HELP with little Molly!!!

[melissatoppins]

Hello! I am so glad to be a part of the chat site on such sweet little babies! I am however, having ALOT of trouble with my little Molly. She is a year old now, the cutest little baby ever, but she has been a little fire-ball since I got her at 7 weeks. She must have been too young to be taken from her mama, but I fell in love immediately and didn't want to "look" for a different puppy. She was an only child, her mother and father were so pretty. This lady had both of them and was going to keep her if she wasn't sold. My husband agreed and got her for me for Valentines Day 2005. She was a pistol from the very start. She didn't eat furniture, she ate ME! She was the biggest biter!!! She would bite me HARD (drawing blood sometimes) and she would growl and show me her teethShe was being kennel trained from the very start (before I got her) so I kept it up. She cried the first night home, but then she was fine. So after a few months, I took her to a vet in Tulsa that specialized in dog behavior. She said that Molly was not possessive with her doys and food and that it was just part of a phase (alpha dog) and that she would be fine. She IS sweet, but only sometimes. She isn't a yorkie with the "lap dog" mentality. She wants independence but LOVE play time. Well, a few more months went by, I was working full time and I thought that she needed a friend. I started researching and found a "yorkie-mix" at the local animal shelter. She was NOT a yorkie-mix, but a long haired wennie dog. She is the same age as Molly and the same size (10 lbs), she is beautiful, sweet and mello. She is really a lovely little dog. SHE IS SCARED TO DEATH OF MY YORKIE! Molly attacks her all day every day. They play, but it is hard-play. Everytime either my husband or I touch, pet, play, carry or even pay attention to Lucy, Molly goes crazy. She starts attacking everything!!! Last week, I was carring Lucy and Molly jumped up and bit me on the arm (drawing blood) and this weekend she layed into my leg while I was bathing Lucy and I have every little tooth of hers imprinted on my calf. I was bleeding and molly was snarling!
Now I love Molly, she is my baby. I dont know why because the dog doesn't really like me. She loves my husband, but she growls at him too and he cannot stand it. Friends think that we need to get her a muzzle.
We have tried to put the other dog up and just pay attention to Molly, but she will just wait at the door or wait to "attack" Lucy where ever she is waiting.
I really need help! Can you give me some advice???

[RowdysMom]

I really think that you need a canine behavorist. Molly has some problems and she is crying out for help - her behavior is the clue that she needs and wants help. I don't have a clue as to what to do - I'm sure some of the experts here will be able to help you - my only suggestion is a behaviorist because it sounds like she has some problems that need intervention. Good luck!

[melissatoppins]

I definately agree with you that she is crying out! Thanks for looking at the post and for helping me with my little baby!

[txshopper73]

Who knows what the cause of her aggressive behavior is, but you need to get help for her and fast.

[red98vett]

Originally Posted by RowdysMom

I really think that you need a canine behavorist. Molly has some problems and she is crying out for help - her behavior is the clue that she needs and wants help. I don't have a clue as to what to do - I'm sure some of the experts here will be able to help you - my only suggestion is a behaviorist because it sounds like she has some problems that need intervention. Good luck!

I AGREE with this - Has she been vet checked also ? Sometimes if they have pain they will be agressive - but it sounds more like something else...

Poor baby - she IS telling you something and an expert can be a huge help.... if you can go that route.

GOOD LUCK and I feel so bad for you ....

[melissatoppins]

Well, I have called the vet just now, she is out today, but is going to call tomorrow to talk about an "action plan".

I am just so worried, if they say, this dog is just seriously agressive and she cannot be helped, then what? I am not a person that gets rid of a dog. Or worse, puts one to sleep or something. I also worry about giving her to someone else, NO ONE would have the patience and love her like we do. We dont beat her or punish her and I am afraid that someone else will.

The other dog would melt anyones heart, but my husband says that we cannot keep a severely agressive dog for a sweet and happy one.

What would you do?

Also, can a dog Mollys age be helped?

[alisonJ]

I don't have any insight on this either, but I could not help but notice how young Molly was when you got her. I keep seeing that over and over again on this website, and it is heartbreaking.

