Aggressive Behavoir

[Punkin Puss]

Hello all,

I was just sitting here with Punkin... I have an African Grey and a Blue Persian Cat... The African Grey climbed down off her cage and was climbing up my chair and Punkin went crazy...growling and snarling and I had to actually hold her back...Im totally shocked and blown away....she usually barks at the delivery men and small children...she doesnt seem to like small
children...which concerns me..cause I would like to have one or two someday.. I told her NO really loud and pulled her back... but she seems
to be in a pout at the moment...My mom also just told me that she did that
earlier with the cat.... what could be going on to make her act like that all
of a sudden?? Any recommendations on what I can do??? She has recently
been sick...but she is doing much better... but my mom sez she goes crazy
when she sees kids...like she wants to bite them... Suggestions! Please!

Thanks
Kim

[JeanieK]

Address the issue. Here is Cesar Milans website.
http://www.dogchannel.com/experts/ce...aspx?WT.srch=1

You need to establish that you are the boss, if the dog is aggressive toward anything else, he is not recognizing that you are in charge, so he is taking over the job of top dog.

Dogs do not understand time out. the only corrections they understand are those given within 2 seconds of their action. time out tells them nothing. Be firm and quick and then let it go.

A firm NO and a sharp nip at their shoulder, just as a pack leader would do, should be sufficient to redirect their behavior.

If you cannot correct it on your own, seek a professional. Aggression will not go away on it's own.

[BLowry]

Originally Posted by Punkin Puss

Hello all,

I was just sitting here with Punkin... I have an African Grey and a Blue Persian Cat... The African Grey climbed down off her cage and was climbing up my chair and Punkin went crazy...growling and snarling and I had to actually hold her back...Im totally shocked and blown away....she usually barks at the delivery men and small children...she doesnt seem to like small
children...which concerns me..cause I would like to have one or two someday.. I told her NO really loud and pulled her back... but she seems
to be in a pout at the moment...My mom also just told me that she did that
earlier with the cat.... what could be going on to make her act like that all
of a sudden?? Any recommendations on what I can do??? She has recently
been sick...but she is doing much better... but my mom sez she goes crazy
when she sees kids...like she wants to bite them... Suggestions! Please!

Thanks
Kim

How old is she?

I have 2 yorkies. Sadie will be 3 yrs old next month and Lillie is 5 months old..VERY different personalities! I starting socializing both of my girls from the first day I got them...Sadie is NOT people aggressive...she just loves everyone! But, she is dog aggressive... My parents watched Sadie for me when I was working so she was brought up with another dog a mini schnauzer (who doesn't snap back) maybe if she did Sadie would have stopped..small dogs have BIG dog attitudes. When I got Lillie Sadie wanted her to know that SHE was the boss...well, I let her know IMMEDIATELY that I was the boss...you just have to catch her when you know she is going to become aggressive and nip it right then...don't wait...pick her up and firmly say NO! DON'T DO THAT! then put her down and walk away...I spoke with a dog trainer and this is what she told me to do...
Sadie will get aggressive with our cat too..and Sadie doesn't back down..
I will not allow the cat to scratch Sadie as my cat is a 22 lb Maine Coon Cat and Sadie weighs 5 1/2 lbs...Lillie is still a puppy and isnt' showing to be aggressive to anything...hopefully she won't take lessons from big sister Sadie.

Good Luck!

[prettypuppypink]

Originally Posted by Punkin Puss

Hello all,

I was just sitting here with Punkin... I have an African Grey and a Blue Persian Cat... The African Grey climbed down off her cage and was climbing up my chair and Punkin went crazy...growling and snarling and I had to actually hold her back...Im totally shocked and blown away....she usually barks at the delivery men and small children...she doesnt seem to like small
children...which concerns me..cause I would like to have one or two someday.. I told her NO really loud and pulled her back... but she seems
to be in a pout at the moment...My mom also just told me that she did that
earlier with the cat.... what could be going on to make her act like that all
of a sudden?? Any recommendations on what I can do??? She has recently
been sick...but she is doing much better... but my mom sez she goes crazy
when she sees kids...like she wants to bite them... Suggestions! Please!

