Dominant behaviour

[Lucky Me]

Hello! I'm new here and need help with my 5 month old yorkie/maltese mix (my vet says his temperament is 100% yorkie). When we first brought him home a couple months ago, he was very calm and well-behaved but in the last month, he's exhibiting dominant behaviour and I can't seem to stop him. He's going to be neutered next month and I'm hoping this will help, but what can I do to regain control? How can I show him I'm the boss? I took him to puppy classes, which was fine for showing him how to sit and "leave it", but he's a completely different doggie at home. Help?

[luvfla]

What is he doing?

[jobets5]

try a big no then try a big soft no see what works with your dog i hope i helped a little my dog trys hard to make me happy. good luck

[JoeyP]

Him showing dominant behavior is more a factor of you not showing HIM who is top dog in your house
He is stepping up to the plate because you haven't done so

The ways you do this IS ....
You feed him ..... but when you do make believe YOU eat some of it first
While he is eating move the bowl
When he is playing with his toys ... make it a point to play with him and take the toy from him ... playing fetch is a good game
Take him for walks on a lead

These things help train a dog to know who is leader

[luvfla]

But is it really dominant behavior or him just being a puppy?

[Lucky Me]

Thanks for your replies. Believe me, I step up and try to show him I am the boss, but he is having none of it. He's constantly trying to hump my 7 year old daughter's leg, arm, back, you name it. He won't obey any commands unless he gets something out of it (I make him sit before I give him a toy or food). If I try to correct him, he jumps up at my face and barks at me, or rams the back of my legs with his nose. I look him straight in the eye when I'm correcting him and he still won't back down. If I turn my back or walk away from him when he's being naughty, he just keeps barking and jumping until something else catches his interest. I was using a spray bottle to give a little squirt in the face when he's misbehaving but now he's taken a liking to it, so that doesn't work anymore.

Don't get me wrong, he's also very loving, but even when he's being cuddly he still wants to be the top dog (he tries to sit on my head or shoulder if I'm sitting on the couch and he obsessively tries to groom me, especially my ears... ewww gross). It's gotten to the point where I don't let him on the couch anymore but it's a battle of him jumping up, me telling him "down", back and forth, back and forth. When I give him a hand signal for any command, he jumps up at me and nips my hand (not a bite, but more like a warning, it seems).

I don't understand how a 3.5 lb furball can be such a little terror! (sometimes, anyway)

[luvfla]

Sounds like he's testing you. Just being a puppy. Keep reinforcing that YOU are the big cheese in the house.

[QuickSilver]

Originally Posted by Lucky Me

Thanks for your replies. Believe me, I step up and try to show him I am the boss, but he is having none of it. He's constantly trying to hump my 7 year old daughter's leg, arm, back, you name it. He won't obey any commands unless he gets something out of it (I make him sit before I give him a toy or food). If I try to correct him, he jumps up at my face and barks at me, or rams the back of my legs with his nose. I look him straight in the eye when I'm correcting him and he still won't back down. If I turn my back or walk away from him when he's being naughty, he just keeps barking and jumping until something else catches his interest. I was using a spray bottle to give a little squirt in the face when he's misbehaving but now he's taken a liking to it, so that doesn't work anymore.

Don't get me wrong, he's also very loving, but even when he's being cuddly he still wants to be the top dog (he tries to sit on my head or shoulder if I'm sitting on the couch and he obsessively tries to groom me, especially my ears... ewww gross). It's gotten to the point where I don't let him on the couch anymore but it's a battle of him jumping up, me telling him "down", back and forth, back and forth. When I give him a hand signal for any command, he jumps up at me and nips my hand (not a bite, but more like a warning, it seems).

I don't understand how a 3.5 lb furball can be such a little terror! (sometimes, anyway)

We hear ya!

Re: the humping. Is he neutered? This should go a long way towards correcting this behavior and probably calming him down in general.

Licking is actually usually a sign of submission, or at least affection, not dominance. Don't expect him to do anything for you "just because" at first. It sounds like you are doing "Nothing in Life is Free", or something similar to that. Just stick with that, and enforce it in any situation you can think of. For instance, Thor has to Sit and Stay before we exit/enter a building or my car.

