considering re-homing my yorkie - YorkieTalk.com Forums

pinky71 · 01-16-2013, 01:36 PM

Ive had my baby since 11 weeks..i got him from a breeder..He is 9 months now and weighs close to 9lbs. i never crated him , instead i used a playpen.He does not have free roam of house.primarily he has access to kitchen and bedroom....i started seeing aggression, dominance and possessiveness towards things and people around 4 months..I chalked it up to him just being a puppy..I put him through obedience school around 16 weeks because i had to wait until he was fully up to date on his vaccinations. he has been surrounded with a lot of love and he is in a wonderful home.. Its just him and me here and grandparents downstairs.i admit that he has been spoiled..He has completely taking over my home and I just happen to live in it..He has bitten me many times and other family members..Basically he gets very aggressive when he doesn't get his way..Ive been working with him about his resource guarding issues..He was neutered at six months and he still humps a lot..what has made me think that i may have to re-home is that he bit my arm pretty bad and my thigh the other night because i was trying to take my underwear from him. I feel like Im walking on eggshells in my own home and to tell you the truth, im now scared of him..Sometimes just having me walk into the kitchen he starts to growl as if im invading his space..The vet has ruled out any underlining medical issues...I feel like he may be possibly be a product of improper breeding..my heart is broken and im not sure what im going to do..I love him dearly but he is very unpredictable which makes me anxious....money is no option..Ive spent a small fortune with a very good trainer who comes to my home who uses positive reienforcement but i see no improvement in him...The vet has suggested that he may benefit from doggy Prozac .ive always looked for Yorkie talk for wonderful advice and support.. I just don't know how many more bites i can take without getting severely hurt..sorry for long post..

Maximo · 01-16-2013, 02:06 PM

I am sorry you are dealing with this difficult issue, and I can imagine how heartbreaking and frightening it must be. Sounds like you have done everything typically recommended: health check and training.

An inherent disposition problem might be the problem.

Does he have the opportunity to get outdoors much? Sounds like taking him out might be handful, but if he spends most of his time indoors in a relatively small area, that may make things worse.

I hope someone with more expertise here will be able to give you some suggestions on how best to proceed.

Yorkiemom1 · 01-16-2013, 02:21 PM

Let me start by saying how sorry I am that you even have to be contemplating such a move. I can understand how it is weighing on your mind.....
Next thing I will say is I AM NO TRAINER.....my dogs are not excellent examples of well trained obedient little attentive souls, but we have established rules and regulations in the house, and everyone complys....they understand what momma will not allow, and they will seldonm deliberately push the envelope.....I am sorry to admit they do get away with some bad behaviors...like racing thru the house....excited "talking and joyful expressions" when momma gets home from anyplace!....jumping all over me when I get home from work.....I do NOT hit my babies, but I do have a rolled up newspaper that I beat the heck out of MY leg with, and that has worked for me on several more stubborn issues, like bolting for the front door, or cornering the cat in the kitchen when she is trying to drink water. BUT THERE IS ONE THING THAT I ABSOLUTELY WILL NOT TOLERATE....I WILL NOT TOLERATE ANY OF THESE DOGS SHOWING ANY TYPE OF AGGRESSION TOWARDS ME, AND I WILL SMACK A DOG FOR BITING AT ME OR ACTUALLY MAKING CONTACT WITH ANY PART OF ME. I do not believe in "time outs" or persuasive gentle coddling to try to persuade a dog not to bite the hand that feeds him. I have never had any of my dogs bite me, or bite at me, or show ANY type of aggression at all towards me...that behavior will NOT be tolerated. But then I am blessed with personalities in my dogs that are NOT bent toward any type of aggressive behavior......I guess if I ever ended up with a dog that did have this personality flaw, I too would rehome it, rather than continually trying corporal punishment to irradicate the behavior.....

Lil Sis · 01-16-2013, 02:31 PM

I will say I understand totally how you feel. I can share my story and it may help... I don't know

I have an 8 year old Lhasa ... Sammy. We got him as an 8 week puppy from a co worker who's female had him. He is akc and is a very well breed example of a Lhasa.

We he was about 5 or 6 months old I became very afraid of him. He became very aggressive and it was difficult. He had an injury and I had to put medicine on him and I had to throw a towel over his head to do so. The groomer put him to sleep to groom him... it was bad. He bit the groomer.

He bit me and my dh flipped out and tossed him into another room. It was like he was a growling snarling demon. I was afraid and I did not know what to do with him.