Here is what the book "Yorkies Head to Tail: the essential Care Guide" says: ". . .I recommend that a breeder keep a puppy until 16 weeks or more. When I hear of puppies being sent to a new home at 7 and 8 weeks, I am appalled. Most new owners are not knowledgeable enough to tke care of a puppy that young. A 7-week old Yorkie is just cutting its teeth, being weaned from its mother, having its first vaccinations, adjusting to new food and the world. To spring upon them a completely new environment and new people is too much, in my opinion. It can leave the dog bewildered and fearful, and you want a Yorkie that is confident and adapts well to new situations."

I would be suspect of any breeder who would let a puppy leave its Mama at 7 weeks, and I hope that you can all help spread the word that this is wrong. Yorkie puppies aren't like labrador retriever puppies.....

[yorkieagility]

It sounds like Molly wants all the attention to herself and hate the fact that you are giving attention to the new dog.

I think it would be wise to seek the advice of a canine behaviorist. Keep in mind not all behaviorst work alike. Some are better than others. Your vet can probably give you some recommendations.

Good luck!

[red98vett]

I think there is hope - and she is young too - she's about a year old ? Don't write her off yet and see if there are places in your area that can advise you for the agression - sometimes the ASPCA can really point you in the right direction - I would think they can offer tips on changing her behaviour and I believe it CAN be changed with effort and training - It sounds like you did everything right and have really been a good mom - she could still be in that puppy phase but I wouldn't let this agressivness go untreated -

There have also been posts about something similar to Prozac for dogs - I don't know anything about it - but it's worth asking about too ? Some little dogs have the BIGGEST Doggie attitude but she may not be able to help herself....

I'm just tossing ideas out - PLEASE ....Remember to only take advise of your vet or Trainer - when we post on these sites - it's for informational purposes only -

I wish you the BEST of luck - sounds like you have your hands full

[melissatoppins]

After doing some research after I got Molly, I felt the way that you do. She was too young. I had 2 yorkies (they passed at ages 15 and 17 last year). Mitsi was the older one, I got her at 4 months. PeeWee was Mitsi's puppy and so we had him since birth. After Mitsi died, I wanted a new dog. NOT to replace, but to continue the relationship I had with Mitsi. She was AWESOME! She was my pal, my companion.

I felt bad that I took Molly so young, but I really didn't know. I just know that I loved her and I would give her a great home. She is super spoiled and I would just pass off her bad behavior as "puppy" and go on about my business. This REALLY BAD behavior started before I got the other dog, but it has gone too far. She has a huge yard, lots of toys, she is kennel trained (but only stays in it at night).

[RowdysMom]

I watch the dog whisperer sometimes and his philosophy is exercise, discipline and then love - in that order. It is so easy to spoil our babies to the hilt and as the same with children, they do want/need boundaries. Cesar thinks that too often humans do not let the dogs know who is alpha. I'm sure their is merit in Cesar Milan's philosophy. I don't have any idea how to go about implementing his guidelines - but I'm sure that there are trainers that do or trainers that have their own ideas. I also know that we had a schnauzer who tried to bite the vet the first time we took her and the vet said to us that we needed to get control of that dog as soon as possible. We were naive dog owners at that time and we did nothing. We had nothing but trouble with that dog and she bit eveeryone except my husband. Anyway, it made a believer out of me.

Just one more thing - we got Rowdy when he was only 7 weeks old - we too, didn't know any better (I hadn't yet found YT) and he is just the sweetest, most docile, best behaved dog I have ever had. So, don't beat yourself up about getting her so young - I'm not so sure that had anything to do with it.

[livingdustmops]

You do need to get an animal behavorist (check the yellow pages or ask your vet for recommendations) but be very careful as many of them do not know how to work with small dogs. If they suggest choke chains or shock type therapy run in the opposite direction. When you are interviewing someone ask what type of theraphy they use on aggressive dogs and then don't say another word till they give you an answer. Vets are really not trained in this arena and usually will suggest putting the dog down - something I will not do. But what I would do with the vet is to make sure there is not something wrong with her (brain injury or tumor). One of the dogs I adopted out has a hugh fear factor (one of the reasons a dog bites) of other dogs and when one comes around on his walks he bites the owners deep. The bahavorist they are using has him on Prozac and he has toned down.