Also, is he getting enough exercise?

Generally, you should try not to get into a battle of wills with a dog, because it shouldn't be a question, and in fact, it isn't. You are bigger, stronger, smarter. If he keeps getting on the couch, give him a time out. If he barks, ignore him. Etc.

[Britster]

Originally Posted by Lucky Me

Thanks for your replies. Believe me, I step up and try to show him I am the boss, but he is having none of it. He's constantly trying to hump my 7 year old daughter's leg, arm, back, you name it. He won't obey any commands unless he gets something out of it (I make him sit before I give him a toy or food). If I try to correct him, he jumps up at my face and barks at me, or rams the back of my legs with his nose. I look him straight in the eye when I'm correcting him and he still won't back down. If I turn my back or walk away from him when he's being naughty, he just keeps barking and jumping until something else catches his interest. I was using a spray bottle to give a little squirt in the face when he's misbehaving but now he's taken a liking to it, so that doesn't work anymore.

Don't get me wrong, he's also very loving, but even when he's being cuddly he still wants to be the top dog (he tries to sit on my head or shoulder if I'm sitting on the couch and he obsessively tries to groom me, especially my ears... ewww gross). It's gotten to the point where I don't let him on the couch anymore but it's a battle of him jumping up, me telling him "down", back and forth, back and forth. When I give him a hand signal for any command, he jumps up at me and nips my hand (not a bite, but more like a warning, it seems).

I don't understand how a 3.5 lb furball can be such a little terror! (sometimes, anyway)

Yeah, those habits aren't good and I would try to break him of those asap while he's still young. You seem to be in the right path... just continue to let him know who is boss. No touch, no talk, no eye contact when he is behaving in such a way. Completely ignore him. Walk out of the room. Anything. Humping your daughter should stop immediately. That's a dominant behavior for sure. He's trying to take control of her. Maybe have your daughter feed him his food sometimes, as well as her taking him for walks so she can become more of a leader to him as well. The minute he begins humping her, make a "ah ah" or say "No!" and pull him away. When he is finally calm and stops, treat him for behaving the right way.

When he is constantly grooming you on the couch and sitting on top of you... I would simply pick him up and put him on the ground off the couch. I know you said you are doing that so I think you're doing the right thing. It's going to take a lot of time and patience but if you consistently do it, he will eventually get it. Make sure you give him a treat when he finally sits on the ground in a calm state of mind. Licking is not a bad thing, it's a loving thing, but if it gets too obsessive, it's not good. Also, I may be incorrect on this (so someone correct me if I'm wrong!) but I think grooming is also a dominant behavior, when they're licking another dogs face? But I could be wrong on that one.

How often does he get exercised? He sounds like he has a lot of energy that needs to be let out. I would recommend at least a 40 min. walk every day on a harness and leash. Maybe even a dog park or doggie daycare would help. Something to burn off his energy every day will make him less likely to have these behaviors.

And personally, to me, it doesn't really sound like he's "just being a puppy."
Jackson never acted like that because from day one, I showed him who was boss and laid down the rules. Don't get me wrong, he chewed up things now and then, he had pee and poop accidents, etc- THAT is just being a puppy but humping your daughter, getting in your face, and all those things you described are totally dominant behaviors in my opinion. I think TOO many people make the mistake of "aw he's just a puppy, he'll grow out of it!" and then never correct it... and they end up with a dog like this for the rest of it's life. Or worse they end up getting so frustrated that they bring it to a shelter or something. I'm not saying EVERY thing your pup is doing is dominance... because sure, some of it is being young and not knowing but it's your job to teach him. There's nothing worse than an adult dog who does not listen and they're not half as enjoyable as a trained dog. Maybe take him to an obedience class? Teach him some tricks? It will help your communication between you and your dog

[Britster]

Originally Posted by QuickSilver

We hear ya!

Re: the humping. Is he neutered? This should go a long way towards correcting this behavior and probably calming him down in general.

Licking is actually usually a sign of submission, or at least affection, not dominance. Don't expect him to do anything for you "just because" at first. It sounds like you are doing "Nothing in Life is Free", or something similar to that. Just stick with that, and enforce it in any situation you can think of. For instance, Thor has to Sit and Stay before we exit/enter a building or my car.