That day I thought that I had enough and became very firm back to him. I looked him in the eye.. and held his head while he snarled etc and we had words. After that he was fine with me. He is still toy aggressive and bone aggressive, we now have two other dogs.. he is fine with them as long as I don't leave out a bone or one of "his" toys. The other male and Sammy sometimes get into snarling matches... I just separate them. If he starts to act aggressive I just say "stop" and he does. He does not like my dh too much and will growl at him but otherwise its fine. He did nip a friends toe one time but I think he thought she was going to step on him.

He loves me... he has to be touching me at all times. I wish he was easier but I have found a truce I guess.

bphslp · 01-16-2013, 02:36 PM

I have found Yorkies have a temper, but as a owner, you must not let him get away with it. What I would do is probably not what others would. I would tether him to me. He would go where I went every step I took. I would only use a harness as not to damage the throat. I would take up all toys and only let him have one when he was being viewed by me. I would take the toy away in five min. If he let me have it, I would reward. If not, the toy would be put up. I would repeat the exercise in about 15 min. I would socialize him in places where people might be. I would have him groomed by others. Baby steps but consistency is the key and rewards when he does it right.

Lil Sis · 01-16-2013, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yorkiemom1

Let me start by saying how sorry I am that you even have to be contemplating such a move. I can understand how it is weighing on your mind.....
Next thing I will say is I AM NO TRAINER.....my dogs are not excellent examples of well trained obedient little attentive souls, but we have established rules and regulations in the house, and everyone complys....they understand what momma will not allow, and they will seldonm deliberately push the envelope.....I am sorry to admit they do get away with some bad behaviors...like racing thru the house....excited "talking and joyful expressions" when momma gets home from anyplace!....jumping all over me when I get home from work.....I do NOT hit my babies, but I do have a rolled up newspaper that I beat the heck out of MY leg with, and that has worked for me on several more stubborn issues, like bolting for the front door, or cornering the cat in the kitchen when she is trying to drink water. BUT THERE IS ONE THING THAT I ABSOLUTELY WILL NOT TOLERATE....I WILL NOT TOLERATE ANY OF THESE DOGS SHOWING ANY TYPE OF AGGRESSION TOWARDS ME, AND I WILL SMACK A DOG FOR BITING AT ME OR ACTUALLY MAKING CONTACT WITH ANY PART OF ME. I do not believe in "time outs" or persuasive gentle coddling to try to persuade a dog not to bite the hand that feeds him. I have never had any of my dogs bite me, or bite at me, or show ANY type of aggression at all towards me...that behavior will NOT be tolerated. But then I am blessed with personalities in my dogs that are NOT bent toward any type of aggressive behavior......I guess if I ever ended up with a dog that did have this personality flaw, I too would rehome it, rather than continually trying corporal punishment to irradicate the behavior.....

I think you are staying what I was saying... the day I had enough and stood up to Sammy is the day his behavior changed. He is still a grumpy ole guy but he knows now not to bite. It is like he knew the line had been drawn and accepted me as his alpha. Does that make sense?

btw... I am totally comfortable with him around children- as much as any of my three dogs and more than Bailey my gentle giant

I have used the rolled up paper to hit my hand to make noise too..

ladyjane · 01-16-2013, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yorkiemom1

Let me start by saying how sorry I am that you even have to be contemplating such a move. I can understand how it is weighing on your mind.....
Next thing I will say is I AM NO TRAINER.....my dogs are not excellent examples of well trained obedient little attentive souls, but we have established rules and regulations in the house, and everyone complys....they understand what momma will not allow, and they will seldonm deliberately push the envelope.....I am sorry to admit they do get away with some bad behaviors...like racing thru the house....excited "talking and joyful expressions" when momma gets home from anyplace!....jumping all over me when I get home from work.....I do NOT hit my babies, but I do have a rolled up newspaper that I beat the heck out of MY leg with, and that has worked for me on several more stubborn issues, like bolting for the front door, or cornering the cat in the kitchen when she is trying to drink water. BUT THERE IS ONE THING THAT I ABSOLUTELY WILL NOT TOLERATE....I WILL NOT TOLERATE ANY OF THESE DOGS SHOWING ANY TYPE OF AGGRESSION TOWARDS ME, AND I WILL SMACK A DOG FOR BITING AT ME OR ACTUALLY MAKING CONTACT WITH ANY PART OF ME. I do not believe in "time outs" or persuasive gentle coddling to try to persuade a dog not to bite the hand that feeds him. I have never had any of my dogs bite me, or bite at me, or show ANY type of aggression at all towards me...that behavior will NOT be tolerated. But then I am blessed with personalities in my dogs that are NOT bent toward any type of aggressive behavior......I guess if I ever ended up with a dog that did have this personality flaw, I too would rehome it, rather than continually trying corporal punishment to irradicate the behavior.....

