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LauraMichelle · 01-30-2008, 01:27 PM

Alright, I'll try to make this brief. I have 3 dogs a male Rottweiler, a male Yorkie and a female yorkie, ages 3 1/2, 3 and 2 1/2 (I don't know if any of that is relevant to my problem or not). The male Yorkie has constantly tested me and anyone around him his whole life. We are in the process of training him and trying to ingrain some kind of obedience into him, only to have him cycle back again. The problem being- he marks, he is very vocal and whinny, he's food aggressive, he humps- other males, steals toys, growls at us when we try to make him move off of our chair, ect...

I can not put up with this, neither of the other dogs are a problem, both are calm, confident and well trained. Melvin seems to learn, then stop the problem behaviors for a few weeks only to resume them again. I've talked with several Yorkie owners and they just laugh at me, telling me "it's a Yorkie thing." No, it's a problem child thing. My dogs are dogs, not humans, I suppose my problem was asking someone for training advice who thinks their dog isn't a dog.

I've been forcing him to do everything last, humans first, the other dogs, then him. Everything I read on dominance is so conflicting, do the alpha roll, don't do the alpha roll, use a leash, use food, blah, blah, blah. I'd like to find something that works for a stubborn dog and stick with it, I have yet to find something though.

Oh and Melvin isn't fixed- yet. He will be as soon as I can get the DH's credit card. However, I'm worried this won't change a thing.

Any thoughts? Suggestions?

01-30-2008, 01:27 PM	#1
LauraMichelle Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Surprise, AZ Posts: 171	Dominance questions Alright, I'll try to make this brief. I have 3 dogs a male Rottweiler, a male Yorkie and a female yorkie, ages 3 1/2, 3 and 2 1/2 (I don't know if any of that is relevant to my problem or not). The male Yorkie has constantly tested me and anyone around him his whole life. We are in the process of training him and trying to ingrain some kind of obedience into him, only to have him cycle back again. The problem being- he marks, he is very vocal and whinny, he's food aggressive, he humps- other males, steals toys, growls at us when we try to make him move off of our chair, ect... I can not put up with this, neither of the other dogs are a problem, both are calm, confident and well trained. Melvin seems to learn, then stop the problem behaviors for a few weeks only to resume them again. I've talked with several Yorkie owners and they just laugh at me, telling me "it's a Yorkie thing." No, it's a problem child thing. My dogs are dogs, not humans, I suppose my problem was asking someone for training advice who thinks their dog isn't a dog. I've been forcing him to do everything last, humans first, the other dogs, then him. Everything I read on dominance is so conflicting, do the alpha roll, don't do the alpha roll, use a leash, use food, blah, blah, blah. I'd like to find something that works for a stubborn dog and stick with it, I have yet to find something though. Oh and Melvin isn't fixed- yet. He will be as soon as I can get the DH's credit card. However, I'm worried this won't change a thing. Any thoughts? Suggestions?