Quote:
Originally Posted by used to labs 
I've been searching online a lot about how to train yorkies, and everything seems to be about yorkies when their puppies. There seems to be nothing about adults. I understand the problem is this dog has asserted himself as the alpha role. Am I correct to understand that you have to be fairly forceful with them and try to break them of this belief. Or will this just make things worse?
thanks! |
Yes, I believe that to be forceful will make it worse! I know a lot of people think you have to show a dog who is boss. I am not one of them. Don't get me wrong. I don't think you let them run all over you....but you are not even sure why he is doing this. I would give him some time to really watch his behaviors to see what is making him tick.....
I had a yorkie walk in front of my car in 1995 and he was a holy terror! I had stopped to help him and he came at me like a wild animal. I went back to my car to get a treat and put it down on the ground. He started eating it and I thought that he would then allow me to pick him up...wrong!
I then decided to just contact the police since I had to get my son to school. When I went back to the car, he followed me and jumped in and sat at my feet. That was pretty funny....I have some hilarious stories about how we got him out of the car. He was very territorial and whenever he claimed a spot..look out. That first day was a trip and a half as was the next 11 years with him.
I never found his owner...and time told me why. He had been mishandled. He was simply terrified and his teeth were all he knew to protect himself.
It does not sound like this dog was abused; however, I don't know why a dog would bite out of the blue to get his way. Clearly he is in control.
My Maxwell was like that...he used his teeth to get his way. The beginning was rough...he would lift his leg on something and I would try to pick him up to take him outside and he would come after me.
Finally, I just gave it all up. I did not try to do anything with him but let him know he was safe and loved. I let him basically do anything until he was comfortable. It also gave me time to see just what made him tick. It took months....in the beginning he would only stand next to me..would not sit or lie down. I would rub his belly with him standing next to me. I think it was about 8 months before he actually rolled over...I was SO happy!
I have tons of very funny stories about the things he did. He bit a lot of people over the years (he never totally stopped, BUT it was all predictable and I warned people what not to do to set him off...sometimes they made mistakes). It actually became a little joke with my son and his friends...how Maxwell bit them and they still loved him. Everyone loved the little bug...the vet...everyone. My heart still aches at times and it was two years this past July that he passed.
Try to hang in with him. I believe they do these things for a reason .. unless of course it is something medical that is causing it...and I believe that you can teach an old dog new tricks.
Good luck and thank you for saving him! You are correct...he would have been euthanized and he does deserve a chance!
Actually, I have another one right now that is a foster...and he came to me like a wild animal. He is on the Haven website. His name is Matty. He is still timid with new things, but a totally different pupster with me and my friends.
Linda