Thanks
Kim

I have a dog agressive Yorkie, 9 months and have him for 2 months. I've been working with a behavoirist and a trainer although I've trained dogs before but never agressive. He attacked and ripped the throat, out of the blue, of a smaller, very sweet dog of mine, bit me as I removed him from the other dog. My other dog is still a mess. I ended up for 5 days in the hospital with a blood infection from his bite.
I separated him from my two other dogs and had to get tough since I wouldn't rehome him with his aggression, although I regret getting him, a reputable (?) breeder lied. I work with him at least 2x's a time every day. I find the obedience training gives me more control. If he runs from me, I give the command to sit/stay and he does it. He must have been caged by his breeder since he runs in circles and never lets me pick him up. I've owned alot of dogs over 46 years and never had an experience like this. It will be my last!
Keep your other pets away from Punkin for now.
Jessica

[Punkin Puss]

Punkin is 1 and a half ...this is the first time she has actually been aggressive towards my other pets... she barks at people but has never actually gone to attack anyone...

[BLowry]

Originally Posted by Punkin Puss

Punkin is 1 and a half ...this is the first time she has actually been aggressive towards my other pets... she barks at people but has never actually gone to attack anyone...

Both Sadie (soon to be 3 yrs old) and Lillie (5 months old) bark at people but just to let me know someone else is around...neither one of them has ever bitten anyone...as soon as the person either comes in the house or reaches to pet them they get very excited and lick them to death...very lovable little girls..

[prettypuppypink]

I never expected mine to attack either and hope yours doesn't have the issues I am having with mine. It is a burden. I bought mine in Sept. after losing my Yorkie in July. She was a calm, loving Yorkie and the love of my life. She traveled with me,etc. The "new" Yorkie is a nightmare. I did my homework on breeders and everything. I just got stuck with a lying show/breeder. My previous Yorkie was from a broker. It just shows you that it's all luck. The broker was better at socializing and caring for the dogs she sold then this breeder.
I hope you have better luck then I did this time. An addition of a pet should be a happy experience for many years to come, not a hardship. Your's shows aggression but no attack so far, start working on it as JeanieK said, "aggression will not go away on it's own."

[jrsygal37]

Hi Punkin. I have three Yorkies and a Morkie. Bella, is three years old now and we've had her since she was just about five weeks, actually bottle fed her. At about nine weeks I could see that she was going to give us a run for our money. At nine weeks, she would growl or snarl slightly when she didn't like something, such at putting on her sweater in which she promptly put her tooth through my thumb. Anyway, I would gently turn her over on her back and hold her down, stroking her head and telling her no. She would squirm and growl and then finally just submit. After, I'd pick her up and kiss her. This helped quite a bit, BUT with that said I tell you that she is still very alpha. She is moody. She does not bite anyone but will go after the other Yorkies. There was a few time that she and Noel (Who is 16 pounds - Bella being 9 pounds) would go at it. Noel is very timid and submissive so she just submits. Bella will growl at them for no reason. Playing one time and gettting nasty the next with no ryme to reason. We really can't figure out why this happens. The vet told us that it's just her temperament and personality. She is however extremely motherly to anything new that comes in our house, including mothing a baby kitten that was found in our yard. I'm not sure what to tell you except that you need to be very very careful with your parrot. Even if she's good with your Grey they should not be together or if they are not unsupervised. Along with my Yorkies I have a U2 (Umbrella Cockatoo) Noel and Boo are actually best friends, yet I still NEVER leave them unattended together. It only takes a second. I've seen many parrots lost this way. I hope everything works out well for you with your York. By the way, despite Bella's bitchy little attitude she is actually our favorite (Oops are we allowed to have favorites. LOL) we have nicknamed her "Bitchy Bella" but she makes up for her short comings and I wouldn't have her any other way. You just have to keep working on your York - it gets better but I don't think that it ever goes completely away. Also if I can ask you, did you get your little one from a good breeder (Another words good genes? Bella as is all my Yorkies were rescues w/ Puppymill back grounds and I think sometimes the genes play a big part in how their tempment is. I've seen a lot of Labradors lately turning on their owners and it's said to be from inbreeding. Elaine

