[itsjustmejanie]

Last October (2013) I was fortunate enough to take over 2 dogs from someone who was moving to a smaller home and couldn't take them. I now have a 3 year old male Yorkie named Axel and a 1 yr old female Maltese named Bree. Bree is pretty quiet and loves people. I have no trouble with her.

However Axel is giving me trouble. Whenever anyone comes to my house, he nips at their ankles and their legs. He does this when I take him to other people's house too. The strange thing is, he has never done this for me. Even when I first met him and went to his old owner's house to pick him up. He has been around my parents enough now that he does not do it to them.

a couple of weekends ago, I had a friend staying here 3 nights from out of town. The first night he nipped her pretty bad on the back of the leg, so the next two nights, I kept him on a leash and right by me.. the weird thing is after he nipped her, he jumped up in her lap and wanted to give kisses.

Kids are a different matter.... He seems to hate kids.. I asked how he was around kids before and his old owner said he never really was around kids... tonight is a good example. I had my friend's 11 year old over.. she was in the kitchen facing away looking at the table.. I let the dog out of his cage and was about to put his leash on him to go outside and he heard her in the kitchen.. he ran out there with his butt down and his tail between his legs and ran right up to her and nipped her on the leg. I took him outside and he was fine, but the minute he saw her again he started barking crazily and would not settle down until she went upstairs.

everyone says I need to train him.. but im not sure how to train him.. he doesn't act this way around me and My friends are not willing to let me use their kids as guinea pigs to train my dog...

other than that he is the perfect dog.. he is very sweet to me and even when I take him to petsmart or the groomers.. he lets people pet him and wags his tail and is really good..

everything I read says to turn away from him and say ouch or no.. but he just keeps going at the ankles even when you are turned away.. and a lot of times this happens when I am letting him out of the cage because I just got home and I need to take him outside.. so I cant ignore him.. he has to go outside...

any suggestions?

thank you