Training 1 Year old Yorkie

[DANP]

Hello!

A few months ago I adopted a 1 yr old Yorkie from a mother who was unable to take care of him (I think I've found other posts by her on this board discussing her difficulties). Without details, he was horribly neglected. Surgeries later, I've fixed his health problems, and for the most part I've calmed his severe separation anxiety to where he can be left alone without losing it.
The one thing I cannot fix is his aggression toward strangers and especially other dogs. I walk him 3-4 times a day and whenever we encounter someone on the street he will bark and growl, and if they have a dog he freaks out so vocally that people turn to see what I am doing to this dog...I'm not kidding, people come OUT OF THEIR HOMES to ask if he is OK. I can't seem to placate it, I've tried treats and I never hold him when he meets someone or another dog. After he's met someone once or twice that comes into the house, he never barks at them again. In fact, we live with another dog and he is fine with him, he just wants to play. But, I can't meet or play with everyone on the street and I certainly dont want to risk him biting the other dogs. I now cross the street when someone is coming...I don't know what else to do! I've lived with 2 yorkies in my past that were never this aggressive. But, they were never neglected and abused like this little guy. I really want to socialize him better, I just dont know how! HELP!

[FirstYorkie]

There are some excellent articles on dealing with aggression on this website:
http://www.clickersolutions.com/arti....htm#behaviors
Scroll down to "problem behaviors" - the first is aqgression.

Give it a try using the advice from ClickerSolutions. If you don't get anywhere, a couple of sessions with a positive trainer would probably be a good idea.

[livingdustmops]

Wow, thank goodness this little one is in a home that cares about him and is giving him the needed love and medical care. I agree with FirstYorkie in trying to focus him with training and see what kind of luck you have with this. Maybe it will work but you have to remember animals that come very a bad situations probably were never socialized properly and you might not ever change him of this fear. These are fear based reactions even if it appears they will attack the other dog.

My 1st dog that I adopted from rescue goes absolutely insane when we would take walks just like your dog and the only thing I could do with him (he was on the clicker training but it totally went out the door in these situations) was to pick him up and I would turn around and then hold him upside down, then he would start to calm down. He has never really changed when it comes to this even though I have 9 other dogs in the house and he is the sweetest of the bunch. I also adopted Noni to a family with a Westie and the two dogs were great together but if you took him on a walk he would also go insane and try to bite whomever he could. The family returned him to me. A very Yorkie knowledgable couple called looking to adopt a rescue and I told them about Noni and she said she was interested because she had had Yorkies for 20 years. I took Noni over to their home (they were in their late 50's, no children, very quite home) and they fell in love with this little dude and she was sure she could change him. Well on one of their first walk's the devil in Noni came out and he went insane and bite her husband hard (blood dripping). Thank God this wonderful couple agreed to keep trying with Noni as they love him the rest of the time and after 4 months finally have had to bring in a behaviorist (she searched hard to find one that does a gentle approach - because many use very cruel methods) and Noni is responding somewhat to the theraphy but they finally had to put him on a low dose of Prozac to try and overcome his high Fear Factor. He seems to be doing better and they are continuing working with the behavorist and doing the skill training she advises.

I do not mean to scare you but to let you know the experience I have had with dogs that have had a bad start in life but I think with hard work and a lot of love you probably can turn your little one around. If you could afford a behavorist and have one on one sessions that would be great but if you can't, so what if you have to cross the street, if you love this dog. Many of my little ones have issues because they all got a rough start in life but I don't care and we work everyday on overcoming different issues.

I will tell you at first I was embarrassed when Tahti would go insane but over time the neighbors got used to him as I always yelled over his noise. This poor dog was horribly abused and is scared to death of these other dogs and I think they felt empathy or thought I was insane.

There is another member from Alberta on YT that I think has a dog that does some of the same things and hopefully she will see your thread but I know she is working with the Clicker Solution and maybe she will give you some of her insight.

[DANP]

Thank you both for your responses. I haven't tried the clicker training method, and I plan to now try it out. And to agree with your point, livingdustmops, I would never dream of giving this guy up even if there is nothing I can do for him, he's made my life sooo much better. I just want him to be happy walking and playing with other dogs and people and feel safe...and sure it would be great if I could be a little less embarassed when other dog owners leer at me like I am hurting him. BUT, in the long run, thats not going to make or break my relationship with the dog, this guys is here to stay. I just wish people that cannot care for dogs would not get them.
thanks again, so much!

[livingdustmops]

Originally Posted by DANP

Thank you both for your responses. I haven't tried the clicker training method, and I plan to now try it out. And to agree with your point, livingdustmops, I would never dream of giving this guy up even if there is nothing I can do for him, he's made my life sooo much better. I just want him to be happy walking and playing with other dogs and people and feel safe...and sure it would be great if I could be a little less embarassed when other dog owners leer at me like I am hurting him. BUT, in the long run, thats not going to make or break my relationship with the dog, this guys is here to stay. I just wish people that cannot care for dogs would not get them.
thanks again, so much!

