Table Dancer??

[givemethatsock]

My Yorkie is being SO BAD!!!! When I am in another room, I'll look into the living room and my yorkie will be standing on top of my glass coffee table, pushing his nose into my centerpiece. He will chew candles that are on the table after he takes them out of the candle holders, and he'll chew on the remote or anything else left on the table. I realize the logical thing to do would be to take everything off the table, but this is just one of my many problems. My apartment is always puppy proof. I'm tired of this one year old pupster being in charge! I always alter my life and my decor for him. If I spank him after he gets on the table, he tends to start growling and snapping at me when I spank him again. He's just impossible. He seems to have too much anxiety to even care if I ignore him, and he will just follow me around anyways. He freaks out and bites at my ankles when I leave to go to work or school. I love him to death, but I don't know what to try? I just want him to be behaved... and not afraid of me! HELP!!!!

[QuickSilver]

Welcome! You are describing a lot of different behavior problems:

- Chewing
- Jumping on furniture
- Growling at you
- Separation anxiety

I would recommend starting by reading up on training obedience generally and each of these issues separately. Please do NOT spank your yorkie. He is probably very confused about what he is and isn't allowed to do, and spanking is just going to freak him out more.

The trainer's mantra is "It's never the animal's fault." If he is being "bad", you need to figure out how to work with him to get the behavior you want.

Growling and snapping at you could be caused by two different things. First, it is possible that he believes he runs your household and is trying to dominate you. HOWEVER, if a dog doesn't understand why it's being hurt, it will usually first try submission and appeasement, and if that doesn't work, it will feel cornered and fight back.

To get you started:

I'd recommend starting with pennies in a can as a mild negative reinforcer. However, you should try to use as much positive reinforcement as possible. So if you catch him on your coffee table and he jumps off, praise him for getting down.

- Chewing: does he have appropriate chew toys? You can also teach him "Drop It".
- Jumping on furniture: teach him the "Down" or "Off" command. Also if he is going to break something or eat something that makes him sick, clear your tables until he is better trained. It's not forever!
- Growling at you: stop using harsh punishments like spanking.
- Separation anxiety: this can be very tough to fix, but if you search on YorkieTalk, you will find a ton of threads on how to deal with it. You can search by scrolling down to the bottom of the screen, and typing in "separation anxiety". Make sure to choose to search YorkieTalk, and not Google.

Good luck, and please let us know how it goes.

[givemethatsock]

I've been looking online for months for ways to help train him. He will be one year old on April 28... He's at the age where he should know his own name and everything but he just acts like he doesn't! When I first got him in July, my mom trained him for a while because I had to work all the time. He was decently behaved when I moved with him into my new apartment. I stopped working so much so I could spend more time with him, and I frequently sit on the couch and call him to come sit with me. Instead of coming when I call his name, he just sits there and stares at me. I'll stand up to try to go get him and cuddle, and he'll run off and hide under the bed with a toy like he has no idea. I tried to teach him "no" and "sit" and "stay" and he seems to be the most stubborn dog ever. He usually will go to the bathroom on puppy pads, but when he gets mad at me for something he will use the bathroom wherever he pleases. I just can't seem to build a connection with him.. He acts like it just doesn't register to him. I do everything I can with him... I'm a college student and I work 40 hours a week, so when I am home I just want him to love me back.

[QuickSilver]

Regarding the "Come" command - almost everyone's yorkie stares blankly at them when they are called.

So it sounds like there's another problem here, potty training.

Certainly some dogs are more strong willed than others, but you need to put in the time and consistency. It's not fair to expect him to become a perfect pet all on his own. While Cesar Milan is not my favorite trainer, I think he's right when he says that all dogs need exercise, (consistent) discipline, and affection.

How frequently do you walk him? Does he get other kinds of exercise? How much? Do you guys have good times together where you're just chilled?

[QuickSilver]

Actually, because you are having so many problems with him, my number one recommendation would be to take him to obedience school. This will give you some time to bond with him, and you can talk with the trainer in more depth about all these issues.

[givemethatsock]

We do exercise and play a good bit. I don't expect him to be perfect, but he just doesn't respect me at all. I've been looking for obedience schools, but being in a small city in rural Alabama, there isn't a school within fifty miles of here. What about obedience collars? not shock collars.. but the ones that vibrate? Is that something I should look into?

[givemethatsock]

If I can actually get his anxiety under control, he's really well behaved. I bought some completely natural pills that are called "Pet Ease" or something at Pet Supplies Plus. I give him half of one,and he chills out. He doesn't jump up everytime I readjust on the couch or follow me into the bathroom in fear I won't return. The pills only have natural things like chamomile and things in them, but I feel bad because it seems like puppy xanax. When I get his anxiety level down, he'll lay and sleep on me for a couple of hours. Otherwise, he won't even let me hold him for more than a few seconds before he's fighting to get down and get into something else. I know I sound like the worst parent ever, but I really do spend as much time with him as I possibly can.