[Morkie4]

Toby (1 yr old) has been with us for 6 months and he is not friendly with other people or dogs (except his older sister, a maltese). He is not aggressive towards them; he would rather run away then confront. But if another dog approaches and he has nowhere to go, he will growl and bite at them. With people, he will avoid them but if I hold him in my arms up at their level, he will smell them but that's about it. If the humans are "regular" visitors, he is kissy, lovey with them. But he is the sweetest little guy with us!

[Punkin Puss]

Tonight when she went for Zuzu (My African Grey) she was sitting next to me in the chair... I held her and I said Hey... Punkin..NO...You be nice.... and didnt let her move... afterwards when she was calm...I gave her a kiss but she was kinda pouty and went off and went into her little house... She came back later on and was all sweet natured again...I dont leave the parrot out unless im there...I also have a cat...so that wouldnt be pretty...LOL... As for Punkin...I bought her in a petstore...im sure she was from a puppy mill... I wasnt even shopping for a dog..I was just looking and fell in love with her...
so Im not sure of her genes...My Punkin almost sounds like Morkie's Toby... very similar...except tonight was the first time that I know of that she went
for one of my other pets... Thank you for the advice...tomorrow I think im going to call the vet and ask him about someone to work with Punkin... I am also of thinking of starting to take her to the "doggy" park over here so she can socialize a little bit more...

Thank you!
Kim

[prettypuppypink]

Originally Posted by jrsygal37

Hi Punkin. I have three Yorkies and a Morkie. Bella, is three years old now and we've had her since she was just about five weeks, actually bottle fed her. At about nine weeks I could see that she was going to give us a run for our money. At nine weeks, she would growl or snarl slightly when she didn't like something, such at putting on her sweater in which she promptly put her tooth through my thumb. Anyway, I would gently turn her over on her back and hold her down, stroking her head and telling her no. She would squirm and growl and then finally just submit. After, I'd pick her up and kiss her. This helped quite a bit, BUT with that said I tell you that she is still very alpha. She is moody. She does not bite anyone but will go after the other Yorkies. There was a few time that she and Noel (Who is 16 pounds - Bella being 9 pounds) would go at it. Noel is very timid and submissive so she just submits. Bella will growl at them for no reason. Playing one time and gettting nasty the next with no ryme to reason. We really can't figure out why this happens. The vet told us that it's just her temperament and personality. She is however extremely motherly to anything new that comes in our house, including mothing a baby kitten that was found in our yard. I'm not sure what to tell you except that you need to be very very careful with your parrot. Even if she's good with your Grey they should not be together or if they are not unsupervised. Along with my Yorkies I have a U2 (Umbrella Cockatoo) Noel and Boo are actually best friends, yet I still NEVER leave them unattended together. It only takes a second. I've seen many parrots lost this way. I hope everything works out well for you with your York. By the way, despite Bella's bitchy little attitude she is actually our favorite (Oops are we allowed to have favorites. LOL) we have nicknamed her "Bitchy Bella" but she makes up for her short comings and I wouldn't have her any other way. You just have to keep working on your York - it gets better but I don't think that it ever goes completely away. Also if I can ask you, did you get your little one from a good breeder (Another words good genes? Bella as is all my Yorkies were rescues w/ Puppymill back grounds and I think sometimes the genes play a big part in how their tempment is. I've seen a lot of Labradors lately turning on their owners and it's said to be from inbreeding. Elaine

