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Originally Posted by Luvdogs2  When we sit on the couch, Bdog will sit up there with us, but usually on the other side of my fiance or on my side...or up on the headrest area...wherever she wants basically - unless she has a chew treat, then it's right next to you and as I said before, if you move at all - it's bare teeth and growling. Oh, and it's not just with me, if my fiance moves or anything, she does it to her too. If you pick her up, she FREAKS, but you don't get bitten because she keeps her jaws locked on the chewy. She even freaks out if you push her over to the edge so she has to jump down herself (we never just shove her off the couch). My fiance will take the chewy away when she acts like that, but she has to pretty much stick her fingers in the mouth and (for lack of better word) pry and work it out of the mouth to get her to release it. She doesn't just rip it out or anything. I don't deal with that, I don't push my luck in that department.
When you do take the chewy away, she goes neurotic though. If she sees where you put it, she will circle the table or wherever forever. Also, when she whittles the chew treat down to a dangerous size, you have to get her quick and slip your fingers in her mouth to get it or she will try and swallow it whole. Again, I try to get it when she's sleeping or has left it somewhere so I don't have to stick my hands in her mouth or push my luck.
For the time being, she's not getting those treats. She really likes them though. Maybe after we get some real good time together and she starts making some good progress, we can start working on not getting so crazy with them.. |
They are dangerous: Choking Hazard. Try giving her Cheerios for good behavior on the couch or Gerber's Graduates Puffs.
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Originally Posted by Luvdogs2 I have asked my fiance if I can have one time of feeding per day. Would you suggest if I did all of the feedings for a while? I know the food giver is often the one of most respect so I wonder if me taking over for a while completely would be a good idea.. |
It would be best... changes will occur quicker. Your DF probably won't notice any change in how Bdog reacts to her....We just need to get you up to Alpha status asap.
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Originally Posted by Luvdogs2 Oh, I have been meaning to ask you all, what size of pup(s) do you have in pounds and how much do you feed them (and how often) do you feed them. I have read a good number of posts on schedules to feed, but I could use some pointers on how much. I read that an adult Yorkie needs between 1/4 cup to 1/3 of a cup of kibble per day. That doesn't look like much food at all. The fiance wants to feed her about 1/3 to 1/2 a cup in one sitting, and that looks like too much.. |
Look on the bag, or look it up online. As all foods are different, the amount to feed is listed on the bag. Take the daily recommended amount, divide by 2, and give her that much twice daily. Better quality foods usually require that less is fed as more nutrition is packed into each serving, and may produce fewer bowel movements.
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Originally Posted by Luvdogs2 I completely forgot to ask her about the dog food too....I know they have a blend specially for Yorkies because I remember looking it up a few months ago looking for the nutrition label online. While we are on that, does anyone have a suggestion on preferred brand for this breed? If, by chance, the food she's laying down isn't the best - how much of a problem is it to change food types? Does a person have to start mixing them and transition or can it be a pretty bad shock to them?. |
A quick change may cause diarrhea and/or tummy upset. Best to start mixing the new in with the old over 7 days or so. Some brands are really high in protein (45-50%). Personally, I'll feed any of the better brands (Petco or PetsMart) with a protein content of 18-25% (midrange). I don't feed anything that contains fish or fish meal due to the preservatives used on the fish before processing. If she tends to have allergies, try a Limited Ingredient Diet, or one the doesn't contain chicken as the main ingredient. Also watch her weight to make sure she's not losing or gaining, if she does lose or gain, adjust the amount fed accordingly.
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Originally Posted by Luvdogs2 One thing that is really shocking with the behavior I have seen is she doesn't chew shoes or anything like that on the floor. If the remote falls off the couch, she doesn't get into it. Magazines, cushions...nothing. What she goes after is if you hang your coat off the back of a chair, she gets into the pockets and will pull out tissues, gloves or coozies that I will use at school for my water and such. She is also a pretty big fan of snagging my fiances underwear through the laundry basket and dart under the bed. It's hard to not laugh at times with that one. My fiance will giggle about licking my mouth and I poke back and say "at least my undies are safe...". |
My one female used to do the underwear bit, and then she began to chew the metal zippers out of our jeans. Get in the habit of putting your clothes away where she cannot get at them. Basically your Bdog is a thief! (JK) These tendencies may change with changes in her diet.
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Originally Posted by Luvdogs2 I wish winter wasn't so close and the weather turning uncomfortably cold. The dog park and walks are a great idea together, but with her on second and my school schedule in the mornings and early afternoons, and studies in the afternoon/evenings - it's hard to meet up in our schedule, let alone in a time of day when it's nice and warmest. We'll find some times though, especially when springs starts showing up.. |
Maybe you could develop some indoor training routines, like trick training, or beginning agility or doggy dancing if you are so inclined....
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Originally Posted by Luvdogs2 Back to the bed and being defensive...she has been set in her kennel overnight (she has a spacious kennel and a crate bit enough to turn in and lay down) when I had started sleeping over and leading up to me living there. On the weekends she is allowed to sleep on the bed with my fiance since I have to come home to work. Lets just say she doesn't do the lick in the mouth thing and is allowed to roam at night...if I roll over, have a leg spasm, shift in the night or have some romance - will there be a high risk of aggression? Would it be best to just keep the routine of the kennel in the evenings?
Thanks a bunch |
If she's comfortable in her kennel at night, it may be best for her right now. Changing everything all at once may overwhelm her, so I would work on one or two things most in need of changing first. Then, in a couple weeks, add another project. This way too you'll be better able to tell what is working for her and what may need tweaking.
As for in the bed... many Yorkies wake up unexpectedly in a defensive mood. If I pet my male gently while he's sleeping, he's more likely to awaken and bite my hand than anything. Don't know why he does this... so I am very careful approaching him when he's sleeping. I did work on this for a bit, but as he's older I was afraid of causing him a heart attack, so I decided it was best for him if I just tolerate this behavior, and adjust my approach, rather than try to change the outcome.
It really depends on the dog as to how much risk of aggression there will be in the bed. Maybe start out with some weekend naps to see how things go. As all her new training comes together, it may help to build her confidence, and help her to be less jumpy. One test to access her aggression would be to put your arm under the covers and move it around. She may play and try to catch your arm, or she may try to kill your arm. If she plays, I would think you would be at less risk of attack during sleep making random movements. If she gets in kill mode with your arm, maybe kennel her in the bedroom, it's still a bonding experience for you all to sleep together in the same room, and would be safer for you, and avoiding confrontation needing correction for her, for now.
As for anything more than sleeping, I would not have her in the room. She may interpret things wrong and think you are hurting her Mommie.