[Just_Sure1]

Hi all. Just joined this group because I am now the proud dog parent of my mom’s 9 year old yorkie named Tuesday. She recently passed away and taking care of the dog was too much for my elderly dad. I’m looking forward to all the advice and suggestions for transitioning her into our home and giving Tuesday a great life.

 

[Buzzu2]

Welcome to the forum, and any questions that you have, please don't hesitate to ask.
My condolences .....

 

[elvisdog]

I've seen something similar. Dogs are sometimes amazingly adaptable and malleable. You don't have to recreate the same environment for your dog. You just have to try to be a good human for the dog. Give her exercise, stimulate her mind, let her be with people, etc. The relationship you create will define her.

 

[LMMB]

Hi all. Just joined this group because I am now the proud dog parent of my mom’s 9 year old yorkie named Tuesday. She recently passed away and taking care of the dog was too much for my elderly dad. I’m looking forward to all the advice and suggestions for transitioning her into our home and giving Tuesday a great life.

Hi. Welcome to the forum, so sorry it’s under the circumstances.

It takes roughly 3 days for a dog to de-stress from the move, 3 weeks to learn house rules, and about 3 months to feel at home. In general. But, unless you and your parents have been estranged all her life, (and I doubt you’d take on their dog if you were), Tuesday has an advantage. She hasn’t gone to a stranger.

This dog knows you. She knows the sound of your voice, and, most importantly for her, she knows your smell. Your house is flooded with your smell. This will reassure her and she’ll settle in a lot quicker.

If there’s anything in particular you’d like to know, just ask.

Once again, my deepest sympathies for your loss. Tuesday will be fine.

 

[Curls]

My sympathies to you and your dad. You have done a very kind thing to provide a home and relieve your dad of the stress of caring for the dog.
Yorkies, as a long haired breed, need regular coat maintenance. Do you know if your mother did the bathing & trimming herself, or did she use a local groomer?

 

[Just_Sure1]

I believe she was taken to the groomers ( I don’t think consistently tbh) so we will continue with that.

 

[Just_Sure1]

Welcome to the forum, and any questions that you have, please don't hesitate to ask.
My condolences .....

Thank you. I know it’s only been 3 days but I notice she tends to favor me more over my husband. He will direct her and she looks over at me or will run behind me. He has known her the same amount of time as I have. Any suggestions?

 

[Buzzu2]

Thank you. I know it’s only been 3 days but I notice she tends to favor me more over my husband. He will direct her and she looks over at me or will run behind me. He has known her the same amount of time as I have. Any suggestions?

Just more time. Many dogs form a preference, especially later in life. She has lost everything that she knew, and adjustment will take time.

Is she food driven? I suggest that you begin doing all the feeding and handing out treats and see if that helps win her over. I am not a trainer, and many of the more experienced owners are across the pond and still sleeping. Tagging @CachetheBC since has lots of experience.

 

[JoanneF]

I know @CachetheBC has a book recommendation for newly adopted dogs.

But my suggestion is to get your husband to play it really low key, pretty much ignoring her at the moment. It's maybe because your mum was her significant person that she is gravitating to you, if you are female.

Your husband could also drop tiny pieces of something fabulous like roast chicken as he passes her. And, I recommending rewarding all voluntary engagement. If she looks at him (or you, for that matter) tell her 'good girl' in a warm tone and give her a little treat or piece of her normal food. That gets her accustomed to checking in with you and reinforces that you are the sources of good things.

 

[CachetheBC]

Firstly, my condolences on your loss, and bless your heart for opening up your heart and home to the pup.

As was suggested, time will help to ease her transition into your home. This graphic gives a general idea of what to expect, though every dog settles in at their own pace.

I highly recommend getting this book: Love Has No Age Limit – Patricia McConnell , it can give you some insight into what your pup is going through - being rehomed is hard on them - and provide some ways to work with them when/if they are struggling.

 

[Just_Sure1]

Thank you all so much for your wonderful replies.

 

[Just_Sure1]

So we’ve had 2-3 incidents where Tuesday has been urinating and defecating on the rug where my husband places his feet. He is convinced it’s out of spite and he is super frustrated. She only does this with him. Help! Sorry for all the questions.

 

[JoanneF]

Dogs don't do spite. Seriously, the part of the brain in humans that drives that sort of behaviour just hasn't developed in dogs.

She might be marking - less likely in female dogs than males, but possible nonetheless. Dogs that mark do that because they are unsure of their 'place' in the household. If that's the case, everyone needs to give her more reassurance, build her confidence.

Or, she might simply have needed to toilet, and if the choice was between a rug and a hard floor, most dogs prefer a softer surface. If that's the case, she needs to be taken outside more often.

Either way, clean the rug with an enzymatic cleaner to remove any trace of smell and leave it down for 10 minutes before wiping it up to allow the enzymes to get to work. Maybe even lift the rug, or at least block it off from her if you are not there to supervise.

And, hard as it is, try not to show any frustration or get cross with her. That will just make her reluctant to toilet where you are, so she will seek or create opportunities to toilet when you are not there. And you don't want that.