Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken_AC4RD  I'm not sure if this is appropriate, but we had a weird Yorkie experience yesterday.
Cricket, around one year old, stray rescued, been with us around 3 weeks. We have a big place in our yard that is 3 feet lower, at the top, than the yard around it. (They meet up at the bottom of the yard. Yesterday I was talking to my neighbor on that side, and Cricket "made friends" with this neighbor by barking, growling, and savagely showing her teeth. (All of our previous dogs just loved this neighbor, he's a very nice person.)
Anyway, after the talk, I started back to the main yard. Cricket was at the drop-off where the ground sinks, and she showed how much she loves her daddy by barking, growling, and savagely showing her teeth. We both thought she was going to attack me, though I came back up because she's not permitted to attack me.
Yorkie behavior: Once I was up from the low place, she was her usual friendly self. When I went back down there to get her tennis ball ("fetch" is a one-way command most of the time), I was an enemy to be attacked. The instant I was back up in the main yard, I was once again a family member.
And I thought SCOTTIES had strange behaviors. Does this ring a bell with anyone?
By the way, don't get me wrong--she's still my darling little sweetheart and last night she sat in my lap so I could cuddle her. It appears to be only when I'm in that low place that I'm the Hamburglar or Godzilla or something that needs to be attacked. :-/ |
The incident may have recalled to mind some previous fright or harm that befell your little one in their previous life, an incident that strongly marked them, causing a reaction in fear, trying to threaten any human that they think might try to put them there again.
Any time a new rescue/foster would initially threaten me, before a bond of trust had been established, I'd
instantly scowl, say "NO!" thunderously, clap my hands loudly as I advanced on them, angrily glowering and pointing at them, as I held their eyes and walked purposely right into them, causing them to back off, turn away or just lie down,- some would even rollover to expose their belly in an act of submission; but they quickly were schooled to understand they were not in control of the situation.
I would quickly roll the overly-submissive dog back over realizing they were overly fearful, submissive, not ever wanting to promote that feeling in a dog in my care.
I'd then revert to normal behavior, turning my back on the dog, walking away, slapping my hand against my leg as a signal to follow me, which they always did, usually trying to curry favor now that they'd regained themselves, realizing they'd stepped out of bounds. I never got angry, showed further displeasure but quickly worked to resume normal activities so as to distract the dog's mind from his momentary ugly reactions.
I only advise this type of reaction to dog threatening behavior to a confident dog handler who doesn't fear dogs or even getting bit, as if one is not truly confident in all oneself, the dog senses the insecurity and may attack, bite, as dogs fear an unstable, insecure leader, thinking they'd better establish boundaries for such a weak leader. LOL, of course nobody fears any-sized Yorkie or Westie's bite or attack however hard they might try but it's just a word of caution that unless you aren't fearless around an unstable-acting dog of any size, don't try it, your dog will see right through it.