increasingly territorial - YorkieTalk.com Forums

lizbits · 08-13-2009, 08:32 AM

My 1 yr old yorkie has been taking a turn for the worse in his behavior. He has been barking more and more and now actually running and trying to bite people's ankles. I am shocked, and don't know where this is coming from. How do I train him to calm down?
I have been laying him on his side and holding him but he won't calm down and as soon as I let him go hes back to barking/trying to bite.
any advice is appreciated!!!!

Britster · 08-13-2009, 12:27 PM

Hmm... well, if you've never seen The Dog Whisperer (National Geographic channel) or It's Me or the Dog (Animal Planet), I'd definitely check them out for GREAT tips!

When he's barking, try filling up an empty soda or coffee can with pennies/change and every time he barks, shake it loudly and say "Quiet!" They generally don't like this noise. I used it to train Jackson as a puppy and it helped tremendously. He was never a terrible barker though so it was just an aid. You could also use a squirt bottle and squirt his face when he barks, bites ankles, etc. Teach him that is NOT acceptable at all and YOU are his leader, not him. He's probably just trying to protect you or being territorial about "his" house. You need to let him know that he doesn't need to be the leader, and you need to take over that role.

lechy02 · 08-14-2009, 06:52 PM

I don't have any real advice for you, just wanted to say your not alone. When I came on here for the first time I had almost the same post. You will get lots of good advice on here and will just have to try. Some things work well for my little "demon" and others I can almost see him laughing at me when I try them. My Motley is also a year old and started out sweet and adorable, now I am almost the only one who thinks that...but he is getting better so there is hope.

marcerella02 · 08-14-2009, 06:58 PM

You are not alone.

Nothing wrong with holding him down BUT if you are going to do that- you CANNOT let go until he is submissive- could take a while- but if you do let him up before then- he's won- and you are not in charge. Which is really the issue- he is alpha- you are not.

I also suggest anything by Casear Milan- books- shows. The idea is you are in charge and nothing is for free- he must sit and stay for food, treats. You decide when you will play and when you will stop playing- you decide when he gets attention. He should be sleeping in his own bed. Walks are a GREAT way to show you are in charge- he MUST walk next to you- NOT in front of you. This was VERY hard for Layla- she LOVED leading the walk. It took us about 3 weeks to get it down and now she just needs an occasional reminder and falls right back into place. Also- she must sit before I open the door and I go through the door first- then i release her and she can come through. I know this all sounds like a lot of work and it can be but it is SO worth it- Layla is a different dog now. Just start slow- sitting for treats and food and work your way up.

BanditSocks2 · 08-14-2009, 08:20 PM

I have similar issues with Bandit. When he's familiar with people and dogs he is incredibly friendly, but when it's a stranger or someone he percieves as a threat he's incredibly territorial and even aggresive. The water bottle helps with the barking at first if it hasn't escalated too much as well as the pennies in the can for barking. We've been training with Bark Busters and that's helped, and he goes to DayCare once a weeek and that helps with his socialization with other dogs, especially new ones. Good luck in training and let me know if you come across something that works

YorkieMother · 08-15-2009, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lizbits

My 1 yr old yorkie has been taking a turn for the worse in his behavior. He has been barking more and more and now actually running and trying to bite people's ankles. I am shocked, and don't know where this is coming from. How do I train him to calm down?
I have been laying him on his side and holding him but he won't calm down and as soon as I let him go hes back to barking/trying to bite.
any advice is appreciated!!!!

That is what was called conflict aggresion and is now called I think lack impluse control.
Nothing to do with him wanting to rule the world more to do with him being afriad of it.

Get your guestes to come in and sit down and be still.
Have them do calming signals and toss treats toward but not at him and not make contact at all.
Also the nore you react by forcinghim to lay down in the presents of fearful things and act all upset and worried the more his fear grow cause indeed those big creaturea are scary cause my mom says they are by her behaviour.

Calm down, slow down and breath yourself will help the dog settle down and be calmer. not going to happen overnight and a good trainer with an understanding of learning theroy would be helpful.

Have a look and see if any of these trainers are in your area and is they work aggression concern and if not they should be able to refer you to some that is.

