[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by JENNYSIA

Moe becomes bizarre on 5 general occasions:
1. when he gets startled during his nap (or has dozed off)
- in the car, moe loves the vibration and usually falls asleep: but if someone moves, he suddenly jumps up, growls, snarls, and turns wild!
2. when someone enters my room (at home) or my office cubicle: he growls a low
long grrrrr !
3. when he's with me at work and someone walks towards the exit at , he chases and barks for a long time
4. when I am holding him and someone tries to come near(even to talk to me): he growls and snarls
5. when we are in the car and someone peeps at the window from outside

It's like he is suddenly in a trance, and he doesnt recognize anybody - it gets scary at times. He doesnt act that way in other places, like if we are at my sister's office
cubicle, or if we go to my assistant's table.

Good thing is, he could easily snap off from it when I say "STOP" or if I condition him ahead of time, like for example before we reach the drive thru window, I remind him "NO SNAPPING, NO YAPPING, NO GROWLING, NO BARKING", then he sits still and just looks. Sometimes, he is so cute and cuddly and affectionate to everyone, but sometimes, he's acts so like a gremlin.

Is he just trying to protect me? Or Is he extremely territorial? Or it could be something else?

I have enrolled him in behavior modificaion and in training class. He seems to understand and picks up really fast (like, a new trick in less than 10 minutes!) and can stay in an open crate with no attempt to walk out of it. His vet says he is so alpha. He listens to me, and obeys what I say. He also obeys other people but really doesnt like it when his sleep is disturbed or someone invades his space (???)

He is 1 yr and 2 months old. He's so cute and has such a funny irresistible "help me, please" look. But when he's BAD, well, he is SO, SO,... BAD...

Help! Need tips to control his temperament .

A lot of what you describe I call pretty typical Yorkie behavior. They are little guard dogs and unless you really want to train him not to, he probably always will growl and bark in the many of the circumstances you describe. You may want him to bark at an unknown individual approaching the car but remain quiet in a social situation when someone comes near you or enters your home. I think you are doing the right thing in having him in animal behavior modification class as it will teach him to learn to respond to you and you can extend that to the type of behavior you want. You need to disagree with behavior you do not want and reward the treatment you want. It is hard with a tiny little Yorkie to be as firm as we should at times since they are so plucky and darned cute but remember, when he learns to listen to and obey you properly, it will not cow him or change him in any way as long as your training is done with in short sessions with love and a positive attitude at all times. Be very persistent and very patient as it takes a while for them to learn exactly what you expect of them and then to learn to ignore their genetic programming and modify their own behavior as a result of your guidance. Some things they learn very quickly and other things take a lot more time. Hope your training goes well.