Wow, I am in love with you and your devotion to your little dude. If there is a heaven (and I think there is) I know you will be let in. What you are doing is so very special and your dog deserves a second chance at a life full of love and caring......to bad, many people don't understand these creatures are so very special and they deserve respect and devotion.

Rescue's take longer in many cases because they will never forget their beginnings but they are willing to forgive and move on. Sometimes it just takes longer than a puppy who had a great start. Time is on your side because your dude is young and I think with a real focus on training which forms a strong bond with your dog you and he will be able to overcome many things.

Good Luck and stay in touch.

[DANP]

Originally Posted by livingdustmops

Wow, I am in love with you and your devotion to your little dude. If there is a heaven (and I think there is) I know you will be let in. What you are doing is so very special and your dog deserves a second chance at a life full of love and caring......to bad, many people don't understand these creatures are so very special and they deserve respect and devotion.

Rescue's take longer in many cases because they will never forget their beginnings but they are willing to forgive and move on. Sometimes it just takes longer than a puppy who had a great start. Time is on your side because your dude is young and I think with a real focus on training which forms a strong bond with your dog you and he will be able to overcome many things.

Good Luck and stay in touch.

Thanks again, I will def. let you know how it works

[FirstYorkie]

Originally Posted by livingdustmops

Wow, I am in love with you and your devotion to your little dude.

Same here!

DanP, the ClickerSolutions website that I directed you to also has an email group through Yahoo. If you are seriously committed to trying to work through this problem with your little guy, I highly recommend that you join that group. There are many dedicated, positive trainers on that list who would be happy to help you work through this (as best they can since they can't meet with you in person).

Beware, though, it generates ALOT of email! I subscribe using the "daily digest" method. On www.clickersolutions.com look at "subscribing and other list information". Hope to see you there!

[livingdustmops]

Originally Posted by FirstYorkie

Same here!

DanP, the ClickerSolutions website that I directed you to also has an email group through Yahoo. If you are seriously committed to trying to work through this problem with your little guy, I highly recommend that you join that group. There are many dedicated, positive trainers on that list who would be happy to help you work through this (as best they can since they can't meet with you in person).

Beware, though, it generates ALOT of email! I subscribe using the "daily digest" method. On www.clickersolutions.com look at "subscribing and other list information". Hope to see you there!

Hey DanP, First Yorkie turned me on to this website and it is really packed with great information and will help you in your solution to really focus in on your little dude's training. I too just use the "daily digest" to look for helpful hints.

[BeanSprout]

Try 2-4 drops of Bach's Rescue Remedy....It works wondersnot only in human'sbut puppies

[Yorkie Mum]

Bach tends not to work on manic dogs and also I would be a wee little concerned with the alcohal even in the small amount.
There is other alternatives if meds are needed. One being Bio calm which is under a different name in the states and has been tested in a double blind study.
I would prearrange some Friends and neighbors to toss little one treats that are extra special as he approaches at the limit of his reaction point.
So right at the point he gets upset stop and treat him.
I also get my hands on Turid Rurgass book Calming signals so you know what he is trying to tell you and you can signal back.
Also I try to get him in an anxiety wrap so when he goes out he is calmer.
This can be done by just using a jogger that is tight fitting and or a tensor bandage. Clicker solutions has a link to wraps also The site below has some wonderful info.
http://www.animalambassadors.com/practitioners.shtml
Also a Gentle leader or a halti but it you run halti make sure it is attached to the collar or to a harness so if it pops off you still have him.

I have a few other aggression books that I can give you that are not on clicker solution site but are wonderfully helpful.

Best of Luck and keep up the good work.

Joy

[Osso]

I have two Yorkies, and when I take out they also misbehave towards other dogs an people by barking. I have taken them out about 3 times a week since they were puppies but they still bark alot.

[DANP]

Originally Posted by Yorkie Mum

Bach tends not to work on manic dogs and also I would be a wee little concerned with the alcohal even in the small amount.
There is other alternatives if meds are needed. One being Bio calm which is under a different name in the states and has been tested in a double blind study.
I would prearrange some Friends and neighbors to toss little one treats that are extra special as he approaches at the limit of his reaction point.
So right at the point he gets upset stop and treat him.
I also get my hands on Turid Rurgass book Calming signals so you know what he is trying to tell you and you can signal back.
Also I try to get him in an anxiety wrap so when he goes out he is calmer.
This can be done by just using a jogger that is tight fitting and or a tensor bandage. Clicker solutions has a link to wraps also The site below has some wonderful info.
http://www.animalambassadors.com/practitioners.shtml
Also a Gentle leader or a halti but it you run halti make sure it is attached to the collar or to a harness so if it pops off you still have him.

I have a few other aggression books that I can give you that are not on clicker solution site but are wonderfully helpful.

Best of Luck and keep up the good work.

Joy

Yes, I would love to hear about the other books as well! I do use a Gentle Leader, though it doesn't calm him too much it certainly helps with pulling!