Also, is he getting enough exercise?

Generally, you should try not to get into a battle of wills with a dog, because it shouldn't be a question, and in fact, it isn't. You are bigger, stronger, smarter. If he keeps getting on the couch, give him a time out. If he barks, ignore him. Etc.

We posted at the same time! lol.

And thanks for clearing up that grooming/licking thing... I was unsure if that was considered a dominant behavior or not.

[westieboy]

Originally Posted by Lucky Me

Thanks for your replies. Believe me, I step up and try to show him I am the boss, but he is having none of it. He's constantly trying to hump my 7 year old daughter's leg, arm, back, you name it. He won't obey any commands unless he gets something out of it (I make him sit before I give him a toy or food). If I try to correct him, he jumps up at my face and barks at me, or rams the back of my legs with his nose. I look him straight in the eye when I'm correcting him and he still won't back down. If I turn my back or walk away from him when he's being naughty, he just keeps barking and jumping until something else catches his interest. I was using a spray bottle to give a little squirt in the face when he's misbehaving but now he's taken a liking to it, so that doesn't work anymore.

Don't get me wrong, he's also very loving, but even when he's being cuddly he still wants to be the top dog (he tries to sit on my head or shoulder if I'm sitting on the couch and he obsessively tries to groom me, especially my ears... ewww gross). It's gotten to the point where I don't let him on the couch anymore but it's a battle of him jumping up, me telling him "down", back and forth, back and forth. When I give him a hand signal for any command, he jumps up at me and nips my hand (not a bite, but more like a warning, it seems).

I don't understand how a 3.5 lb furball can be such a little terror! (sometimes, anyway)

He's just being a puppy. All the nipping and biting is just playing. If nothing else works like turning your back when this happens, keep him on a lead and put her into another room for a 2 minute time out.

If you want to stop him from jumping on the couch you have to stop him before he gets on the couch. You can train him to only come on the couch when he is invited.

[tobymom]

I have a new Morkie puppy(Tucker) age 5 months who is driving me nuts with the same kind of behavior--and he is a bigger stronger boy then my yorkies have been. Puppies can really try one's patience!

[Britster]

PS - In regards to my last post, I just realized you said he was already in puppy classes, but I suggested obedience classes to you! Sorry, didn't realize he was already in them, lol

[Britster]

Originally Posted by westieboy

He's just being a puppy. All the nipping and biting is just playing. If nothing else works like turning your back when this happens, keep him on a lead and put her into another room for a 2 minute time out.

If you want to stop him from jumping on the couch you have to stop him before he gets on the couch. You can train him to only come on the couch when he is invited.

For me personally, I find time-outs not to really work. But maybe it just didn't work with my dog, I'm sure it could benefit others. I feel like dogs don't really understand the concept of "time out" the way that us humans do. I remember a few times, after Jackson would have an accident or do something bad, I would put him in his x-pen for a time out but quickly realized, he really had NO idea why he was in there, even if I did it right after his wrong-doing. Also, you don't want them to think their crate/xpen/or other source of containment is a BAD thing. It may work in certain instances but not all.

[westieboy]

Originally Posted by Britster

For me personally, I find time-outs not to really work. But maybe it just didn't work with my dog, I'm sure it could benefit others. I feel like dogs don't really understand the concept of "time out" the way that us humans do. I remember a few times, after Jackson would have an accident or do something bad, I would put him in his x-pen for a time out but quickly realized, he really had NO idea why he was in there, even if I did it right after his wrong-doing. Also, you don't want them to think their crate/xpen/or other source of containment is a BAD thing. It may work in certain instances but not all.

I use timeouts only only if other methods have not worked. Social isolation is a very powerful tool.

I never use the crate or ex-pen for a time-out, you do not want a negative association with their happy place. You want to use a room where there are not toys or anything else for them to do. I also don't use it for potty accidents because it would not be effective in that scenario.

I've always found it to be a highly effective tool. Dogs as pack animals do not want to be by themselves and would extinguish any behavior that would lead to isolation.