YorkieTalk.com Forums - Yorkshire Terrier Community - View Single Post

joeysowner · 11-07-2008, 11:23 AM

I only use Bitter Apple on items my female was chewing. I haven't used it in months because the problem is gone. I've tried the "coins in the can" trick and while it worked at first, it only made them more aggitated. I think the very act of us shaking the can shows we're aggitated and this does not calm my dogs down. For those of you that it works...great. I think sometimes it is a different ballgame when there is more than one dog to set straight as one feeds of the other. My dogs don't bark at me just to "talk" and I DO ignore their barking behavior when I enter the room. They bark when others enter our house...or try to enter. We've been watching "Dog Whisperer" and "It's me or the Dog" and have been starting to use some of those techniques. They have helped, but I realize it takes time and patience and practice, practice, practice! The real problem is EXCESSIVE aggression towards a golden retriever who lives behind us. Yes, the golden retriever sometimes starts it but my dogs literally are ripping apart the fence and my female sometimes takes her aggression out on the male at the same time. I think we're going to seal off that 10" section of fencing that is shared by us and the retriever. Out of sight, out of mind... It most likely they aren't out for walks enough and so are territorial and we are making some changes (because no one really wants to get rid of the dogs and threats about that are leading to changed behavior and more feelings of responsibility). But, there is a boxer in the yard of another neighbor directly behind us (the rest of the fence) that they don't bother, and vica versa so they obviously just hate the retriever. I certainly READ UP ON THE BREED for 1-1/2 years before I got the dogs and understand terriers are barkers, but sometimes there is PROBLEM barking and that's why I placed this post. Thanks to all of you who gave "helpful" ideas.

11-07-2008, 11:23 AM	#28
joeysowner Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: California Posts: 19	I only use Bitter Apple on items my female was chewing. I haven't used it in months because the problem is gone. I've tried the "coins in the can" trick and while it worked at first, it only made them more aggitated. I think the very act of us shaking the can shows we're aggitated and this does not calm my dogs down. For those of you that it works...great. I think sometimes it is a different ballgame when there is more than one dog to set straight as one feeds of the other. My dogs don't bark at me just to "talk" and I DO ignore their barking behavior when I enter the room. They bark when others enter our house...or try to enter. We've been watching "Dog Whisperer" and "It's me or the Dog" and have been starting to use some of those techniques. They have helped, but I realize it takes time and patience and practice, practice, practice! The real problem is EXCESSIVE aggression towards a golden retriever who lives behind us. Yes, the golden retriever sometimes starts it but my dogs literally are ripping apart the fence and my female sometimes takes her aggression out on the male at the same time. I think we're going to seal off that 10" section of fencing that is shared by us and the retriever. Out of sight, out of mind... It most likely they aren't out for walks enough and so are territorial and we are making some changes (because no one really wants to get rid of the dogs and threats about that are leading to changed behavior and more feelings of responsibility). But, there is a boxer in the yard of another neighbor directly behind us (the rest of the fence) that they don't bother, and vica versa so they obviously just hate the retriever. I certainly READ UP ON THE BREED for 1-1/2 years before I got the dogs and understand terriers are barkers, but sometimes there is PROBLEM barking and that's why I placed this post. Thanks to all of you who gave "helpful" ideas.