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09-23-2012, 09:43 AM | #1 |
YT Addict Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: So. Cal
Posts: 367
| Aggression Towards Kids & Babies I could use some help and tips please! I am a single woman and my yorkie Bailey is about 3 and a half. She's very well socialized to adults and LOVES people. However, she has not had much exposure to other dogs or children. As a result, she has recently been showing some aggression when exposed to children and babies. When she was younger she was around toddlers on a few occasions and she was fine. I think what, for lack of a better word, "ruined" her was when a 7 year old boy came over. She was fine with him all day, but then he got really hyper and started chasing her around barking like a dog. She got scared, growled, and lunged for him. I caught her mid-air so she didn't harm him, but I have not trusted her around kids ever since, and I have continued to see aggression. One of my close friends has a baby now and every time she has brought him over I either crate Bailey or keep her on a leash, but there are always occasions where she still growls and tries to jump at him. It sounds and looks very scary, like she wants to attack him, but I am pretty sure she wouldn't actually bite. When I've been holding her when she does this her teeth will graze my skin but she never bites down. I think she's trying to scare him off. I know my uneasiness over having her around kids is probably making things worse, but I don't know how to get her more comfortable with kids when I clearly can't have her loose around them. It also seems like this defensive, grouchy behavior from her is getting worse. For example if she's asleep at the end of my bed and I move my foot in the night and it bumps into her, she has "attacked" my foot (again, not actually biting, just growling and grazing with her teeth). I would just like any tips of how to make her more comfortable again. I feel like I can't invite any children over the way her behavior is getting, and when I take her on walks I often pick her up when I see children because I'm afraid if they try to pet her she might flip out.
__________________ ~ Bailey's Mommy~ |
Welcome Guest! | |
09-23-2012, 10:10 AM | #2 |
YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: NY
Posts: 6,582
| Sounds like her major interaction with a child was a bad one. It's too bad you couldn't have gotten her engaged with other kids that were well trained concerning how to treat animals right away after the event. I really don't have any advice for you since you don't have any kids to work with her. You do need to deal with her growling at you for touching her. It sounds like she has decided she needs to be defensive for some reason. I would tell her "NO!" loudly when she growls at you. She needs to know it is unacceptable behavior and that you are in charge there. Hopefully, someone with some good experience in dealing with animal behaviors can help you with the child interaction thing. |
09-23-2012, 10:14 AM | #3 |
YT Addict Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: So. Cal
Posts: 367
| Thanks or the reply. Yes I really wish I knew an older child I could have her in contact with more often so she could get used to kids, but the children I know are much younger. To be clear about her aggression towards me it only happens when she's startled from sleep. I do tell her no and she has seemed to get a little better.
__________________ ~ Bailey's Mommy~ |
09-23-2012, 10:46 AM | #4 |
♥ Maximo and Teddy Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 25,041
| I share your frustration. We have had some bad experiences with kids and the result is Max and Teddy don't trust them. They don't like babies in strollers, but babies out of the stroller they ignore. I agree with Gracielove that training with properly behaved kids is the only way to overcome this behavior. As for growling at the baby, the only thing I can suggest is to wear out Bailey before you meet up with your friend with the baby. Drain her of energy with a walk or vigorous play. Do something fun before and after you see the baby. Try to associate a yummy treat like a chew with the baby's visit (although don't forget to supervise Bailey with the chew).
__________________ Kristin, Max and Teddy |
09-23-2012, 10:50 AM | #5 |
Between♥Suspensions Donating Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Vaissades
Posts: 7,979
| I got dogs once my youngest was 5 and I didn't anticipate having more kids. That changed. Once baby Marek was here Elvis was super protective of him, the other dogs faced the wrath of a previously submissive guy if they got too close. As baby became a toddler it got hairy for a bit. Elvis had been around other young children as had my other dogs, the other dogs were now allowed around baby by Elvis abd baby and Princess extrememly bonded. Elvis doesn't like sudden movements or touchy people. Elvis would often seek higher toddler proof ground. Elvis would give warning snarls and barks which baby found hilarious. Several times we had snap snarlibg and what I call malling but no actually biting more of mouthing. It took training baby and I'm so lucky Elvis never has bitten, he chooses to run or really pose. If they werentboth cohabitating I'd reduce exposure. It is never okay that eitger a dog ve harmed by even a hair pulling swatting baby or a baby even be nipped by a tiny dog. I'm lucky we have gotten through this without incident, being exrremely vigilant helped but a lot if exhaustive effort actually moreso on making sure baby was slow and gentle. I don't like sounding overly trusting or nestaligic about interpreting my dogs behavior but I truly feel Elvis was in his own way training baby and understood to be firm standing his ground if cornered or when baby would grab hair but gentle, honestly I've seen dogs rougher with puppies own puppies. Maybe Elvis having been around puppies with the breeder or his previous home life lead to his behaviir. Princess could be mauled by a child she'd snarl and walk away Scoobers mostly hopped the baby gate abd removed himself he has little interest in any kid besides Milo really. A big key here is if a dog is on a bed its their safety do not disturb area. No one, nyself adults kids guests etc is allowed to pet even a dog when on their bed here, if they want attention they can come get it.
__________________ Shan & 8 kids now! |
09-23-2012, 10:57 AM | #6 |
Between♥Suspensions Donating Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Vaissades
Posts: 7,979
| Oh with curbing any issues with my older kids when we got the dogs we have now my kids fed the dogs gave treats and really were involved in training grooming etc. I really can attest to dogs not biting the hand that feeds. To be fair I'm very luck Maisy and Milo are very well behaved mellow kids. Like I could take them into the glass house Christmas display eveb as toddlers, we won't be going this year, baby Marek now 18 montgs old...well he's very active to say it politely, a real handful.
__________________ Shan & 8 kids now! |
09-23-2012, 04:08 PM | #7 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Streamwood, IL, USA
Posts: 61
| We have the same problem with Kimchee. She's also 3 years old. She loves adult humans more than other dogs. However, she gets defensive and bares her teeth when little kids try to pet her. She's tried to bite a couple of times. Now we forbid any kids from touching her. Any advice would be much appreciated on how to curb this behavior. Unfortunately we don't know any kids to expose her to consistently. Also, she gets defensive when adults try to pick her up. Besides her mother and I. |
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