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Old 06-27-2006, 10:31 AM   #1
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Default Help with new adult dog

Sugar is my third yorkie. I brought him home a week and a half ago. He is a 16 month old male who was living with a breeder. The breeder is a super nice lady but this little boy is not trained AT ALL!! I was able to have him on the condition that I did not have him fixed until he has bred one time with a specific female. That female is just going into her first heat and he will meet her during her second heat which will hopefully result in pregnancy and I will have him fixed.
I absolutely adore this little guy! I have been in love with him since he was 8 months old and I am thrilled to have him. He is the cutest, most loving yorkie I have ever seen. He just wants to be held and cuddled and loved which I love doing.
He is adjusting to his new home and I'm sure that has been a big adjustment. He had never been out of the breeders home except to got to the vet and rarely saw anyone other than the breeder and her husband so we are having some problems. My other two yorkies were trained from puppyhood so I am at a loss right now. Here are the immediate issues I need to deal with:

1. He is very protective of me and barks and growls at my husband. If I hand him to my husband he will let him pet him and will even give him little kisses but when my husband first walks into the room, he goes nuts. Also in the morning when my husband is getting ready for work and Sugar and I are still in bed, he barks and growls the whole time. Nothing I have done (stern no, popping a table with a newspaper and even his butt) makes him so much as pause in his gowling.

2. He will not come on command. He is usually following me around like a shadow but sometimes, especially when I am trying to take him outside, he just stares at me like he has gone deaf. He also does this when I try to bring him back inside. Now my other two are following his lead and I am about to go crazy!

3. He was pee pee pad trained by the breeder. Since he is not neutered, I am having to keep a belly band on him and try to train him to potty outside. With my others I took them outside frequently and when they had accidents I said, bad boy (or girl) and put them outside. He does not go frequently like a puppy would and is perfectly happy to potty in his belly band so I can't figure out how to train him.

I'm starting to think I need professional help (in more ways than one! ) I have been looking at training books, reading about clicker training and considering hiring a trainer to come to my home.
Any advice on any of these topics would be hugely appreciated!
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Old 06-28-2006, 01:22 PM   #2
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Awwww, nobody? I spoke with a trainer yesterday and read up on clicker training. I found a really good site- http://www.clickerlessons.com/index.htm if anyone is interested in clicker training. Bought my clicker today and I'm ready to go. If after a month or so we still have issues, I'll call the trainer in. I came up with something that seems to be working with the barking at my hubby issue. When he gets nasty with hubby, my husband says; bad Sugar, in a stern voice, then I put him down (from my lap or from the bed) and ignore him for a minute, then I pick him up and we praise him for not barking. This has worked twice now so I'm hopeful.
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Old 06-28-2006, 04:54 PM   #3
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OK First of all let me say that Loki's been trained since puppyhood with a variation of clicker training - we like positive reinforcement. I have lots of book suggestions for you but signing up for a class is definately the way to go. It sounds like this little guy needs a LOT of socialization (all Yorkies do, some of them have well.. difficult temperaments!) Anyway, classes are fun so don't hesitate to sign up.

Next, Loki barks at my husband too! Actually he barks at both of us sometimes. We're working on it!! Constantly working on "SHH" (quiet) and just calming signals in general. We really need to step up our consistency on this too. Anyway Loki does try to "protect" me. I asked hubby to rip a band-aid off my shoulder and I said OUCH! and Loki FREAKED OUT barking at him. But truly he was hurting me, so I think they really are trying to protect us. You just need to teach him there's no need to protect you! Have hubby carry treats on him - really stinky ones! Then he can give Sugar a treat when he comes in the room. No need to protect mommy when daddy has yummy food!!! Soon he will look to your husband expecting his treat!

OK Books... on my bookshelf right now -
The Other End of the Leash - Patricia McConnell. Written more in novel style but it does address these types of issues. She gives examples of many dogs she has worked with over the years. VERY helpful in understanding how dogs think.
Positive Perspectives by Pat Miller - There's a whole section on Behavior Modification and lots of tips and tricks related to clicker training and behavior.
Also by Pat Miller is The Power of Positive Dog Training

There's a short section in one of my Ian Dunbar books that just says this: Teach your dog to speak on command and/or encourage the barking. Then say SHHH. Then stick food in front of his nose. When he shuts up, give him the food and praise him. Wuhu you just taught your dog quiet. The hard part is getting him to listen when he WANTS to bark. Sometimes Loki gets into a barking "trance" and it takes more than a wimpy treat to get him out of it. That's where having a trainer to answer all of these questions is the best!
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Old 06-28-2006, 04:56 PM   #4
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Setting him on the floor is great too - see you are already doing well! Loki sometimes gets testy about his "space" on the bed - well he's allowed to sleep up there but he can't take up the whole bed! So if I ask him to move and he barks at me or whatever I pick him up and set him on the floor and ignore him. Usually he goes to his bed on the floor and comes back in a little while with a better attitude.
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Old 06-28-2006, 05:03 PM   #5
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Ceasar Milan would say, that if they are trying to protect you, it is because they do not see you as a strong assertive person and they are trying to fill that void.

In the natural order of the dog world, there is one clear leader, strong and assertive, all others in the pack are submissive. If there is a lack of leadership, then one or more of the others will try to take over.

The only time the rest of the pack should bark or growl at anyone is when the leader is clearly alarmed, and they can tell that by the smell of adreniline, not by they word Ouch.
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Old 06-28-2006, 05:04 PM   #6
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Erin, thank you so much for the recommendations! I LOVE the speak on command training! That is the clearest way I have had it explained and I will definitely be trying it. My 2 1/2 yr old yorkie has barking issues and she is first in line for that training!
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Old 06-28-2006, 05:10 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JeanieK
Ceasar Milan would say, that if they are trying to protect you, it is because they do not see you as a strong assertive person and they are trying to fill that void.