I supposedly bought my Yorkie from a reputable breeder and we discussed temperment,etc. However she was not honest. So I have a huge mistrust of show/breeders now. In retrospect when I read over emails, I see red flags. However, everyone praised her at the time when I posted asking about her. Now, the bad posts came out, so I'm not the only one that was taken, not that me makes me feel better. I think it's really luck on temperment, environment contributes, as well as socializing. Some breeders don't care, it doesn't matter if they have showing or just hobby, depends on their love of the breed or making money only. If a breeder cages her dogs 24/7 is she any better then a puppymill?
I also put my "vicious one" on his back and say, "submit". He does now. The behavoirist got him started on this because he was ready to bite. He bit my husband last night. I doubt if he will be here too much longer. I tolerate more then my husband.
Jessica

[chachi]

Jessica I hope you are wrong and you keep that pup. You have the patience for him and someone else might not. I think it is great you have put him through training and he responds to your commands.

[JeanieK]

Originally Posted by Punkin Puss

Tonight when she went for Zuzu (My African Grey) she was sitting next to me in the chair... I held her and I said Hey... Punkin..NO...You be nice.... and didnt let her move... afterwards when she was calm...I gave her a kiss but she was kinda pouty and went off and went into her little house... She came back later on and was all sweet natured again...I dont leave the parrot out unless im there...I also have a cat...so that wouldnt be pretty...LOL... As for Punkin...I bought her in a petstore...im sure she was from a puppy mill... I wasnt even shopping for a dog..I was just looking and fell in love with her...
so Im not sure of her genes...My Punkin almost sounds like Morkie's Toby... very similar...except tonight was the first time that I know of that she went
for one of my other pets... Thank you for the advice...tomorrow I think im going to call the vet and ask him about someone to work with Punkin... I am also of thinking of starting to take her to the "doggy" park over here so she can socialize a little bit more...

Thank you!
Kim

Those plans sound like a good idea. I hope a trainer is able to help you. sometimes these little guys have had to learn to fight to survive, and it is hard to get them to realize that they no longer need to do that. You have to let them know that you are in charge of everything and you will take care of things.

Making them work for their food and eating in front of them, then feeding them afterwards, is one way to let them know that you are the leader of the pack.

Good luck to all of you who have babies with aggression issues.

[JeanieK]

Originally Posted by prettypuppypink

I supposedly bought my Yorkie from a reputable breeder and we discussed temperment,etc. However she was not honest. So I have a huge mistrust of show/breeders now. In retrospect when I read over emails, I see red flags. However, everyone praised her at the time when I posted asking about her. Now, the bad posts came out, so I'm not the only one that was taken, not that me makes me feel better. I think it's really luck on temperment, environment contributes, as well as socializing. Some breeders don't care, it doesn't matter if they have showing or just hobby, depends on their love of the breed or making money only. If a breeder cages her dogs 24/7 is she any better then a puppymill?
I also put my "vicious one" on his back and say, "submit". He does now. The behavoirist got him started on this because he was ready to bite. He bit my husband last night. I doubt if he will be here too much longer. I tolerate more then my husband.
Jessica

Oh I do hope you give it more time. Cesar Milan beleives that they can all be retrained, it just takes time and patience.

Have you looked at the website I posted in an earlier post on this thread.

[prettypuppypink]

Originally Posted by chachi

Jessica I hope you are wrong and you keep that pup. You have the patience for him and someone else might not. I think it is great you have put him through training and he responds to your commands.

Oh I'm not giving up on him yet, paid too much. I might have to move to another bedroom but whatever. I did lead train him in about 5 minutes and he will stop running away from me now with the command, "Sit/Stay". I do give rewards. I just think he was caged and perhaps something else was done to him. He doesn't trust even me after 2 months. I was told by 2 vets to euthanize him but I can't deal with that. I find it hard enough when one of my dogs passes away of natural causes.