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11-23-2008, 10:00 PM | #1 |
YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: houston, texas, usa
Posts: 3
| Help!!! Sweet yorkie suddenly aggressive! I have two yorkies that I love so very much - Maximus (22mths), and Bruno (10mths). Up until about 2mths ago, they were the sweetest dogs ever!! They were both overly people and other dog friendly....then Maximus started to become 'snappy and grumpy' when other dogs would come to 'say hi' by sniffing him. Now he still loves people - but I can't even put him down at the dog park b/c he actually lunges, snaps, growls, and tries to bit other dogs!! I am so upset and depressed about this! This aggressive dog is not my normal happy Maximus!! Anyone have any idea what in the world could be going on? We have had a couple upsets in our lives recently - but I dont' think that they alone explain these behaviors! (We went through the IKE thing in Sep. & had workers at our house for 3weeks afterwards, & Bruno - his little bro. got attacked by a silkie in early Sep., & we moved in Aug.) PLEASE let me know if anyone has any advise on how to help him over come this!!! I want him to be happy!!!! |
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11-23-2008, 10:34 PM | #2 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Connelly Springs NC
Posts: 557
| Welcome Sunlit 16 Wow...i really dont know what do tell you....hopefully more people will see this thread and have more useful thing to tell you...sorry.. Good luck |
11-24-2008, 02:29 AM | #3 |
Thor's Human Donating Member | I don't have much experience with truly aggressive dogs, but from what you've said, I can see a dog developing a problem -- lots of stress, + seeing a packmate attacked. Other people might have better suggestions, but for my yorkie, I do the standard distract and reward. Do you have a friend with a calm dog? I would work in a controlled situation where you know that no dogs are going to run to you. A park would be okay as long as you know off-leash dogs won't approach. Bring along some treats, get him as near to another dog as you can WITHOUT him flipping out. Have him sit, praise him, treat him. Get him slightly closer. Repeat. If he lunges, remove him, give him a short time out and try again. Again, if you have a friend with a well behaved dog, you can practice walking him side by side. It's all about de-sensitization, and associating strange dogs with yummy food. This is said with the caveat that my dog is all bark and no bite. It's kind of funny actually. Last time he was in the park, he took on two boxers who were each at LEAST twenty times bigger than him. He was barking his scariest bark, but they kept walking towards him and he kept backing up (they were leashed, he wasn't in any danger). Then when they walked away, he barked them off. He's much braver when he sees the dog's back! My poor little guy's got no street cred at all. He's so tiny, I'm not sure if you'd notice a bite - it would probably be like a mosquito. Not that I'm planning to find out. Last edited by QuickSilver; 11-24-2008 at 02:30 AM. |
11-24-2008, 05:04 AM | #4 |
Slave to My Rug-Rats Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Long Island
Posts: 7,247
| I don't think you mentioned if they were neutered or not If not, you may want to look into doing that, as I believe it helps with aggression. They have all those hormones raging thru them. ....Just a thought |
11-24-2008, 11:56 AM | #5 |
YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: North
Posts: 1,324
| Make sure there is nothing medically wrong with the dog causing pain or a thyroid conditon that will make a dog suddenly aggressive.. oh and diabties as well as the eyes. After that been checked than find a good trainer that works from postive and understands aggresion and see if tehy can help Agggresion is always beter dealt with hands on by a pro then over the internet to start. What it is looking like is fear and lack of rust that he will be safe... will need some desenstization work and some counter conditioning. Fear is not something anyone will just get over and it not domiance at all. JL
__________________ "The truth about an animal is far more beautiful than all the myths woven about it." Konrad Loranz |
11-24-2008, 11:59 AM | #6 |
YT Addict Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Huntsville, AL
Posts: 274
| Yeah, sounds like a fear issue to me, especially if he was present when the other dog was attacked. I'd try redirect-and-reward with him and see if you get any results. Whenever he shows aggression (like on-leash at a dog park) turn him away and start walking the other direction. Whenever he is calm around other dogs, praise and reward him with something really tasty. He should come around eventually. If not, I would see professional help from a local trainer. |
11-24-2008, 02:59 PM | #7 |
YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: houston, texas, usa
Posts: 3
| Thanks! Follow Up to Posts! *First --> Thank you for trying to help! Just having someone sympathize with me & give encourage advise -makes me feel better!! As to the questions in the answers/posts: *Maximus is neutered - so I don't think that is the problem. & We have had an ongoing fight against a skin/food allergy that we have been trying to clear up since March - but other than that he's very healthy. *We had basic training at our local petsmart & that was adequate, and I've tried to build on that from books at home. I know we need a "live" trainer - but I am a "poor" law-student, that's why we came here first! *I have looked up trainers in our town (Midtown in Houston) but there are so many that I am having trouble figuring out who to go to both b/c of the prices (I know that paying more is not always better - not just b/c Im in school!), and b/c I know we need an 'expert'. I will try the desensitization that was suggested above in the meantime! If ya'll think of anything else that may help - please let us know!! My boys & I thank you! |
