aggressive adult yorkie

[deea]

I NEED HELP!!! I have a 5 years old yorkie, male, neutered.I have him since he was 12 weeks old and when he was a puppy his was aggressive ( when i tried to clean his ears etc) so I spoke with my vet.He told me about puppy classes and neutering. We did all of this and he was never aggressive again, we went to puppy classes for long time because he enjoyed so much and everybody from there liked him. He was playing all the time with all kind of dogs, male, female, big, small. We never had any problem with other dogs. In the last 2 years i realised he is acting weird. Started to snap at some dogs, most of them males, now he snaps at all dogs, any sizes, any gender.He is nice just with 2 dogs( neighbours) he met when we moved, 2 years ago. I payed a behaviourist, we follow a program like no sofa, no bed, no jumping etc. one day per week is going to daycare.He told the dog is acting like this because he is afraid of other dogs. Is stressful to go for a walk, I don't let him to have contact with other dogs because I feel he can real bite anytime.Do you have any tips? I love my dog so much and I try to do everything I can to help him. I know is not ok to take your dog in your arms when you walk. thank you guys for reading

[Wylie's Mom]

I'm not a very good trainer, but wanted to bump this for you for those who are into training here.

[yorkietalkjilly]

He is fearful and anxious around other dogs and using his biting and aggressive ways to warn them off. You have to take a deep breath and calm yourself when another dog approaches and do your thing yourself to re-direct his attention and keep him busy while the other dog goes by, rather than both of you worrying about how he's going to react. He reads your anxiety about his anxiety and reacts to that as well as his own anxieties - so calm yourself a bit and he'll be calmer, too. Next, I'd start distracting him when another dog approaches by crossing to the other side of the road or stepping off the path for now, getting out luscious - high-value, loud-smelling food like a piece of freshly boiled chicken and put that in front of his nose and walk him in a tight circle with that food just ahead of his nose as the other dog passes. If he stayed focused on the food for the most part and didn't aggress as the other dog went past, he gets the food. If not, put the treat back in the treat pouch and continue your walk, ignoring him. Do this every time a dog approaches and walks past.

For the time being, distracting this fearful guy with something he really, really wants every time a dog that worries him comes near will start to retrain his brain that actually the other dog isn't going to hurt him as nothing bad happens as it goes by and he gets rewarded with good food when he doesn't growl or bite at the other dog as it goes by. The tight-circle walking will also serve to keep him worried about running into you and he'll have to concentrate on his footing, your legs and feet and that food - not the other dog. Next you could try using a squeaky toy or chewie to distract him as another dog comes by. If you keep this up and do it every time you walk him for the next couple of months, he should begin to develop a better attitude and far less fear.

[marcie]

Marcie is very dog aggressive. Yorkietalkjilly has great tips.
Marcie is 8 yrs old and we still work on "her" attitude.

[deea]

thank you very much for your reply.
The problem is with dogs off lead that jump on him.If we pass by a dog he doesn't care too much, just sometimes looks like he is interested in that dog ( but not barking, jumping etc). if a dog come to him and jump on his face I can't distract him at all. he start to snap and my treats and command are useless.
He is petrified by big dog, bouncy one.He is in a state that I can't control. If he has something in his mouth I can't take it.We are working everyday on leaving commands.
I am very scared of big dogs as well. Just few days ago i was almost attacked by a rottweiler who cross the street by his own to come to my yorkie.

We work since december and I feel the things are going worst. I know is normal my dog doesn't like all the dogs but I don't want him to be aggressive.
Is it reckon to use a muzzle?
thank you

[deea]

And one more thing…I found some anti-social class for dogs with behaviour problems, dog or people aggressive and i need an opinion. Is last one hour and all the dogs are muzzled.

thank you yorkie lovers

[yorkietalkjilly]

I don't blame him if he's scared of other dogs jumping up on him. He's leashed and totally at their mercy, in his eyes. He can't run and get away due to the leash and feels trapped by it and panics. If you muzzle him, he'll feel even more defenseless and fearful, knowing he has nothing to defend himself with and he doesn't yet trust you to adequately make him feel safe in that situation. I'd use a big, one-button, automatic opening umbrella to whoosh open up before the two of you as off-leash dogs approach to discourage them coming near until he can learn other dogs won't hurt him even when he's on leash. It sounds as if he needs more socialization in short, short, frequent sessions.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by deea

And one more thing…I found some anti-social class for dogs with behaviour problems, dog or people aggressive and i need an opinion. Is last one hour and all the dogs are muzzled.

thank you yorkie lovers

If he doesn't object to the muzzle and all dogs are leashed or all aren't leashed, as long as he's okay with the muzzle wearing and feels equally matched with the other dogs - i.e., where he's leashed but the others aren't and he sees he's at a disadvantage, you might try a session or two to see how he accepts it. Don't let the trainer bully you into the use of training aversives such as choke chains, squirting him with water or heavy scented sprays, loud bangs or things like that to "train" him.

[deea]

Thank you. The behaviourist told me about this thing with umbrella but never try it.
At anti social class, all the dogs are muzzled and on lead at first, after that off lead all the dogs so they can interact with other.
He is going to day care one day per week, every weekend we go in big park but in week time we walk just around the house where he doesn't meet dogs everyday.
When we are in park i let him off lead around small dogs but he still agressive even if the dog is not jumping on him.
He met the most shy yorkie girl, they had no contact at all. She was in the house with us for 2 days. This I find it weired) and when by mistake the yorkie girl came a bit closer to him, he snapped.
I try to do my best for him. I know he is not happy like that. He loves being outside, in parks. Would love to see him again mixing with dogs and play like he did before.

