When you reach for him - how to you pick him up? There could be something about the way you take him or how you lift him up that he is not especially fond of - maybe he even has a bit of fear of being lifted up in the air. Maybe try getting down on the ground with him to take him & then get up with him until he learns that the process of your taking him up is not so scary. In my experience, a truly territorial dog will growl & put its ears back when you approach its territory.
On the other hand, many Yorkie seem to have this propensity - not necessarily to run into their crates per se but to back off when you start to try to get them. All 3 of mine over the years have done that to some degree the first months that I had them & Tibbe still does a bit at times. Tibbe had a rough start in his life & he is coming out of his many fears/issues but this one does return at times.
__________________  Jeanie and Tibbe One must do the best one can. You may get some marks for a very imperfect answer: you will certainly get none for leaving the question alone. C. S. Lewis |