First, let me say thank you to everyone for their advice and opinions! It's great to know that it's not a breed thing!! As I'm a Yorkie addict now. Because Barley's the sweetest guy at home. It's like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde with him. Maybe I should rename him LOL.
As for a trainer, I think that's going to have to be my next step. Don't worry...I'm not into the whole alpha roll your dog attitude so I wouldn't hire someone like that. Seems I'll have to interview the trainer before hiring one...Can you do that? Well, I'll just have to.
Again, I'm super glad to know it's not a Yorkie thing!! Someday I'll add another dog to our family and I'll want that to be another Yorkie.
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Originally Posted by kalina82  you can just take him places and expect that eventually he'll not try to bite another dog. You need someone a trainer to guide you along and show you how to properly introduce him to other dogs. Your right to be scared of his reaction. If i were the owner of that chihuahua i'd be pissed that you just let your dog walk up to him fully knowing that he might bite the little one. I strongly suggest you get a professional trainer to help you. There is hope for Barley, he just needs a lot of help. |
Kalina, do you mean you can't just? I'm assuming that's what you mean. Please, understand that I was told by the head of my local animal control (as I've reached out to them for guidance), she told me that he just needed socializing and explained that meant getting him out and around other dogs. Which I've been doing for six months and he still bites. I can totally understand what your saying about the p'd thing. Which is exactly why I put Barley behind me and check his dog out with him. I explained Barley's history and apologized over and over. He was very understanding and chatted for sometime w/me about them. I double checked the baby again before we parted ways and it had no marks. Maybe Barley just tired biting and I pulled him back before connecting, but it was enough to scare the baby into a quick cry, which it was one quick cry out. And the dog was trying to greet Barley again before we parted ways. I assumed he's instincts would tell him not to bite at such a small dog as it's like a baby. Again, he didn't try to greet (or smell) the other dog, he just walked right up to it and looked like he tried to bite so I pulled him back and picked him up. How is one to know he'll do that when there's no growl, no bark, no tenseness, just bite? How can someone teach him to greet another dog when he does this?
Dog parks were suggested, but I haven't try them as off leash I wouldn't be able to grab him as quickly as on leash. The AC lady told me to muzzle him and take him into a dog park. That seems kind of like the alpha roll attitude though so I haven't done that.
Again, Thank you everyone for encouragement and guidance!