Judy, I don't mean to disagree with you. I simply want to say that I took two dogs into my home that were biters...and worked with them using positive training methods, including time outs, and they both did very well. I do not believe in hitting a dog because it bites because hurting them is only reinforcing that they should be afraid.
As you said, you have been fortunate and not had to deal with it.
To the OP: I honestly have never heard of a puppy being that way. Perhaps it is some kind of issue that is not fixable. I honestly cannot say since I have no experience with this. Good luck to you.

Yorkiemom1 · 01-16-2013, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ladyjane

Judy, I don't mean to disagree with you. I simply want to say that I took two dogs into my home that were biters...and worked with them using positive training methods, including time outs, and they both did very well. I do not believe in hitting a dog because it bites because hurting them is only reinforcing that they should be afraid.
As you said, you have been fortunate and not had to deal with it.
To the OP: I honestly have never heard of a puppy being that way. Perhaps it is some kind of issue that is not fixable. I honestly cannot say since I have no experience with this. Good luck to you.

You have experience with this and know how to deal with this behavior...the ONLY encounter I ever had with this was from a cousins poodle, who used to bite and snap regurarly at not only my cousin, but anyone that came to her home. I was visiting one time, ShuShu jumped and snapped at me, and I did not hit her.....I am trying to think if I have ever actually HIT a dog.....but I did grab the dog with both of my hands, on either side of her face, and we had a serious "talk", nose to nose......I growled and in a very firm, LOW, LOW voice, told her NO!!!! NO!!! NO!!!, all the while holding her face/head right in my hands, looking directly in my eyes.....when I released her, she ran off to the other end of the cpouch and we just watched each other very closely for the next couple hours. I told Kathy I wanted to feed her....when we went to the kitchen, and I put her bowl down, she had that look, cutting her eyes up at me, curled her lips and acted like she wanted to snarl and jump at my hand, I growled and told her NO!! NO!!!....and then I put her bowl down....she went to her bowl, I let her eat a coupler of bites, I reached for the bowl, she froze but did not make any aggressive move.....I told her Good girl, ShuShu.......I moved away and let her eat in peace.....and several times during the evening, I delibertly engaged her and she never growled or snapped at me again. I stayed there for a weekend, and then I began to reward her with a treat if she allowed me to place her bowl or toy or approach Kathy...anything that had made her aggressive, she managed to keep it under control, and she got a treat.... Now I have absolutely NO idea if that is the correct method of correcting this behavior, but it worked for me in this instance....and fortunately, I have not had to deal with that in any of my own dogs!

Jacksmom052709 · 01-16-2013, 09:55 PM

I am sorry to hear you are going through this. I by no means am a dog trainer but a few things come to mind. 1) Is he getting enough exercise? Do you take him out for walks, run around the yard, etc.? 2) With you being as you put it, "anxious" he senses that and then he becomes afraid. One way of dealing with that is to become aggressive - its a defense mechanism or coping mechanism for them. I don't fully agree with Caesar Milan's teachings, but I do feel that the pups need to know who is in charge and with you faltering, he is not sure. Similar to what the others have said about having a "talk" with other aggressive dogs, maybe he needs to have a talking to, but you need to exude confidence. I am "friends" with Victoria Stilwell on my FB page and she has some great methods of training. 3) Maybe your pup is bored and needs more stimulation. 4) If all else fails, put him on puppy Prozac - some dogs need it. When I was growing up, we had a Pomeranian/Poodle mix and he needed to have some "Prozac-like" drugs on occasion because he was so high strung and out of control - and he was a biter - bit my uncle, my mom, brothers - but he never bit me - I guess he thought I was the pack leader

Whatever you decide, I wish you the very best.

concretegurl · 01-16-2013, 10:43 PM

Get a trainer who will come into the home.

This can be because you, based on what you said "spoiled" him, he has learned this is acceptable behavior and it taking on the alpha role-any physical aggression not limited to but yes also hitting will only make it worse, but you need to be firm and consistent.

