if they can help. if you can't or don't want to do the training they have a boarding program where you send them away for 2 weeks and they train them for you. they changed my dogs life! because of them, we were able to keep our dog.