Attacking when I go to bed Hi everyone! I'm new to this forum but could use some help since I'm not familiar at all with yorkies. I have 2 neutered, male pugs that are 6 and 7. We have now just acquired my bfs 6 year old female, unfixed yorkie.
Background: My bf bought this dog at 12 wks old and lived with her for the first year or so of her life. Since then (she's 6 now), she has lived with his ex and his kids. He has seen her over time at least once a year though, so she knows him very well. She only just met me a little over a month ago. His kids and the dog were with us for Christmas and he made the decision to take back the dog since she was so badly matted, it appeared she wasn't being well taken care of and probably never groomed. She has gotten to know me well since she's been here, since I'm home all day with her while my bf is at work. I also always walk her and she knows that, although my bf feeds her.
The problem: Just in the past week, she has attacked me 3 separate nights when I try to go to bed after my bf is already sleeping. She's been here for a month and this behavior just started. The first 2 times, the light was off so I could have just been a stranger in the dark, or she got startled when she woke up to the noise of someone in the dark, or maybe she thought I was already in bed.. who knows.
My bf suggested turning the bedroom light on so she sees that it's me. So last night I did that. I turned on the light before I even walked in. She was awake and looking at me so I walked in, walked over to her, let her smell my hand, scratched her head and her body, then proceeded to shut of the TV that he'd left on and go in the closet to put on my nightgown. I came out of the closet and saw that she was still looking at me, so I know she was still awake and still saw that it was me. I shut off the light and started to walk across the room to my side of the bed and she full-on, viciously attacks just as aggressively as she has the previous 2 nights she did this. (She sleeps in a dog bed on the floor on my bfs side of the bed.)
My bf seems to be very much in denial about her aggressive behavior. He insists I must not have turned the light on (because it didn't wake him up) or that she didn't see me or didn't know it was me, or for whatever reason.. But I know 100% that she knew it was me this time and yet she still tried to attack. She is totally normal all day long when I'm home with her, always asks me to take her out, plays with her toys with me, etc.. this is literally the only time she has shown random aggression toward me like this.
I'm 6 months pregnant and am very worried about when the baby comes, since baby will be in our room as well, and my bf insists the dog stay in our room rather than sleeping in the "dog room" with the other dogs. He has said that he kind of likes her aggression, but I've had dogs (mostly big) my whole life and have never dealt with aggression like this. It doesn't seem healthy and especially worries me knowing we'll have a newborn soon. Also, since I'm approaching my 3rd trimester, I know I will be needing to make bathroom trips at night very frequently again soon (she wasn't here when I was in my 1st trimester) and I can't deal with her always attacking me. My bf is so in love with this dog that he always seems to act like I must have done something wrong. This dog is causing me a lot of stress right now and problems with our relationship and I hate that he always acts like I must have done something wrong whenever she misbehaves.
Can anyone please help with why she might be doing this lately and what can be done to correct the issue? I need help ASAP with this girl.. |