You cannot continue to be afraid-he will and does sense this and will even if he doesn't maliciously aggress on you because it's natural, you need a trainer who can evaluate him and train you on how to deal with this-it's not that expensive.

I'm sorry to be rude, but I think it's unfair that you ay have created this situation and would then just rehome him-now I'm just saying that because it sounds to me right now this is a learned behavior he has been allowed to have.

There can also be medical and neurological issues that cause aggression. having a training (not classes one who comes to your home his territory) and working with you vet will either remedy the situation or then offer alternative options which may include re-homing if the course of action is not something you can provide for him.

I'm sorry you are going through this it is never okay for a dog to bite-no matter their size, situation, anything it must be stopped immediately. Best of luck please keep us updated and remember with things like an internet posting everyone is giving a best guess based on how they interpret your description-very different than an expert seeing it and evaluating it in person.

Whatever trainer you choose, you need to be very clear on two things-they come to your home, and they will offer a plan of action and check in for you over a time period. Trainers are like any other field that doesn't require a genuine certification and training process-there will more bad one than good unfortunately. I went through 4 before finding a decent one-and trust me their prices were no indicator the cheapest was actually the best go figure.

littlesev · 01-17-2013, 04:00 AM

Hi... I feel compelled to comment on this thread, because this was me, 3 months ago. My boy was sheer terror, especially because he was teething and very sharp puppy teeth. My arms and legs were badly bitten and more than one occasion, I almost gave up on him but I'm so glad I didn't.

Unfortunately, what you are experiencing is rather common. I have a silky terrier, which isn't much bigger than a yorkie, and I know how much damage their little body can do. I would guess that the problem is that he doesn't see you as his pack leader and since there isn't any house rules to follow, he acts out and tests the water. Try practicing 'nothing in life is free' motto, meaning he has to work for things, i.e. sit nicely before you give him treats. If he grabs something he's not supposed to, try to trade it with higher value item. Find out if he's food or toy motivated and use that - mine would drop anything at the mention of "cheese". If he's acting particularly badly, take him to another room (dogproof-ed of course) that has nothing that would interest him and leave him there for a few minutes. Don't budge when he whines or cries out, but when he's quiet, take him out. Rinse, lather, repeat until he associates praises and treats and playtime with nice behaviour and vice versa.

Definitely get a behaviourist who would help you restore the pack order with positive methods. I was advised by a trainer to get my dog on medication as well but after consulting with other dog owners, I learnt that medication should be used as last resort for adult dog, and to exhaust every other resources before even thinking of prescribing it to a puppy. All the best

pinky71 · 01-18-2013, 03:06 PM

he gets walked 2 miles a day by a dog walker and then again when i get home from work. ive bought interactive dog puzzles for him as well...my trainer is very experienced with yorkies and even had one herself..as far as house rules he is not allowed on certain furniture and he knows that..I do tend to be firm with him,,As a matter of face the trainer believes the reason why he is so aggressive towards me is that he fears me and he lacks confidence..tends to be anxious..ive listened to bad advice and tried to be alpha but it has backfired on me...if you have a yorkie who is sweet and calm then your lucky...I really do feel its genetics

Mistymillar · 01-18-2013, 03:27 PM

My sister has two Lhasa's that are chalk and cheese,

Macy is beautiful and truest to standard in looks but is absolutely hateful, snarly, nasty and would bite everybody, Molly is the sweetest most affectionate wee doll. They are both full breed registered

ladyjane · 01-18-2013, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinky71

he gets walked 2 miles a day by a dog walker and then again when i get home from work. ive bought interactive dog puzzles for him as well...my trainer is very experienced with yorkies and even had one herself..as far as house rules he is not allowed on certain furniture and he knows that..I do tend to be firm with him,,As a matter of face the trainer believes the reason why he is so aggressive towards me is that he fears me and he lacks confidence..tends to be anxious..ive listened to bad advice and tried to be alpha but it has backfired on me...if you have a yorkie who is sweet and calm then your lucky...I really do feel its genetics

Perhaps you will be able to undo this. I am so upset whenever I see people tout that stupid alpha thing. It often does nothing but terrify a little dog. We are huge compared to them and coming down on them, growling at them, and flipping them on their backs is not a solution....it is leading to major problems.

Hopefully the trainer you are working with can help you to turn him around. I have taken pups in like him and found that they just need to have space and learn that no one is going to threaten and/or hurt them. Just takes a lot of love and patience.

