Originally Posted by nancynancy  Pookie is a healthy, seven pound, five year old male yorkie who was neutered at six months and definitely has rage syndrome. Pookie sometimes suddenly growls and exhibit aggressive behavior including biting. Sometimes it's in response to triggers such as bones, Greenie biscuits, or beef jerky, but often there's no real trigger.
Pookie has threatened to bite me several times in the past few months and actually bit me twice, both times hard enough to break the skin. Interestingly, Pookie has never bitten my husband or threatened him in any way. We also have a four year old yorkie female named Boo Boo, who is completely nonaggressive, loving and completely attached to me.
Pookie was our first dog. We got him when he was just seven weeks old from an experienced backyard breeder, who had posted a newspaper ad. Pookie was a beautiful puppy, and we were astonished when he began to exhibit aggressive tendencies at the tender age of nine weeks. He behaved well enough during the day but every night turned into a monster, growling and threatening, like a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
Pookie went through a very difficult teething period (he chewed on the furniture constantly) and my husband and I spent a good deal of time feeding him dog biscuits, but we had to stop when we noticed that these were triggering aggressive behavior. Meat bones in particular set him into a frenzy and the effects can last for hours, so we have banished these from his environment.
Often the rage is over in a few seconds, but sometimes it can last far longer. Weeks can go by without an episode. But once Pookie has a rage attack, he's far more likely to have another. He seems to need a cooling off period during which he's hypersensitive to any triggers.
Pookie does not display affection. He will not lick your hand unless he's bribed with Beggin' Strips, his favorite treat. We also had to train him to lie on his back while we rub his belly. In the beginning he did not do this willingly, which I understand is associated with his aggressive, dominant personality.
About three years ago, I caught Pookie with Boo Boo’s head in his mouth. Boo Boo wasn't harmed, but my husband believes that had we not intervened so quickly, Boo Boo would have been seriously injured or even killed. Fortunately, Pookie never attacked Boo Boo again.
Other strange aspects of Pookie's behavior are that he's extremely vocal and makes a very wide range of sounds. In addition to normal dog barking, Pookie sometimes howls like a wolf or warbles like a bird.
Pookie likes to be groomed and is particularly well behaved at the groomers and at home during bath time. He is compliant during visits to the vet and does not express fear or pain. I think of him as a tough little dog who wants to take life like a macho man. |