Virginia
Lulu Clarke
Yellow Brick Dogs
Midlothian, Chesterfield, & most of the “South Side” of Richmond

Roz Ferber, CPDT
All About Dogs, Inc.
Woodbridge, VA
Email: ferbers@cox.net

Leann Harris
Great Pawsibilities
Richmond, VA and surrounding areas of
New Kent, Henrico, Hanover, Caroline County, Chesterfield

Dara Lambert
The Enlightened Dog
Goldvein, VA
Email: dara@theenlighteneddog.com

Tara McLaughlin, CPDT, CDBC
GoodDog! Training
Charlottesville, VA

Sandy Modell, CPDT
Wholistic Hound, LLC
Serving Alexandria, northern Virginia, and the Washington, DC area
Email: smodell@comcast.net

Colleen Pelar, CPDT
All About Dogs, Inc.
Woodbridge, VA

Terry Pride, CVA
Missing Link Pet Services
Tidewater VA, and NE NC
thistlepurple@yahoo.com <>/p>
Phone: 757-748-8213

Veronica Sanchez M.Ed. CPDT, CABC
Cooperative Paws Training and Behavior
Consulting LLC
Northern Virginia, Washington DC metro area
Email: veronica@cooperativepaws.com

Annette Scribner, Trainer
Wag ‘n Train Dog Training LLC
Western Fairfax County and Eastern Loudoun County

Jenny Swiggart, CPDT
Right on Cue Training and Behavior, LLC
Leesburg, VA
Email: gimbit2001@yahoo.com

Pamela Uncles, M.Ed., CDBC
Companion Animal Behavior
VA, MD, DC
Companion Animal Behavior
Email: pamela.uncles@cox.net

JL

JKTex · 08-16-2009, 11:16 AM

I like the can and penny idea. Sometimes these little alpha's are impossible to get their attention.

I just read this past week something along these lines. It makes perfect sense and is something I bet Caesar would say is true.

The stats were surprising. Dogs that nip or bite are usually 7-10 bs (this was about dogs in general so if you have a Yorkie that is in the breed standard of 5-7 lb's, the weight would be adjusted down) 1-3 years old and have been allowed to think they are the alpha.

Prove Caesar right again in regards to deciding who is alpha and I've learned, he's right, loud, angry, intimidating does not work but actually is counter-productive. Calm, assertive as you're taking your stand.

Our male hates anyone to leave the house, the car anything. He'll nip and try to hang on to anyone trying to walk out the door. He being very alpha himself, I can turn and look over him making no eye contact and sternly say "get back" and I just realized why he does what he does. He stops barking and runs straight to his food. I take control away so he runs to the one primary thing he's in control of as the alpha, food.

After reading that and realizing what he does, I thought I was winning, but in fact, he's just shifting his control, not giving it up.

YorkieMother · 08-18-2009, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JKTex

I like the can and penny idea. Sometimes these little alpha's are impossible to get their attention.

I just read this past week something along these lines. It makes perfect sense and is something I bet Caesar would say is true.

The stats were surprising. Dogs that nip or bite are usually 7-10 bs (this was about dogs in general so if you have a Yorkie that is in the breed standard of 5-7 lb's, the weight would be adjusted down) 1-3 years old and have been allowed to think they are the alpha.

Prove Caesar right again in regards to deciding who is alpha and I've learned, he's right, loud, angry, intimidating does not work but actually is counter-productive. Calm, assertive as you're taking your stand.

Our male hates anyone to leave the house, the car anything. He'll nip and try to hang on to anyone trying to walk out the door. He being very alpha himself, I can turn and look over him making no eye contact and sternly say "get back" and I just realized why he does what he does. He stops barking and runs straight to his food. I take control away so he runs to the one primary thing he's in control of as the alpha, food.

After reading that and realizing what he does, I thought I was winning, but in fact, he's just shifting his control, not giving it up.

Ok so that is not more likely miss diagnosed separation anxiety that lead to a dog getting reinforced for neurotic behavior. No dog ever looks into another eyes unless it is maladjusted or has asked by play bow first. You got a dog looking into another's eyes that is not alpha that flat out aggression and hunting a fight and a dog with very poor dog talk skills.
As for running to its food great trick to get you to stop nagging him. reinforced learned behaviour smart dog.
Possesion aggression in the food department does not look like that at all.

JL

YorkieMother · 08-18-2009, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lizbits

My 1 yr old yorkie has been taking a turn for the worse in his behavior. He has been barking more and more and now actually running and trying to bite people's ankles. I am shocked, and don't know where this is coming from. How do I train him to calm down?
I have been laying him on his side and holding him but he won't calm down and as soon as I let him go hes back to barking/trying to bite.
any advice is appreciated!!!!

You have a under socialized dog to humans that needs support and guidance.
What he is doing is making or asking those creatures that scare him to leave.
What you have is a panic attack which is getting reinforced as Mom gets upset at him being upset. Reinforceing that those creatures should be made to leave and faster as Mom looses her mind and holds me down so those scary beeings not only do not go away but can get me , as Mom my protector or should be holds me down in the face of my biggest fear..... ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh bark bark bite. Learned behaviour.
Not alpha at all but FEAR get professional help from a positive trainer.