I wish you good luck!

tiffygirl2003 · 01-18-2013, 06:36 PM

Dogs in a way are like children. They require rules, boundaries, limitations, structure, discipline and love. We toy breed owners often become so mesmerized by the petite size of our dogs that we forget that they are animals and don't discipline them when necessary. I own 2 Yorkies and a Terrier mix. I have no problem disciplining them when necessary. I never hit my dogs or abuse them in any way but they share my home and I demand that they repect me and my home. Aggression and biting would never be tolerated. Please don't take this the wrong way but maybe you're not ready to be a pack leader. Being the leader isn't only about loving your pet it's also about training and guiding them so that they live happy just as we do. It sounds as though your little guy needs more disciplne and structure. He seems to think it's acceptable to bite and be aggressive. He needs a leader who isn't afraid of him because it demishes your authority. If you know someone who can properly train him, re-homing may be a good idea.
Even with 3 dogs, my home is quiet and peaceful and I wouldn't have it any other way.

01-16-2013, 01:36 PM	#1
pinky71 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: boston Posts: 59	considering re-homing my yorkie Ive had my baby since 11 weeks..i got him from a breeder..He is 9 months now and weighs close to 9lbs. i never crated him , instead i used a playpen.He does not have free roam of house.primarily he has access to kitchen and bedroom....i started seeing aggression, dominance and possessiveness towards things and people around 4 months..I chalked it up to him just being a puppy..I put him through obedience school around 16 weeks because i had to wait until he was fully up to date on his vaccinations. he has been surrounded with a lot of love and he is in a wonderful home.. Its just him and me here and grandparents downstairs.i admit that he has been spoiled..He has completely taking over my home and I just happen to live in it..He has bitten me many times and other family members..Basically he gets very aggressive when he doesn't get his way..Ive been working with him about his resource guarding issues..He was neutered at six months and he still humps a lot..what has made me think that i may have to re-home is that he bit my arm pretty bad and my thigh the other night because i was trying to take my underwear from him. I feel like Im walking on eggshells in my own home and to tell you the truth, im now scared of him..Sometimes just having me walk into the kitchen he starts to growl as if im invading his space..The vet has ruled out any underlining medical issues...I feel like he may be possibly be a product of improper breeding..my heart is broken and im not sure what im going to do..I love him dearly but he is very unpredictable which makes me anxious....money is no option..Ive spent a small fortune with a very good trainer who comes to my home who uses positive reienforcement but i see no improvement in him...The vet has suggested that he may benefit from doggy Prozac .ive always looked for Yorkie talk for wonderful advice and support.. I just don't know how many more bites i can take without getting severely hurt..sorry for long post..

01-16-2013, 02:06 PM	#2
Maximo ♥ Maximo and Teddy Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 25,041	I am sorry you are dealing with this difficult issue, and I can imagine how heartbreaking and frightening it must be. Sounds like you have done everything typically recommended: health check and training. An inherent disposition problem might be the problem. Does he have the opportunity to get outdoors much? Sounds like taking him out might be handful, but if he spends most of his time indoors in a relatively small area, that may make things worse. I hope someone with more expertise here will be able to give you some suggestions on how best to proceed. __________________ Kristin, Max and Teddy

01-16-2013, 02:31 PM	#4
Lil Sis Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: South Florida Posts: 8,008	I will say I understand totally how you feel. I can share my story and it may help... I don't know I have an 8 year old Lhasa ... Sammy. We got him as an 8 week puppy from a co worker who's female had him. He is akc and is a very well breed example of a Lhasa. We he was about 5 or 6 months old I became very afraid of him. He became very aggressive and it was difficult. He had an injury and I had to put medicine on him and I had to throw a towel over his head to do so. The groomer put him to sleep to groom him... it was bad. He bit the groomer. He bit me and my dh flipped out and tossed him into another room. It was like he was a growling snarling demon. I was afraid and I did not know what to do with him. That day I thought that I had enough and became very firm back to him. I looked him in the eye.. and held his head while he snarled etc and we had words. After that he was fine with me. He is still toy aggressive and bone aggressive, we now have two other dogs.. he is fine with them as long as I don't leave out a bone or one of "his" toys. The other male and Sammy sometimes get into snarling matches... I just separate them. If he starts to act aggressive I just say "stop" and he does. He does not like my dh too much and will growl at him but otherwise its fine. He did nip a friends toe one time but I think he thought she was going to step on him. He loves me... he has to be touching me at all times. I wish he was easier but I have found a truce I guess. __________________ Shinja mom to Remy lil Sis to Bailey and Sammy