[QuickSilver]

If he doesn't respect you, then you need to train him to do that. Sorry, I'm not going to let you off the hook on this one. Let's say we just agree that you have an inherently bad dog. Where does that leave you? Unless you re-home him, he has to be trained.

Can I ask if this is your first dog? There's nothing wrong with being a beginner and learning how to be a better owner, as long as you ARE willing to learn.

I would not recommend the collar, just because based on what you've said, it would be window dressing for some underlying problems.

Have you heard of the "Nothing In Life Is Free" approach to dog training?

I think of Thor like a two-year-old human. He's rambunctious, loving, impulsive, sometimes obnoxious, but inherently innocent. It is up to me to place firm and loving boundries for him so that he can learn to be a Good Dog.

[QuickSilver]

Also, there's a great show on Animal Planet called "It's Me or the Dog". I bet just watching that show will help tremendously.

I am not in love with Cesar Milan, but a lot of people swear by him.

There's also a really good, SHORT training book called "Don't Shoot The Dog". You could probably read it in an hour.

[givemethatsock]

I had a toy poodle from 2nd grade - this past thanksgiving. i was too young to know about training him well, but when my mom and i tried all the methods we used on the poodle on my yorkie, maxwell, nothing worked. i call him in a sweet tone of voice and he ignores me. he even ignores 'no' in a stern tone. i agree i need to make him respect me, i'm just not exactly sure which approach i need to take on that. he's already a year old and i get so frustrated when he acts like he doesn't understand anything. that's where he gets me. he acts like he doesn't comprehend anything i do for punishment, reinforcement, etc. but there's no way it could have just gone in one ear and out the other for a year? he's the most stubborn of the stubborn. how do i get through and let him know i'm in charge and i'm the one who makes the rules?

[givemethatsock]

I love It's Me or the Dog! I'm going to look for that dog book in Barnes and Noble in the AM!

[QuickSilver]

Try googling "Nothing In Life Is Free". This is a very effective, basic way to get dogs to listen to you. Basically, he has to perform a command to get anything he wants from you - food, walks, etc.

For instance, every time I go to the park, I make Thor Sit and Stay before I take off his lead. He's motivated to listen, because he wants to be free!

I don't know if your dog knows any commands yet. If he doesn't, try just getting him to answer to his name. If you say his name and he looks at you, praise him and give him a treat.

Is he food motivated? Do you use training treats? If he is, hold a treat in your hand and say his name in an excited, friendly voice. If he approaches you, praise him and give him the treat. Do this consistently, and he will come running to you for more deliciousness. You can try backing away from him to get him to approach. If you are going to give him a bath or something, just go get him, so he associates you calling to him as 100% positive.

Also... it is possible that he's not that bright. Sometimes I'll give Thor a command he's done a hundred times, and he's just DYING to get the treat, and he still has trouble performing the command. He's my little dummy, and I love him.

[givemethatsock]

Thank you so much! I'm heading home to my baby right now! Hopefully the "Nothing in Life is Free" tactic will work! Thank you so much for all of your insight! It's greatly appreciated! I hope Maxwell will be half as behaved as Thor! Haha! He's a doll, by the way. Thank you so much for everything! I'll post updates!

[Britster]

Originally Posted by QuickSilver

Welcome! You are describing a lot of different behavior problems:

- Chewing
- Jumping on furniture
- Growling at you
- Separation anxiety

I would recommend starting by reading up on training obedience generally and each of these issues separately. Please do NOT spank your yorkie. He is probably very confused about what he is and isn't allowed to do, and spanking is just going to freak him out more.

The trainer's mantra is "It's never the animal's fault." If he is being "bad", you need to figure out how to work with him to get the behavior you want.

Growling and snapping at you could be caused by two different things. First, it is possible that he believes he runs your household and is trying to dominate you. HOWEVER, if a dog doesn't understand why it's being hurt, it will usually first try submission and appeasement, and if that doesn't work, it will feel cornered and fight back.

To get you started:

I'd recommend starting with pennies in a can as a mild negative reinforcer. However, you should try to use as much positive reinforcement as possible. So if you catch him on your coffee table and he jumps off, praise him for getting down.

- Chewing: does he have appropriate chew toys? You can also teach him "Drop It".
- Jumping on furniture: teach him the "Down" or "Off" command. Also if he is going to break something or eat something that makes him sick, clear your tables until he is better trained. It's not forever!
- Growling at you: stop using harsh punishments like spanking.
- Separation anxiety: this can be very tough to fix, but if you search on YorkieTalk, you will find a ton of threads on how to deal with it. You can search by scrolling down to the bottom of the screen, and typing in "separation anxiety". Make sure to choose to search YorkieTalk, and not Google.

Good luck, and please let us know how it goes.

You always make it so much easier for me - don't have to type anything! I agree with everything you said.
You need to become in control!

[QuickSilver]

Any updates, givemethatsock? Better? Worse? No change?