General info:
Use a harness on him, make sure it's fitted to him properly. A harness can be used to lift your pup up and out of harm's way or deliver him safely into your arms and out of the jaws of an attacker, without putting pressure on the sensitive windpipe area.
Be forewarned: If you try to pick up your dog after he has sprung into an attack, either barking or biting, chances are good that he will bite you. Don't take it personally, it's an automatic reflex action, fight or flight, as he's already in fighting mode, any touch will illicit a bite. This is why it's important to interrupt an attack before it starts, when you can get him to focus on you, then he can learn. I prefer to use the harness to regain control, as some pups will see being held as a reward.
Also, as mentioned earlier, it's important to wait for the dog to calm down after an episode. If you put him back in the situation too soon, the attack will continue. If this happens, use the harness and your body to move him away and regain his focus. You will have to try and determine how far you need to remove him from his triggers, try 10 feet, if no good result, move 5 more feet away. I don't agree with removing him completely out of the area. The goal is to teach him how to behave correctly in the presence of other dogs. The problem does not happen when he's isolated. Once calm is restored, reward him with a treat and a 'Good Boy', and a pat. Gradually move towards the other dogs as long as he stays calm. When you see him get tensed up, or the freeze, or staring, stop him, get him to focus on you, I use a sharp sounding 'Ah, Ah! to get their attention. Have him sit and focus on you. Calm gets the reward. If he can't stay calm, back him up 5 feet and try again. The goal is to walk calmly up to another dog and meet and greet in a calm manner.
This may or may not work for your dog, but it's a place to start. You may have to train the Yorkie separately to begin with, then as he learns the desired behavior, add the pittie back into the mix.
If you do decide to hire a Professional trainer or behaviorist, make sure they have experience with Yorkies. I say this because Yorkie minds are wired a bit differently than other dogs....that has been my experience anyway. |