Yorkie temper :( - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Montysmom2 · 11-10-2012, 02:21 AM

Monty seems to have an 'attitude' and it is getting steadily worse. He growls and tries to snap at us when there is something he doesn't want to do such as putting on his harness to go for his walk (this is getting to be something we all dread). He seems to be getting worse the older he gets (6 months old now). We have tried tempting him with treats to get the harness on, tried being strict with him and saying 'no' when he shows signs of aggression and time outs and nothing seems to help...does anyone here have any words of wisdom for me? I really do not want to have a dog that I can't trust not to bite and right now he still has his puppy teeth so I am really worried about his temper when his adult teeth grow in....HELP!!!! This only seems to happen when we are trying to get him to do something that he doesn't want to do, the rest of the time he is just fine, loves everyone and is good with other dogs too! His personality is wonderful except for these outbursts of temper

Verbena · 11-10-2012, 06:07 AM

I am no help but bump maybe someone can

Montysmom2 · 11-10-2012, 06:34 AM

It is just getting worse all the time. This morning he snapped at me and my husband when we tried to get his harness on (this is when we were trying to get it over his head with a treat to make it tempting to put his head through) and then I gave him his bath and went to dry his face and he snapped at me again. He has never been this aggressive and nothing has happened to him at all. We are with him basically 24 hours a day (we both work at our home) and he is treated extremely well, never spanked or yelled at (just a firm voice when he misbehaves and a time out). We don't let him get away with murder and there are no small children present (just my 16 year old daughter) so I am totally at a loss. He was fine during his walk, he met a couple of dogs and was friendly to them and their owners so it isn't that he is just plain mean. I just want him to be well behaved and not be afraid that he will bite us

Please help if anyone knows any tricks or hints to help us it would be very much appreciated!! I am thinking he is maturing and trying to pull some kind of dominance trick but I want to know the best way of handling him to stop the aggression.

LILBIT1 · 11-10-2012, 06:50 AM

Sounds like he thinks hes the leader of the pack. Have you ruled out any health issues? Ear probs? Sore mouth? If he acts up when putting harness on maybe his head hurts?

Or he thinks hes the pack leader. Id google pack leader training. Waffles was trained on that method and is awesome. She never goes thru a doorway before me, she sits and waits for me to give the ok to enter cracks my mom up, eats after us. Never before. Look it up. It may just explain what your seeing.

Britster · 11-10-2012, 07:01 AM

Definitely don't do any 'pack leader' dominance nonsense. The people who created that theory have debunked it. It will make things worse. It just sounds like a puppy who doesn't know any better and wasn't ever taught. I have an absolutely amazing dog who was trained using positive reinforcement, and a bit of my own style. I guess I'd call it 'relationship based' training more than anything.

I'm not sure you're actually dealing with TRUE aggression? It's hard to tell from your description, but it just sounds like he lacks bite inhibition and never properly learned. Puppies can be nippy, and bite, etc, and it's not them being aggressive per say ... it's more they lack the social skills they were supposed to learn as a young pup with their mother. How old was he when you got him?

Kikopup on YouTube has some awesome videos. I'd highly recommend checking them out.

Stop puppies biting- clicker dog training -...

How to stop leash biting- clicker dog training -...

How to stop unwanted behavior- the positive...

Montysmom2 · 11-11-2012, 01:47 AM

Monty was only 6 weeks old when we got him, we have been using positive reinforcement since day one with him and he is currently attending a puppy class that is strictly based on reward training. We had a very hard time with him biting (not aggressive but more puppy biting) when he was younger and he seems to be under control with that but this biting is different and it most definitely is when he does not get his own way, it is growling and snapping at us to make us stop what we are doing to him (which is simply putting his harness on or taking something from his mouth that he is not supposed to have).
I am going to watch the links you sent and hopefully there will be something that we haven't tried yet

I don't believe in the whole 'pinning the dog down til he gives up' method and yet I don't want to put up with a mean dog either. There must be a happy medium somewhere

Montysmom2 · 11-11-2012, 04:16 AM

Well good news...it took me almost 45 min but he actually got his harness on today with NO growling or biting!!!! I used the reward method and gave him a ton of treats, starting very slowly rewarding him for sniffing without growling and allowing me to approach him with the harness without being aggressive. Eventually I upped the ante with a few bites of cheese, holding the cheese through the opening of the harness so that he had to put his muzzle through to get the reward, eventually I managed to get the harness over his head with no aggression on his part. Now it did take quite a while to get to this point but I am hoping that with a few sessions like this it will just get easier and easier. I also went crazy with the praise through each phase. I guess with Monty and his harness, patience is key...whew!!

pinky71 · 11-11-2012, 05:35 AM

i totally agree with brister!! there is so much nonsense with dominance issues..im now working with a trainer for my 7month old for his severe food guarding and aggression issues..i was under the understanding that i needed to be the alpha but that DOESN'T WORK!! its definitely all positive training...good luck..im now seeing my baby getting better because im getting educated on proper techniques..great videos!!