I would suggest in the mean time that you take her on walks 2 or 3 times a day for that special time.

I am not sure that you have alot of choices because even in rescue if the dog was adopted out and bit someone then the rescue could be sued. I have 3 biters that were given up to rescue and I do not take them out in public without their muzzels. I have been bitten more with Yorkies than I have by any other dog but mine were all throw away dogs so who knows what really happened. I also wonder what the breeding lines are in some of these little ones. Why do some of them act so strange and others are little love bugs. Maybe it really has to do with taking them away at such a young age but I know in the case of one of mine and his brother it wasn't because they were taken away to young but because of in-line breeding.

I think you can make this work but it is going to be very hard work on you and you will have to prove you are the alpha dog in the family. Clicker training is a great method of working with your dog in a very kind way. I also make sure that I do not set myself up with any of them to be bitten. If I go to pick them up for a bath and they don't want one and either growl at me or try to bite then I walk away. Maybe when you go to give your other dog a bath your husband can take Molly for a walk.

I know you have a tough road ahead but Molly is still very young and will have to be retrained and learn some manners as long as there is nothing physically wrong with her I think you can make it happen.

Good Luck.

[melissatoppins]

Gosh, I never realized that I would get this kind of support! I really appreciate all of the feedback! It is helping with my patience, peace of mind, and giving me hope. It is so great to hear that I am not alone!

We have called the vet, she is arranging for us to meet a behaviorist in our home on Friday. I really trust the vet and I am hoping that something great comes of this. I know that if we get some help for her, then we are doing everything that we can possibly to to help her!

It is hard to know when they are puppies what their personallity will turn out to be. I am hoping that she is just jealous of the new dog, not just a mean little girl. One of my hopes for Molly is that she stops biting me and stops attacking the other dog. She doesn't bite strangers, she is great with our neices and nephews (almost docile) and she is great with our parents (my mom doggie sits occationally). The people at the vet LOVE her and when she is there, she acts great. So I am hoping that it is just jealousy and she will get better with time.

In response to Rowdysmom, It is great to hear that you got your baby at a young age and that he has turned out to be a great little friend. I am also to trying to be open minded to different options and suggestions from the vet OR the behaviorist.

And in response to Littledustmops, I REALLY appreciate the advice on what to look for in different behaviorists. I would not known otherwise! I am going to make sure that I dont get someone who will be cruel to my little Molly. I dont believe in harmful, menn punishment and I CERTAINLY dont want someone else punishing my dog.

I know that they are dogs, not people. I know that, I tell myself not to take things like Molly biting me and Lucy hovering in a corner personally. But, it kills me when either one is hurting or unhappy. I do believe that they experience fear and heartache, just like people. Everyone says, they are dogs, not children. I know this, but it is hard because they are still FAMILY and we co-exist in my home and I want people in my home to be happy.

I have been letting Molly and Lucy try out sleeping in my room either on the bed (if they fall asleep) or on a doggie-bed on the floor. They are not chewing up stuff and being naughty any longer, so I thought that I would try it. Lucy loves it, Mooly doesn't make it all night because I think that she always has to make sure that I am not putting Lucy or something. So, last night I decided that there would not be anymore of that. They can either sleep in their kennels or sleep together in their "room" (their room is my hobby room with a doggie door to the garage, they have taken over!). I figure, Molly is not resting if she is all worked up over Lucy sawing logs peacefully by my side on the bed. She was actually sweeter this morning when I went in to say hello!

[sneri13]

I am so glad your vet was able to help you find a behavorist. I think part of the battle is won in the fact that you are willing to go the extra step and help Molly over come her problem. I will pray for a successful outcome! keep us informed on how things are going. PS. Welcome to YT.

[RowdysMom]

I'm so glad to hear that things are going better and that you have an appt with a behaviorist set up. You are such a wonderful mom to be so concerned about your babies and to search for the best solution to this difficult problem. I just know that you will be successful! Good luck, keep us posted, we will want to know how little Molly is doing.