|
Welcome to the YorkieTalk.com Forums Community - the community for Yorkshire Terriers. You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. You will be able to chat with over 35,000 YorkieTalk members, read over 2,000,000 posted discussions, and view more than 15,000 Yorkie photos in the YorkieTalk Photo Gallery after you register. We would love to have you as a member! Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today! If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please click here to contact us. |
|
| LinkBack | Thread Tools |
10-22-2011, 11:28 AM | #1 |
Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2010 Location: Florence, AZ
Posts: 764
| Bella is *protecting* * attacking* my shoes It has been quite awhile since I have posted on Yorkie Talk, I am glad to be back! My dogs are fantastic. Bella is now 1.5 years old and Jett will have his first birthday next week!!! They are the best of friends. Jett is a copy cat who copies almost everything Bella does! I will post pictures later, as we are in the grooming process right now! LOL! The question I have is.........WHY is Bella protecting my shoes??? If ANYONE goes near my shoes, except for me......she attacks the shoe or the persons foot! She never bites, but will growl, snarl, and launch herself at the person! The kids think it is a very fun game, but I don't think its right at all!!! I have reprimanded her many times about this, but the behavior continues! Its only ONE pair of sandles.......she does not care about any other pairs of shoes. She has never shown any kind of aggression what so ever, so this has me stumped!!! Anyone can take her food, her toys, her lovey, anything......just not these shoes????? Anyone have any advice????? Thanks! Sue
__________________ Sue, Bella, Jett, TBell, Armani & Kahn Plus our 2 new litters , we have chocolate and parti pups!!! RIP my beautiful girl Kiah! We love you and miss you!! |
Welcome Guest! | |
10-22-2011, 12:07 PM | #2 |
My hairy-legged girls Donating Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: lompoc, ca.
Posts: 12,228
| Glad to have you back. Your Bella sure loves you!! Your scent is in your shoes and she knows their yours so she's not going to let anyone have them!
__________________ AZRAEL RAZAEL JILLI ANN |
10-22-2011, 01:12 PM | #3 |
YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: NY
Posts: 6,582
| That is kind of strange that she only has an issue with the one pair of shoes. She must associate those shoes with something. In her little mind she is quite attached to them for some reason. I don't know but I would be careful that she does not start doing this behavior with other items as well. Don't let the kids tease her about this as it is only causing her to get more obsessive about it. If possible I would put the shoes up on the top shelf of a closet or something where she can't see or smell them. Hopefully she will forget about them and that will be the end. |
10-22-2011, 02:02 PM | #4 |
Therapy Yorkies Work Donating Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Central, Florida
Posts: 3,863
| HOW TO STOP Minor GUARDING Behavior : By your picture I see you have big dogs too. Maybe that is why your kids think it is funny to see a small Yorkie act ferocious about your shoes. Like you I worry about guarding, and know it can snowball in to a real obsession and even transfer to more items. Talk to your kids and tell them it would not be funny if a big Rottie acted that way, because their bite could really do damage. It is not a good way for a Yorkie to act either. She could bite someone while trying to protect the shoes and that would be very bad. Tell them everyone must work together to make her stop. #1. When she guards the shoes say a very firm 'ENOUGH' and just ignore her and walk right by. If she is leaving the shoes and guarding the area around them go to #2. Say a firm 'Enough' and squeak her toy and toss it in the opposite direction, away from the shoes. If she leaves the shoes that is good, she is not too obsessed with them yet. Praise her when she goes to the toy, and say 'Good Toy' and you can even give her a tiny treat or little bit of play time attention. #3. If she won't leave the shoes for a toy or treat, then you have to use aversion correction. Say the cue word, 'ENOUGH !" if she keeps guarding barking and so on, squirt her with one quick blast of water. That will break her obsessive trance. Also a rolled up pair of socks can be thrown at her from across the room, it is ok to hit her with the socks, they will not hurt her, only startle her. It is better if she doesn't see someone toss the socks, that way they seem to just appear and jump on her. Which is exactly what you want her to think. I know some trainers shake a noisy can of pennies but, with Yorkies I have found a squirt of water or rolled up socks works better. Noise seems to trigger more barking. #4. You can can change your own habits. Don't leave the shoes where she can get to them. You could buy a very cheap plastic box/bowl with a snap shut lid and put the shoes in it. Or toss them in a closet. #5. Give up the shoes, throw them away. From now on be quick to stop any guarding in the future. I hope this helps, Teresa
__________________ Teresa & Rubin, Gracie, Abba, Ginny Joy and Julia Rose Act like a dog, be kind, forgiving, and loyal. |
10-22-2011, 09:37 PM | #5 |
YT 1000 Club Member | Teresa, What a very informative post ! And if we focus on one thing that Suze said... "If ANYONE goes near my shoes, except for me......she attacks" Makes me think there's a little more to this than just Resource Guarding, and your #5 Item, is probably the best way to go with it. I'd be very interested to hear how Bella acts, when Suze and one of her children play with a Toy, just with each other. ie: not including Bella in the play. (tug/throw/whatever) Then, a comment if that toy or item, was then included in Bella's Guarding Inventory.
__________________ Dogs know that you love them, weather you own them or not Mbrs of YT Teapot Club: SNEAKERS since Apr 2011, Ichabod SOON ! RIP my darling Becca. |
Bookmarks |
|
|
| |
|
|
SHOP NOW: Amazon :: eBay :: Buy.com :: Newegg :: PetStore :: Petco :: PetSmart