Juliealfies mum · 11-11-2012, 01:23 PM

That's great that you are going down the positive training route. Have you tried clicker training .ClickerSolutions Training Articles Contents this is a link to good resource for clicker training advice. Good luck.

marlenemaria · 11-11-2012, 02:00 PM

I'm wondering if maybe he has some pain or something it's like putting the harness over his "head" drying his "face" maybe it's something he is feeling???

bobohyde · 11-11-2012, 02:12 PM

Columbo associates his harness with going out, usually going for a walk or to accompany me in the car somewhere. So all I have to say is "do you want to go for a walk" or "do you want to go bye-bye" and he gets all excited and comes right over to step in his harness. When your pup learns to associate it with fun, I'll bet the attitude stops.

ilovejoel · 11-11-2012, 03:29 PM

Naughty? - YouTube

MandiesMom · 11-11-2012, 03:50 PM

very interesting videos. I like that harness in the last one..where do I get something like that? Anyone know?

Wallee · 11-12-2012, 12:08 PM

I have a problem with Wallee running away when he sees me bring out the harness. He will get excited about going for a walk but when he sees me pick up the harness he starts running.I usually refuse to get involved in his "chase me game" and so go and sit back down like we are not going out. When he isn't suspecting anything I will pick him up and put on his harness. It's weird cause he cowers a little when he knows I am putting it on. I have never done anything but positive/reward training with him so this behaviour seems weird to start. When I do get the harness on him he runs directly to the door ready for his walk...any ideas why the harness is such a big deal? I have tried two different kinds of harnesses. He also doesn't like to put his coat on, however I make him wear it when it is cooler out and am trying to prepare him for the long cold winters here in Canada.

Potter · 11-12-2012, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wallee

I have a problem with Wallee running away when he sees me bring out the harness. He will get excited about going for a walk but when he sees me pick up the harness he starts running.I usually refuse to get involved in his "chase me game" and so go and sit back down like we are not going out. When he isn't suspecting anything I will pick him up and put on his harness. It's weird cause he cowers a little when he knows I am putting it on. I have never done anything but positive/reward training with him so this behaviour seems weird to start. When I do get the harness on him he runs directly to the door ready for his walk...any ideas why the harness is such a big deal? I have tried two different kinds of harnesses. He also doesn't like to put his coat on, however I make him wear it when it is cooler out and am trying to prepare him for the long cold winters here in Canada.

It is intimidating for dogs when we reach out to them to put on harnesses. Learnt this from the positive based trainer that it is naturally scary for them when we reach down for them. Pao has the same issue..he is excited about his walk but as soon as I pull out the harness, he runs away lol.

11-10-2012, 02:21 AM	#1
Montysmom2 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 73	Yorkie temper :( Monty seems to have an 'attitude' and it is getting steadily worse. He growls and tries to snap at us when there is something he doesn't want to do such as putting on his harness to go for his walk (this is getting to be something we all dread). He seems to be getting worse the older he gets (6 months old now). We have tried tempting him with treats to get the harness on, tried being strict with him and saying 'no' when he shows signs of aggression and time outs and nothing seems to help...does anyone here have any words of wisdom for me? I really do not want to have a dog that I can't trust not to bite and right now he still has his puppy teeth so I am really worried about his temper when his adult teeth grow in....HELP!!!! This only seems to happen when we are trying to get him to do something that he doesn't want to do, the rest of the time he is just fine, loves everyone and is good with other dogs too! His personality is wonderful except for these outbursts of temper

11-11-2012, 04:16 AM	#7
Montysmom2 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 73	Whew!!! Well good news...it took me almost 45 min but he actually got his harness on today with NO growling or biting!!!! I used the reward method and gave him a ton of treats, starting very slowly rewarding him for sniffing without growling and allowing me to approach him with the harness without being aggressive. Eventually I upped the ante with a few bites of cheese, holding the cheese through the opening of the harness so that he had to put his muzzle through to get the reward, eventually I managed to get the harness over his head with no aggression on his part. Now it did take quite a while to get to this point but I am hoping that with a few sessions like this it will just get easier and easier. I also went crazy with the praise through each phase. I guess with Monty and his harness, patience is key...whew!!

