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Originally Posted by dcapper  Two days after being fixed and no change. I had bloodwork done and they are completely healthy. Poor Sam pooped this morning and had poop all over his bum. I couldn’t get near him to clean him. I had to use the hose outside. He was so upset and I feel terrible. He is going to see a behaviourist in March. In the meantime would the vet have a sedative that they could give him? Or would a ThunderShirt be worth a try? I think he was abused by a man before I got him. My mom told me she will take him if he doesn’t respond to the training. |
Neutering can help only some types of aggression but it rarely helps in 2 days, more like weeks to months as there are still hormones in your dogs' bodies. Newly neutered dogs may not even be sterile, can take up to maybe 6 weeks or so in some cases. Neutering sure cannot affect learned bad behavior patterns in days, that will take some work on your part.
This is how I've handled some of the dogs I've fostered who behaved the way you describe your little biter and it worked. Remember that dogs are capable to using their distress as a clever tool to attempt to very artfully manipulate you into backing off controlling them. He's likely observed that this has worked for him over and over and that you are fearful of him going into this state. Don't fall for it. He is likely fearful - dogs distrust anyone who acts insecure in their leadership around them and can fear they might snap and hurt them. He needs your calm, strong, loving guidance and patience direction badly so maintain that during his upsets and proceed to do whatever you need to do with him, staying calm and upbeat as you clean or medicate or lift him. Takes patience and however much time he requires those first 2 - 3 close-encounter sessions.
Put on heavy clothing or a coat, some type of coarse gloves or mits your little Yorkie can't bite through and get a leash on him so you have control of him. Stay calm, show no fear and remember he can't really injure you - he's a very little, weak dog, not a powerful 90 lb. dog who could really hurt you at all, with a tiny bite radius and you are a full-grown woman who can outthink and outwit, even overpower him any time any day.
Throw a net, large bath towel or blanket over him if you must and wrap him, swaddle style and hold him until he is calm and settled, take 2 or more hours, however much time he needs, but wearing your protective gear, gradually expose his head and neck and get a leash or halter on him so you have real control, hold him a little longer, no language needed, just connect with him through gentle pressure and your body warmth, your love, as another dog might do and let him relax with you, right there in your lap or beside you on the floor. Feed or toss him a few treats after you unleash him and allow him to go about his business. Likely he'll need to go outside for a tension release and potty session.
If he cannot settle when near you after a second try, when you are both relatively calm, he needs veterinary intervention for a while, likely prescription medication that can help calm him during the time he is being behaviorally and mentally rehabilitated. And your dog badly needs you to show you are his pack leader, a kindly, good-natured caregiver in charge of your little family pack, a leader who knows what's best for him and your little pack. He needs to just spend time next to you, learning to trust you, submit to you and form some type of bond for a couple or three trust sessions. You need to be able to dole out tasty treats and he needs to be calm enough to want to take food from your hand, to accept gentle upper back stroking eventually. Don't reach above him or put your hand over or on his muzzle or head until you are best friends - unstable, fear-aggressive dogs don't like that, feeling you are attempting to dominate them.
So leashing him will prevent him from running away from you and gaining control of the situation as he glares at you across the room, which he will likely try to do unless leashed. Having a leash on him and being required to stay beside you, feeling your body, your calm presence and loving supervision and learning that you are kind and gentle, trustworthy will go a long way to calm and gentle him, help him accept you as his pack leader.
Taking in your scent and relaxed, in charge but kind, loving demeanor, will show him that you are in control, a gentle, happy leader who is going to take care of him always; and the relaxation medication will help him stay calm enough to endure his early lessons of enforced closeness and being under your complete control while he learns nothing bad will happen to him during those encounters, in your lap, take food treats from you as you show him he can trust you.
He's got to accept that you control all situations, his well-being and begin to gradually accept that and allow these encounters to continue until he settles down, relaxes his body and mind right along with you. After he does that, gently remove the leash and treat him as you allow him off the leash. Even if he won't take a treat directly from you at this point, toss several about on the floor so he realizes that these sessions end with a treat and you smiling. If he doesn't eat them then, he will later. Now it's time for him to go outside to run off any stored, tense energy and potty and then back in the house to do whatever he'd like.
The next closeness sessions, say the fourth, fifth, etc., he can lie on the leash however far from you he'd like as he starts to build his trust as he learns you control his movements. Once trust has been established and he realizes nothing bad will happen to him as you control his movements, he must learn and accept that you get to call the shots in your home, that you are the leader, he is a submissive member of your pack. Dogs usually readily accept hierarchal social structure in their home setting as they are inherently pack animals, automatically accepting of any leader who takes control and shows strength of purpose and structure, consistency and begin to understand your role is to keep him safe and cared for. No need at all to be tough or speak with military orders to him, just show loving,calm, happy mindset and he'll come to trust you within about 3 months if you stay patient, show consistent leadership and stay trustworthy, never attempt to dominate, beratre or scare him.
These steps are early ones that have worked for me with a highly fearful, manipulative dog I've rehabilitated who doesn't sense he's got or likely ever had any true, loving pack leader and however unfit he might feel for the job, is trying to control his pack himself, in lieu of a true leader, a loving caregiver whom he trusts and knows for sure will always keep him safe and show him the way. Once he trusts you as his loving leader, fun obedience lessons and behavior modification, teaching him to react how you want to win your heartfelt, genuine praise, treats, toys, fun times will go a long, long way toward turning this fear-aggressive dog into the perfect little pet who feels it's always win for him to always do what you request and become your trusted, loyal best friend.