[kjc]

Well, here's my take on the situation:

Completely normal (though undesired) behavior. It is common for Yorkies to attack another dog, during his moment of weakness. Tink took a bad step and yelped, and was instantaneously surrounded by the other 3. Peek a Boo sneezed, same thing happened. It can also happen when you bring one home from the vet's and they smell different. Or when putting one on the floor after brushing, grooming, or a bath. When Buster tripped over the bell, Sadie did what comes natural, and went for him.

In any questionable situation, I watch them to determine their excitement level, then I command the others to 'Get back', in no uncertain terms. When I see them all backing away, I put the dog on the floor, and continue watching. If one rushes up to the dog I had in hand, they are reprimanded again 'Ah,ah', which usually stops them.

If they slowly approach, I allow them to sniff the dog, but this is a critical time. I watch for any bodies to stiffen, ears too erect, heads rising above the level of the others heads, then I immediately step in and command them to 'Get back' again, and I am at the ready to reach in and grab them if anything starts. They usually settle in 30 seconds or so, if not I'll tell one or two to 'Okay, enough. Go lay down. Now.' This breaks them up and they stop hovering over one individual.

My method for separation of two fighting dogs is "NO", then to grab each one at the same time, by the scruff of their neck (a little forward of their shoulders) or I have just grabbed just the hair. (they don't even feel it) If I try to remove one, the other usually attacks while I'm lifting him up, so I grab both, pull them apart, then get the victim up into my arms. Again, when all are calm, I'll put the victim back down.

I also line them up for treats. I'll go down the row, but then maybe skip one, just to see their reaction. If non-reactive (no stealing) then I tell them 'good dog' and give them two.

I do throw one treat at a time on the floor towards one dog, then quickly another and another, or I'll scatter a handful and watch them eat. Any hostility I see I stop with an 'Ah,ah'.

When I treat one for say, grooming reward, I do give the others a treat too, so they don't get jealous of each other.

I don't give them chews of any kind. They will definitely fight over them. Peek a Boo ends up with all of them in his bed, then he proceeds to protect the bedroom, even attacks the cats.

I separate their food bowls at mealtimes by 4-5 feet, but they all eat in the kitchen, except Finny, who will pick her bowl up and carry it into the Living room and eat there.

At any time they can become excited, I am watching for fights to start. At the door before a walk, when I come in with groceries, back from the vet or a walk, UPS guy at the door, or Fedex, or mail. They know when I say 'Ah, ah' to break it up and calm down. I purposely used the verbal 'Ah, ah' so they would learn to stop when they heard it, in case something starts in another room, I can 'Ah, ah' on my way in, and they've stopped before I actually get there.

I recently started the hair-grabbing when a fight broke out under my PC chair. I was afraid of rolling the chair back and breaking someone's leg, I had a coffee near my keyboard so I couldn't slide the shelf in, so I had to peer over the side of the keyboard shelf to see who it was and where they were. I could only see 1 dog, so I sat up and reached over and grabbed what I could and snatched Peek a Boo out of there. He was so amped up he didn't even feel it.

I used to try to grab a body, but I have been bitten that way. Or I've had one by the neck hair and one by the tail. I don't feel comfortable grabbing legs, but that's just me.

I don't think Sadie is being mean, I think she's just intouch with her 'inner dog', and reacted normally for a dog in a dog's world. As you catch her and react before she does, she will get out of the habit of doing it, bc she'll learn and know that you will stop her.