11-11-2012, 01:23 PM	#9
Juliealfies mum YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: scotland Posts: 2,224	That's great that you are going down the positive training route. Have you tried clicker training .ClickerSolutions Training Articles Contents this is a link to good resource for clicker training advice. Good luck. __________________ From Julie Alfie & Lottie

11-11-2012, 02:00 PM	#10
marlenemaria YT Addict Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: miami, florida USA Posts: 475	I'm wondering if maybe he has some pain or something it's like putting the harness over his "head" drying his "face" maybe it's something he is feeling??? __________________ Happily owned by my lil lils

11-11-2012, 03:50 PM	#13
MandiesMom and Shelby's too Donating Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Millbrook, AL Posts: 7,842	very interesting videos. I like that harness in the last one..where do I get something like that? Anyone know? __________________ Terri, proud mom to Mandie & Shelby-Dale

11-10-2012, 06:07 AM	#2
Verbena Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: with my flying monkeys Posts: 15,620 Blog Entries: 7	I am no help but bump maybe someone can

11-10-2012, 06:34 AM	#3
Montysmom2 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 73	It is just getting worse all the time. This morning he snapped at me and my husband when we tried to get his harness on (this is when we were trying to get it over his head with a treat to make it tempting to put his head through) and then I gave him his bath and went to dry his face and he snapped at me again. He has never been this aggressive and nothing has happened to him at all. We are with him basically 24 hours a day (we both work at our home) and he is treated extremely well, never spanked or yelled at (just a firm voice when he misbehaves and a time out). We don't let him get away with murder and there are no small children present (just my 16 year old daughter) so I am totally at a loss. He was fine during his walk, he met a couple of dogs and was friendly to them and their owners so it isn't that he is just plain mean. I just want him to be well behaved and not be afraid that he will bite us Please help if anyone knows any tricks or hints to help us it would be very much appreciated!! I am thinking he is maturing and trying to pull some kind of dominance trick but I want to know the best way of handling him to stop the aggression.

11-10-2012, 06:50 AM	#4
LILBIT1 Donating YT Addict Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Riverside County, Ca Posts: 867 Blog Entries: 9	Sounds like he thinks hes the leader of the pack. Have you ruled out any health issues? Ear probs? Sore mouth? If he acts up when putting harness on maybe his head hurts? Or he thinks hes the pack leader. Id google pack leader training. Waffles was trained on that method and is awesome. She never goes thru a doorway before me, she sits and waits for me to give the ok to enter cracks my mom up, eats after us. Never before. Look it up. It may just explain what your seeing.

11-11-2012, 01:47 AM	#6
Montysmom2 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 73	Monty was only 6 weeks old when we got him, we have been using positive reinforcement since day one with him and he is currently attending a puppy class that is strictly based on reward training. We had a very hard time with him biting (not aggressive but more puppy biting) when he was younger and he seems to be under control with that but this biting is different and it most definitely is when he does not get his own way, it is growling and snapping at us to make us stop what we are doing to him (which is simply putting his harness on or taking something from his mouth that he is not supposed to have). I am going to watch the links you sent and hopefully there will be something that we haven't tried yet I don't believe in the whole 'pinning the dog down til he gives up' method and yet I don't want to put up with a mean dog either. There must be a happy medium somewhere

11-11-2012, 05:35 AM	#8
pinky71 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: boston Posts: 59	i totally agree with brister!! there is so much nonsense with dominance issues..im now working with a trainer for my 7month old for his severe food guarding and aggression issues..i was under the understanding that i needed to be the alpha but that DOESN'T WORK!! its definitely all positive training...good luck..im now seeing my baby getting better because im getting educated on proper techniques..great videos!!

11-11-2012, 02:12 PM	#11
bobohyde Donating YT Addict Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: c Posts: 427	Columbo associates his harness with going out, usually going for a walk or to accompany me in the car somewhere. So all I have to say is "do you want to go for a walk" or "do you want to go bye-bye" and he gets all excited and comes right over to step in his harness. When your pup learns to associate it with fun, I'll bet the attitude stops.

11-12-2012, 12:08 PM	#14
Wallee Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: whitby, On, Canada Posts: 1,129	I have a problem with Wallee running away when he sees me bring out the harness. He will get excited about going for a walk but when he sees me pick up the harness he starts running.I usually refuse to get involved in his "chase me game" and so go and sit back down like we are not going out. When he isn't suspecting anything I will pick him up and put on his harness. It's weird cause he cowers a little when he knows I am putting it on. I have never done anything but positive/reward training with him so this behaviour seems weird to start. When I do get the harness on him he runs directly to the door ready for his walk...any ideas why the harness is such a big deal? I have tried two different kinds of harnesses. He also doesn't like to put his coat on, however I make him wear it when it is cooler out and am trying to prepare him for the long cold winters here in Canada.