I have a 8 months old Shih Tzu/Yorkie Mix?

Question

I adore my little girl. She's fun, funny, so sweet, and her personality is just so precious.

I have had her since birth, as her mother; (an adopted dog from Humane Society....was pregnant when I adopted her...unbeknownst to anyone...sigh) anyhow; the puppy has one thing that perplexes me and I don't know how to 'overcome' it.

When I bend over, or down, either from standing position or sitting position to pet her, and/or to pick her up she backs away. If you keep your hand out she'll start nibbling and thinking it's play time.

But it's the backing away that irritates me. I have never laid a hand on her, yelled at her, nothing.

What is possibly causing her reaction to back away? What can I do to stop this?

Answer 1

Hi! I agree with most others, it is a common trait with Yorkies, and you are probably like a monster in size comparison. Maybe lay on the floor and let her come to you. Dogs respond positively to a dog's play position: on hands and knees, butt in the air and head down closer to the floor. I'm not sure she will ever break this habit, but maybe hold a treat in your hand, and when you bend down, do it slowly. Hope this helps!

My brother's dog is the same way! He will literally jump at me feet (happy to see me), but when I go down to pet him, he shrinks and backs away. I know what you mean when you say it annoying. All you want to do is love them and play with them.

Answer 2

You need to get down to her level. If a giant came at you, wouldn't you back off too. If for no other reason than to back off to see what you are doing. Intention movements mean a lot in the dog world.

Put your head on the floor and don't reach for her, let her come to you but keep your hands close to your face and close to her.

Sounds like she is hand shy. Somebody must have hurt her with their hands or gone to correct her and missed and she has learned just how far away she needs to be to be out of reach.

Answer 3

TOTALLY normal. I mean, it's part of the breed quite often, at least with Yorkies!

Also, think of how HUGE you are to her. Picture someone reaching toward you, someone that is like 20 times taller than you!

Give her time. Give her treats. Keep some good ones in your pocket, then every once in a while, out of the blue, reach for her as you always do. But give her a treat instead of picking her up! She will quickly learn your reach is a very good thing!

Answer 4

they could of given you some soreness meds and additionally a collar so he won't be in a position to chew on the stitches.the element additionally you're able to do is positioned a heat cloth on the area to alleviate the countless pulling from the stitches.ensure you're protecting a watch on the area as they are very solid at biting and pulling on the stitches and can very extremely infect the area.If that's purple and getting swollen then he's contaminated and needs to bypass decrease back to the vet immediatly.

Answer 5

hmm I'm not sure how you can stop it, but I have a shih tzu/ yorkie mix also. And she does the same thing, but she does it because she thinks we are playing. I personally think it's a breed thing. (the yorkie part) I know of a few yorkie's that are timid at my place of work, they back away when you approach them.

Answer 6

Maybe she has been abused when she was at the humane socioty. I know this from experiance. My aunt's dog won't come near them or me she runs away every time we try to pet her and we think it's because she has been abused when she was little from her other family before they got her at the pound.

Answer 7

She is just timid. Some dogs are like that. Just be kind to her and earn her trust and she'll come around. :)