Thank you for your messages and for our care

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by deea

Thank you. The behaviourist told me about this thing with umbrella but never try it.
At anti social class, all the dogs are muzzled and on lead at first, after that off lead all the dogs so they can interact with other.
He is going to day care one day per week, every weekend we go in big park but in week time we walk just around the house where he doesn't meet dogs everyday.
When we are in park i let him off lead around small dogs but he still agressive even if the dog is not jumping on him.
He met the most shy yorkie girl, they had no contact at all. She was in the house with us for 2 days. This I find it weired) and when by mistake the yorkie girl came a bit closer to him, he snapped.
I try to do my best for him. I know he is not happy like that. He loves being outside, in parks. Would love to see him again mixing with dogs and play like he did before.

Thank you for your messages and for our care

If he is aggressive when off lead, then he's an anxious dog around other dogs due to fear and insecurity in himself and isn't comfortable around strange dogs. More frequent socialization is very short increments is necessary and walking him in the small circles with the food lure in front of his nose will help train him to accept them as all dogs are not off lead and won't come up and jump on him. If a dog off lead approaches, use the umbrella or a stick to brandish before you and keep him off him. But keeping him distracted from the other dogs who are on lead with the food held in front of his nose and walking in tight circles will give him time to get used to other dogs walking past him or being near as well as getting a nice treat when outside. If he won't take the treats at first, after a few sessions of socialization walks when he gets more comfortable, he should, but the whole process for him to accept other dogs should take about two months if you work at it five days out of seven. It's not an easy process but will happen if you dedicate yourself to it. Good luck with the lessons!

[deea]

I have to tell you all that my Yorkie seems to be healthy even If I always had some questions about his behaviour. Few days ago he was crying out of pain and his tummy was very tense, took him to emergency and they told me he might have back problems. I can't believe he was sick in the last years. thats why he changed his behaviour and I feel so guilty.

Vet investigates and he might have a RMI to see whats wrong with his back.

I have to keep him at strict rest( i put his bed in a baby play pen) and he is not allowed to move too much.

If any of you had experienced this please let me know.

Thank you yorkie lovers

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by deea

I have to tell you all that my Yorkie seems to be healthy even If I always had some questions about his behaviour. Few days ago he was crying out of pain and his tummy was very tense, took him to emergency and they told me he might have back problems. I can't believe he was sick in the last years. thats why he changed his behaviour and I feel so guilty.

Vet investigates and he might have a RMI to see whats wrong with his back.

I have to keep him at strict rest( i put his bed in a baby play pen) and he is not allowed to move too much.

If any of you had experienced this please let me know.

Thank you yorkie lovers

Oh, that's so terrible! Your poor baby. No doubt your vet has checked him several times within the last two years after his behavior changes of snapping at other dogs, stress from other dogs when on leash etc., as most owners know changes in behavior can indicate pain, illness/injury as most dogs are so stoic and don't readily show pain unless it is severe or unexpected/sudden.

Of course, since he just recently began crying out in pain with a tense tummy, it could be that his physical problems are relatively recent as one would think he might show additional behavior issues such as isolating himself at times, being clingy to you at times and an unwillingness to walk, play or jump if he were in much pain and you acted the moment you sensed an acute problem. Still, it's awful if his physical problems were missed for two long years by everyone, including his own vet and the pet behaviorist. Poor little guy. I hope the MRI doesn't show any real damage and he's got some post-traumatic or early-onset arthritis, a recent back strain/sprain or something medically and not surgically treatable.

Please keep us updated and we'll be praying for your little boy.

[bphslp]

I think I would stay away from dog Parks, not a fan. Is their a place you can walk him that dogs are leashed. I have always sat down and try to think like a dog. He is telling you that he does not like jumping dogs up close and personal. Perhaps you have a friend that has a small dog that he would enjoy playing. Our Yorkie is good most of the time and loves people, but if one of our pack does something he does not like, I know. Never let it get out of hand. In most cases he has the right to express, I don't like it. My daughter schedules play dates with her friends dogs. Best to you.

[deea]

His VET has a plan, after an X-ray, my dog should have Metacam, anti-inflammatory drops, but because he had diarrhoea we gave him tramadol. The pain disappear , he was very sleepy for few days, he is staying in a play pen for almost 3 weeks. They think it might be a disc but they won't do any MRI as long he is feeling better. They think the key is the strict rest 100% which we did. Vet told me he can have a normal life after these 3 weeks and just keep an eye on him. But I read a lot and I will follow my instinct.We will take it step by stept, no jumping etc.

When he change his behaviour I knew something was wrong but nobody believe me. As long as I am not a VET I couldn't proof it.At the end I said myself, ok let's try with the behaviourist. The 1st thing he ask me was" are you sure he has not health problems?" .
Thank you very much for your replies.

[yorkietalkjilly]

I believe I might use a different vet from the one that missed his trouble for so long. Good luck and blessings to you both - here's hoping he gets out of pain & back to health very soon, poor little guy.