01-16-2013, 09:55 PM	#9
Jacksmom052709 Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 3,044	I am sorry to hear you are going through this. I by no means am a dog trainer but a few things come to mind. 1) Is he getting enough exercise? Do you take him out for walks, run around the yard, etc.? 2) With you being as you put it, "anxious" he senses that and then he becomes afraid. One way of dealing with that is to become aggressive - its a defense mechanism or coping mechanism for them. I don't fully agree with Caesar Milan's teachings, but I do feel that the pups need to know who is in charge and with you faltering, he is not sure. Similar to what the others have said about having a "talk" with other aggressive dogs, maybe he needs to have a talking to, but you need to exude confidence. I am "friends" with Victoria Stilwell on my FB page and she has some great methods of training. 3) Maybe your pup is bored and needs more stimulation. 4) If all else fails, put him on puppy Prozac - some dogs need it. When I was growing up, we had a Pomeranian/Poodle mix and he needed to have some "Prozac-like" drugs on occasion because he was so high strung and out of control - and he was a biter - bit my uncle, my mom, brothers - but he never bit me - I guess he thought I was the pack leader Whatever you decide, I wish you the very best. __________________ ~Lori ~ Mom to fur babies Jack, Izzy & Jada & their kitty siblings, Mr. Poops, Milo, Pearl & barn kitty Nanny.

01-16-2013, 10:43 PM	#10
concretegurl Between♥Suspensions Donating Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Vaissades Posts: 7,979	Get a trainer who will come into the home. This can be because you, based on what you said "spoiled" him, he has learned this is acceptable behavior and it taking on the alpha role-any physical aggression not limited to but yes also hitting will only make it worse, but you need to be firm and consistent. You cannot continue to be afraid-he will and does sense this and will even if he doesn't maliciously aggress on you because it's natural, you need a trainer who can evaluate him and train you on how to deal with this-it's not that expensive. I'm sorry to be rude, but I think it's unfair that you ay have created this situation and would then just rehome him-now I'm just saying that because it sounds to me right now this is a learned behavior he has been allowed to have. There can also be medical and neurological issues that cause aggression. having a training (not classes one who comes to your home his territory) and working with you vet will either remedy the situation or then offer alternative options which may include re-homing if the course of action is not something you can provide for him. I'm sorry you are going through this it is never okay for a dog to bite-no matter their size, situation, anything it must be stopped immediately. Best of luck please keep us updated and remember with things like an internet posting everyone is giving a best guess based on how they interpret your description-very different than an expert seeing it and evaluating it in person. Whatever trainer you choose, you need to be very clear on two things-they come to your home, and they will offer a plan of action and check in for you over a time period. Trainers are like any other field that doesn't require a genuine certification and training process-there will more bad one than good unfortunately. I went through 4 before finding a decent one-and trust me their prices were no indicator the cheapest was actually the best go figure. __________________ Shan & 8 kids now!

01-16-2013, 02:21 PM	#3
Yorkiemom1 Rosehill Yorkies Donating YT Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Houston Texas Posts: 9,462	Let me start by saying how sorry I am that you even have to be contemplating such a move. I can understand how it is weighing on your mind..... Next thing I will say is I AM NO TRAINER.....my dogs are not excellent examples of well trained obedient little attentive souls, but we have established rules and regulations in the house, and everyone complys....they understand what momma will not allow, and they will seldonm deliberately push the envelope.....I am sorry to admit they do get away with some bad behaviors...like racing thru the house....excited "talking and joyful expressions" when momma gets home from anyplace!....jumping all over me when I get home from work.....I do NOT hit my babies, but I do have a rolled up newspaper that I beat the heck out of MY leg with, and that has worked for me on several more stubborn issues, like bolting for the front door, or cornering the cat in the kitchen when she is trying to drink water. BUT THERE IS ONE THING THAT I ABSOLUTELY WILL NOT TOLERATE....I WILL NOT TOLERATE ANY OF THESE DOGS SHOWING ANY TYPE OF AGGRESSION TOWARDS ME, AND I WILL SMACK A DOG FOR BITING AT ME OR ACTUALLY MAKING CONTACT WITH ANY PART OF ME. I do not believe in "time outs" or persuasive gentle coddling to try to persuade a dog not to bite the hand that feeds him. I have never had any of my dogs bite me, or bite at me, or show ANY type of aggression at all towards me...that behavior will NOT be tolerated. But then I am blessed with personalities in my dogs that are NOT bent toward any type of aggressive behavior......I guess if I ever ended up with a dog that did have this personality flaw, I too would rehome it, rather than continually trying corporal punishment to irradicate the behavior.....