11-25-2008, 06:40 PM | #8 | |
Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: NC,USA
Posts: 14
| Quote:
I am posting on this board since I will bring a new yorkie home in a week or two. | |
11-26-2008, 07:56 AM | #9 |
YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: North
Posts: 1,324
| [QUOTE=sunlit_16;2347139]] You not alone in this at all. Some of us have dogs that will never be whole but we try... That you are willing to work this out is a great thing for your babies. Ok let me just check and see what and who is in Houston at my one group and see if I can come up with a name. Oh yes there are some good ones.... Best one that I would suggest and looking at some new work in aggresion and fear would be Kellie Snider.... Kellie Snider, MS Behavior Logic Company Mid Cities area—Dallas/ Ft. Worth I Know not in your area but she can lead you to someone that is. Go to this link Truly Dog Friendly » Truly Dog-Friendly Trainers and have a look if there is a trainer close these guys are with The Truly Dog freindly group and they do not train from rough at all to the level I like which for fearful dogs is the only way to go. They can not train from wough and be listed as a trainer they get bounced fast if they do. There are a few closer to you then Kellie... but call her first.. Once someone sees the dog and sets you on a path and give you a plan, you should be able to manage well on your own with phone calls and email guidence. It the one maybe two times you will need to see them. Let me tell you I toally understand that finding someone to help is a tough.. I a trainer with knowledge and I have a very hard time still finding others to work with us as I set in my ways and only gentle is allowed in and araound us ever and that is hard to find. I'd even go so far as to contact the Houston SPCA.. no no not to give up your dogs but they should have staff that can help you with behaviour work or get you to someone close to you... they have a vested intrest in keeping dogs in thier homes. Calgary Alberta's SPCA has a hot line to help. You can get in touch with trainers like Pat Millar or Pam denison and ask them to point you to trainers... they are postive based and would know others. Also book to read.... On Talking Terms with Dogs by Tuird Rugass Click for Joy by Melissa Alexander Click for Calm by Emma Parsons The Other end of the Leash by Patricia McConnell The Culture Clash by Jean Donaldson Control Unleashed By Leslie McDewitt JL
__________________ "The truth about an animal is far more beautiful than all the myths woven about it." Konrad Loranz |
11-26-2008, 07:18 PM | #10 |
YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: New York City
Posts: 2
| Almost the same problem (Arthur) I have two yorkies, Chin Chin and Shinobi, twin brothers, and are 1 year and 6months. Shinobi is fine with other dogs and humans. However, Chin Chin thinks he is human as well! He gets along with other people real well. However, with other dogs in the street, he will hide or turn away, while Shinobi will sniff other dogs. Recently, my nieces got two yorkies as well. However, Chin Chin does not play with them at all. He stays away from them. And if the other two yorkies get close to him, he will growl and might even bite them. I don't know what to do. I try to expose him with my nieces' yorkies as much as possible, but I don't think it's working. What should I do??? |
10-25-2016, 09:05 AM | #11 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2012 Location: NY
Posts: 247
| I just came upon this post & am going through the same thing with our 4 year old yorkie. She use to go to anyone but since moving a year ago it's like she's afraid of everyone. We've tried the reward system & she's doing better on walks but as soon as someone approaches her she will bark & lunge. I'm so afraid she will bite them. She's so calm & laid back at home & even with company once she gets to know them. Feeling frustrated. I love her to pieces & am thinking I need to get her back into a training class for more socialization. |
10-26-2016, 11:56 PM | #12 | |
YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Mesa, az
Posts: 970
| Quote:
I nipped it in the bud quite quickly. She's now a lot better. What worked for me was consistent exposure to dogs- in a word, doggie play dates on Sundays, and every other week doggy day care. I know you have a companion, but I'm speaking of other dog exposure. She still loathes chihuahuas, but, It won't change. My daughter is terrified of them, and Chews is so in tune with her family, that she picks up on it, so it just feeds into it. Our trainer is working on the resource guarding as well, but The consistent exposure worked nicely. There are people on here that will point you in the right direction. Follow their directions, I'm telling you, their suggestions worked for the guarding even before trainer started helping- even a way to get her to sit. I love that there is such a wealth of knowledge on this board. | |
10-27-2016, 07:51 AM | #13 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2012 Location: NY
Posts: 247
| THANK YOU SO MUCH! Hope had similar experiences with us moving from a quiet neighborhood to one where people & dogs are out walking all the time. My daughter's 9'month German Shepard also wanted to play & pounced on her scaring her to death. Hope is only 4 1/2 lbs. im going to get her into a refresh training course for more socialization & like the idea of finding a good day camp once a week. I want my sweet angel back she use to go to anyone & allow them to approach & pet her. Now she just barks & lunges. |
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