JL

08-13-2009, 08:32 AM	#1
lizbits Yorkie Talker Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Richmond, Virginia Posts: 12	increasingly territorial My 1 yr old yorkie has been taking a turn for the worse in his behavior. He has been barking more and more and now actually running and trying to bite people's ankles. I am shocked, and don't know where this is coming from. How do I train him to calm down? I have been laying him on his side and holding him but he won't calm down and as soon as I let him go hes back to barking/trying to bite. any advice is appreciated!!!!

08-13-2009, 12:27 PM	#2
Britster Owned by Jackson ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Annapolis, Maryland Posts: 4,037 Blog Entries: 1	Hmm... well, if you've never seen The Dog Whisperer (National Geographic channel) or It's Me or the Dog (Animal Planet), I'd definitely check them out for GREAT tips! When he's barking, try filling up an empty soda or coffee can with pennies/change and every time he barks, shake it loudly and say "Quiet!" They generally don't like this noise. I used it to train Jackson as a puppy and it helped tremendously. He was never a terrible barker though so it was just an aid. You could also use a squirt bottle and squirt his face when he barks, bites ankles, etc. Teach him that is NOT acceptable at all and YOU are his leader, not him. He's probably just trying to protect you or being territorial about "his" house. You need to let him know that he doesn't need to be the leader, and you need to take over that role. __________________ Brit & JACKSON Jackson's YouTube Channel

08-14-2009, 06:58 PM	#4
marcerella02 Loved by Layla Donating Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Ontario Canada...not California :( Posts: 10,522	You are not alone. Nothing wrong with holding him down BUT if you are going to do that- you CANNOT let go until he is submissive- could take a while- but if you do let him up before then- he's won- and you are not in charge. Which is really the issue- he is alpha- you are not. I also suggest anything by Casear Milan- books- shows. The idea is you are in charge and nothing is for free- he must sit and stay for food, treats. You decide when you will play and when you will stop playing- you decide when he gets attention. He should be sleeping in his own bed. Walks are a GREAT way to show you are in charge- he MUST walk next to you- NOT in front of you. This was VERY hard for Layla- she LOVED leading the walk. It took us about 3 weeks to get it down and now she just needs an occasional reminder and falls right back into place. Also- she must sit before I open the door and I go through the door first- then i release her and she can come through. I know this all sounds like a lot of work and it can be but it is SO worth it- Layla is a different dog now. Just start slow- sitting for treats and food and work your way up. __________________ http://misscanam.blogspot.com/ Layla 's Simon

08-14-2009, 06:52 PM	#3
lechy02 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 55	I don't have any real advice for you, just wanted to say your not alone. When I came on here for the first time I had almost the same post. You will get lots of good advice on here and will just have to try. Some things work well for my little "demon" and others I can almost see him laughing at me when I try them. My Motley is also a year old and started out sweet and adorable, now I am almost the only one who thinks that...but he is getting better so there is hope.

08-14-2009, 08:20 PM	#5
BanditSocks2 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Crofton, MD, USA Posts: 200	I have similar issues with Bandit. When he's familiar with people and dogs he is incredibly friendly, but when it's a stranger or someone he percieves as a threat he's incredibly territorial and even aggresive. The water bottle helps with the barking at first if it hasn't escalated too much as well as the pennies in the can for barking. We've been training with Bark Busters and that's helped, and he goes to DayCare once a weeek and that helps with his socialization with other dogs, especially new ones. Good luck in training and let me know if you come across something that works

08-16-2009, 11:16 AM	#7
JKTex Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Flower Mound, Texas Posts: 37	I like the can and penny idea. Sometimes these little alpha's are impossible to get their attention. I just read this past week something along these lines. It makes perfect sense and is something I bet Caesar would say is true. The stats were surprising. Dogs that nip or bite are usually 7-10 bs (this was about dogs in general so if you have a Yorkie that is in the breed standard of 5-7 lb's, the weight would be adjusted down) 1-3 years old and have been allowed to think they are the alpha. Prove Caesar right again in regards to deciding who is alpha and I've learned, he's right, loud, angry, intimidating does not work but actually is counter-productive. Calm, assertive as you're taking your stand. Our male hates anyone to leave the house, the car anything. He'll nip and try to hang on to anyone trying to walk out the door. He being very alpha himself, I can turn and look over him making no eye contact and sternly say "get back" and I just realized why he does what he does. He stops barking and runs straight to his food. I take control away so he runs to the one primary thing he's in control of as the alpha, food. After reading that and realizing what he does, I thought I was winning, but in fact, he's just shifting his control, not giving it up.