01-16-2013, 02:36 PM	#5
bphslp Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Cooper TX USA Posts: 10	I have found Yorkies have a temper, but as a owner, you must not let him get away with it. What I would do is probably not what others would. I would tether him to me. He would go where I went every step I took. I would only use a harness as not to damage the throat. I would take up all toys and only let him have one when he was being viewed by me. I would take the toy away in five min. If he let me have it, I would reward. If not, the toy would be put up. I would repeat the exercise in about 15 min. I would socialize him in places where people might be. I would have him groomed by others. Baby steps but consistency is the key and rewards when he does it right.

01-17-2013, 04:00 AM	#11
littlesev Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Australia Posts: 57	Hi... I feel compelled to comment on this thread, because this was me, 3 months ago. My boy was sheer terror, especially because he was teething and very sharp puppy teeth. My arms and legs were badly bitten and more than one occasion, I almost gave up on him but I'm so glad I didn't. Unfortunately, what you are experiencing is rather common. I have a silky terrier, which isn't much bigger than a yorkie, and I know how much damage their little body can do. I would guess that the problem is that he doesn't see you as his pack leader and since there isn't any house rules to follow, he acts out and tests the water. Try practicing 'nothing in life is free' motto, meaning he has to work for things, i.e. sit nicely before you give him treats. If he grabs something he's not supposed to, try to trade it with higher value item. Find out if he's food or toy motivated and use that - mine would drop anything at the mention of "cheese". If he's acting particularly badly, take him to another room (dogproof-ed of course) that has nothing that would interest him and leave him there for a few minutes. Don't budge when he whines or cries out, but when he's quiet, take him out. Rinse, lather, repeat until he associates praises and treats and playtime with nice behaviour and vice versa. Definitely get a behaviourist who would help you restore the pack order with positive methods. I was advised by a trainer to get my dog on medication as well but after consulting with other dog owners, I learnt that medication should be used as last resort for adult dog, and to exhaust every other resources before even thinking of prescribing it to a puppy. All the best __________________ www.parisundiscovered.com

01-18-2013, 03:06 PM	#12
pinky71 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: boston Posts: 59	he gets walked 2 miles a day by a dog walker and then again when i get home from work. ive bought interactive dog puzzles for him as well...my trainer is very experienced with yorkies and even had one herself..as far as house rules he is not allowed on certain furniture and he knows that..I do tend to be firm with him,,As a matter of face the trainer believes the reason why he is so aggressive towards me is that he fears me and he lacks confidence..tends to be anxious..ive listened to bad advice and tried to be alpha but it has backfired on me...if you have a yorkie who is sweet and calm then your lucky...I really do feel its genetics

01-18-2013, 03:27 PM	#13
Mistymillar Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Belfast Northern Ireland Posts: 1,129 Blog Entries: 1	My sister has two Lhasa's that are chalk and cheese, Macy is beautiful and truest to standard in looks but is absolutely hateful, snarly, nasty and would bite everybody, Molly is the sweetest most affectionate wee doll. They are both full breed registered

01-18-2013, 06:36 PM	#15
tiffygirl2003 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Highland, Ca. USA Posts: 96	Dogs in a way are like children. They require rules, boundaries, limitations, structure, discipline and love. We toy breed owners often become so mesmerized by the petite size of our dogs that we forget that they are animals and don't discipline them when necessary. I own 2 Yorkies and a Terrier mix. I have no problem disciplining them when necessary. I never hit my dogs or abuse them in any way but they share my home and I demand that they repect me and my home. Aggression and biting would never be tolerated. Please don't take this the wrong way but maybe you're not ready to be a pack leader. Being the leader isn't only about loving your pet it's also about training and guiding them so that they live happy just as we do. It sounds as though your little guy needs more disciplne and structure. He seems to think it's acceptable to bite and be aggressive. He needs a leader who isn't afraid of him because it demishes your authority. If you know someone who can properly train him, re-homing may be a good idea. Even with 3 dogs, my home is quiet and peaceful and I wouldn't have it any other way.