In the natural order of the dog world, there is one clear leader, strong and assertive, all others in the pack are submissive. If there is a lack of leadership, then one or more of the others will try to take over.

The only time the rest of the pack should bark or growl at anyone is when the leader is clearly alarmed, and they can tell that by the smell of adreniline, not by they word Ouch.
I have read that before here and I was wondering if that might be the case. I know his little world has been turned upside down and I am the only familiar thing to him right now. I have been reading about appropriate "pack" behavior and am incorporating a few things such as entering the house before him and letting him see me eat a little something before he gets his dinner. I think he's just really dependent on me right now. As he's becoming more comfortable in our home, it seems the aggressive behavior is getting better. Also, thankfully he has always been great with my 11 yr. old daughter.
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Old 06-29-2006, 03:29 AM   #8
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Well I'm not a Cesar Milan believer. I choose to read those who have actually studied animal behavior like those I listed above. Pack and alpha theories have long been debunked by the experts. Just because he's on TV doesn't mean he's right.

Dogs should growl when they feel threatened. Growls are a GOOD THING. They are a warning to you that the dog is alarmed or threatened and the next step is to bite. It's the only defense a dog has. First they will try to get away from the situation. Then they will growl, then bite. They have the right to be alarmed and afraid too! It's up to us to try to figure out why they are afraid and teach them it's OK. Some people discourage growling to the point that their dogs will bite without warning. There was a recent article in the Whole Dog Journal by Pat Miller called "The Gift of Growl" I might still have a copy of it around here somewhere if you'd like me to look?
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Old 06-29-2006, 04:41 AM   #9
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Hey Nikki -

Just saw your thread and thought to tell you that I am going to try to sign Murphy up in a class when we return from vacation in 2 weeks. I did not know if you would like to join me - it could be fun. I have only heard of Petsmart around here but thought of asking my vet of any trainers they know so maybe I could get a more one on one training with that person. Any way... just a thought if you and your babies wanted to join Murphy and I. Good luck!
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Old 06-29-2006, 05:38 AM   #10
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Thanks Erin. I agree with you about the growling, I guess our challenge is to figure out how to make him understand that there is no threat from my husband. It's funny because our first yorkie, Gracie was a Valentines present to me and she ended up so in love with my husband that she prefers him over everybody. It used to hurt my feelings because I tried so hard with her but she is just a one person dog and picked him to be her person. A quick no and putting Sugar down for a minute followed by praise seems to be working. Also started the clicker training and it went well so I am very hopeful now. He really is a great dog, he just need some training which he has never received.

Caren, I bet you're off for the Bahamas! I'm jealous! I did the puppy classes at Petsmart when Gracie was a puppy and they did really good covering the basics but I'm not sure if we would be in the same class with Sugar being older. I did talk to an in home trainer and I was pretty impressed with her. It would be a lot more expensive than group classes and I don't know if Murphy needs that level of training but if your interested I can give you her information. She also has a website. Enjoy your vacation and drink a fruity rum drink for me!
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Old 06-29-2006, 06:49 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nikki+2
Thanks Erin. I agree with you about the growling, I guess our challenge is to figure out how to make him understand that there is no threat from my husband. It's funny because our first yorkie, Gracie was a Valentines present to me and she ended up so in love with my husband that she prefers him over everybody. It used to hurt my feelings because I tried so hard with her but she is just a one person dog and picked him to be her person. A quick no and putting Sugar down for a minute followed by praise seems to be working. Also started the clicker training and it went well so I am very hopeful now. He really is a great dog, he just need some training which he has never received.

Caren, I bet you're off for the Bahamas! I'm jealous! I did the puppy classes at Petsmart when Gracie was a puppy and they did really good covering the basics but I'm not sure if we would be in the same class with Sugar being older. I did talk to an in home trainer and I was pretty impressed with her. It would be a lot more expensive than group classes and I don't know if Murphy needs that level of training but if your interested I can give you her information. She also has a website. Enjoy your vacation and drink a fruity rum drink for me!
Nikki -

No Bahamas this time but we are off to the Keys for the 4th of July. I will still drink a yummy drink for you - hee, hee!
I would love to have the contact information and website for the at home trainer if you do not mind sharing that information. Just PM me if you do not mind. I have just heard so many mixed reviews regarding our Petsmart training so I would like something else to compare to. Good luck with Sugar - have you posted pictures of him yet - I want to see him.
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Old 06-29-2006, 07:01 AM   #12
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I posted pics in My Yorkie. The thread is "Happy early 4th from Sugar". Of course silly me put "form" instead of "from" so just look for the thread with a typo. I'm PMing you righ now with the trainer information. Have fun in the Keys!
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Old 08-11-2006, 12:15 PM   #13
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Animal Smiley 019 How's it going?

So Nikki. . . how's it going with your older pup? I just got a pup that we thought was 6 mo's - turns out he's 9 mo's and pee'd everywhere the first few days we got him. Ugh. I'd love to hear a success story!!!
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Old 08-11-2006, 02:08 PM   #14
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I am glad I found this thread. Louie also barks at my boyfriend/ anyone else really who enters the room when he's near me. Nikki does your dog only bark at others when he is in your lap. Louie will bark if he is at my feet, or somewhere near me. I thought maybe I would try shaking a can with pennies, since he is usually already on the floor. It worked when he used to bark in his kennel. Just an idea. Has anyone else tried this?
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