[alaskayorkie]

Originally Posted by SWHouston

I never allow that !!!

In fact, I train both mine to do what I call "avoidance".
If someone reaches down to pick them up, they will dodge,
run/retreat to a inaccessible area, and frequently will start
barking at the person.

If you think that's UNsociable, so be it !
But, with that, I'm a little more confident that they'll be there
for me to pick up later.

I have a command (a whistle) which disarms their retreat, or
if I hand someone (Groomer/Vet) one of them, then they don't
reject the person.

Furthermore, I encourage a high degree of territorial awareness,
nobody/nothing comes on the property or toward the house,
without me being VERY aware of it, because of their alertness.
They both are generously praised, each time they alarm...
for the right reason.

Dogs don't have to be big, or vicious (attack)
to be a good Guard Dog.

Ooh, I think I like the avoidance thing! It would be nice not to have to worry about it if I'm not directly supervising. I know at gatherings and bbq's, I generally put my Yorkies away because if I don't, inevitably, I'll look around and see somebody carrying one around.

I would worry a little bit about the avoidance command if they ever happened to escape and someone was trying to help capture them. Then again, if they escape, you've already rolled the dice on their ability to survive.