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Originally Posted by Logansmom  Hi everyone!! this is my first post in here so i will do my best lol. So I LOVE Yorkies and have always wanted one!! Well my mom finally gave in (im only 16 so my mom has to say yes haha) and im going to get him tomorrow!!!! SSSSOOOOOO EXCITED!!
His name is Max but im changing it to Logan b/c I love that name! He is 1 1/2 years old and potty and crate trained and all that good stuff BUT.....
his owner said hes food agressive! I have lived with dogs my whole life and have raised 2 puppies. The dogs have ranged in great danes to a JR/Pug but none have ever had any food problems.
I was wondering if anyone has any advice on things i can do/work on with my Yorkie. He will be eating seperate from the dogs we have now (a JR/Pug, a Pitbull mix, and a Purbred Lab) b/c they all eat big food and we have smaller food for Logan. All the dogs get along fine and Logan will not be left alone un-supervised with then b/c he is so small but i dont feel like getting bit by him b/c he has food problems.
THANKS SO MUCH any advice is welcome!! Man i never thought i would finally be getting a YORKIE!!!!!! OH one more thing is 6lb a good size for one? and about what size clothes do yorkies wear?
THANKS!!!! |
Well I'd ask the owner what she has tried before to curb the food aggression? Is it all food, or just bones/treats? Ask how long she tried what-ever she tried.
Don't free feed which would be hard anyway with three dogs in the house, and at least one dog is going to be a slower eater than the others.
I would start off by hand feeding him his meals. Morning/evening meals. Put the food in his bowl, call him to you, have him sit and you have his food bowl. He gets a piece of food for sitting. Then practice "watch me" hold piece of food up by your forehead get him to focus on food/your eyes, if he holds focus for 3 sec, treat another piece of supper. He can be standing or sitting for this. Ask him to stand, he gets another piece of food. Do this until the food is gone, varying the commands. On or about the third day, try the command Leave it. That means he can't touch a piece of food until he has permission to. Put him in a sit, put food down a foot or so away from him, and give command leave it. If he goes for food - firm no, and swoop up the treat. Give command to sit, and again place food down about a foot away, give command leave it, and if he does leave it say for 2-3 seconds give another command Take it. Praise with voice too.
Keep doing these exercise for a week.
Hope these suggestions will work for you. And congrats on your new dog.