Snapping - YorkieTalk.com Forums

pinkdred1 · 08-02-2006, 01:02 PM

My family and I just bought a 9 week old yorkie three weeks ago. He is a very smart puppy, already potty trained and knows a few tricks. The problem is he sometimes snaps at me or my teenage children, not my husband. We have already tried spraying him with a water bottle, but that hasn't helped. Please help!

Carolina girl · 08-02-2006, 01:07 PM

I can't hardly picture a nine week old puppy snapping but I believe ya. When he does turn him over and pin him on his back and tell him no. He just needs an adjustment on whose boss. Good luck. hth

chachi · 08-02-2006, 01:07 PM

At 9 weeks old hes probably not snapping in a mean way but rather chewing. That is common for his age. What we would do with Chachi when he would do that is tell him no bite then give him a toy or a chewy to try to redirect him.

mylittletigger · 08-02-2006, 06:01 PM

Bitter apple found at most pet retailers. or Bitter yuck(better version no alcohol)

peanut · 08-02-2006, 06:08 PM

He is probably just chewing on you, they do it at that age, Lexie did and sometimes she still does...Peanut snap at me the other day for the 1st time in 10 years, he decided he didn't want his hair cut..Trust me there is a big difference between snap & chewing....He is just a puppy thats what puppys do.

YorkieRose · 08-02-2006, 06:24 PM

If he is snapping and not playing, you need to talk with the breeder..aggression at 9 weeks is totally unacceptable. Find out if he was bullied or teased by any one at the breeders..were the parents aggressive? Snapping can turn into biting as an adult..you need to set him straight as to who is the leader... You can take a hold of his muzzle and speak firmly..NO and look him in the eye..do not allow him to walk away until he diverts his eyes...the leader never breaks eye contact. His dam would have been just as stern with him if he snapped at her..

You got him at 6 weeks and this bothers me..he was removed from his dam and litter mates far too early..and temperament problems can result. Best wishes

bensonmomof4 · 08-02-2006, 07:35 PM

We have a one year old male Joey. He snaps when someone comes up behind him and grabs him or when he is sleeping. He has never done it to me but I'm his Mom and feed him!

pinkdred1 · 08-02-2006, 07:37 PM

Thanks for all of ur help. Later today, he snapped at me again and I said to him firmly, "No Bite!" and then put him in his pen for "puppy time-out". My whole family totally ignored him. Thirty minutes later, I brought him out again, and he didn't try to snap again.

ginnysanchez · 08-02-2006, 09:31 PM

That's a great way to handle it...but also keep in mind that Yorkies "live in the now."...they'll have no idea, 5 minutes from now, why they're behind that gate.

Google understands that it is simply unacceptable for him to put his teeth on me, unless I am sticking my hand in there to clean him. I taught him this way: every time he tried to snap, or teethe, or whatever, and his teeth touched my skin I did not say "no" or call his name...I yelled "HEY!" or "OW!" very sharply, which got his IMMEDIATE attention, I pulled away and I ignored him for about a minute. I didn't touch him to put him in his playpen or anything, I just walked away; I read that when puppies start playing too rough and nip each other, they respond by yelping and then ignoring their littermate. I did it and...it works!

08-02-2006, 01:02 PM	#1
pinkdred1 YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 5	Snapping My family and I just bought a 9 week old yorkie three weeks ago. He is a very smart puppy, already potty trained and knows a few tricks. The problem is he sometimes snaps at me or my teenage children, not my husband. We have already tried spraying him with a water bottle, but that hasn't helped. Please help!

08-02-2006, 01:07 PM	#2
Carolina girl YT Addict Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Aiken, South Carolina Posts: 320	I can't hardly picture a nine week old puppy snapping but I believe ya. When he does turn him over and pin him on his back and tell him no. He just needs an adjustment on whose boss. Good luck. hth __________________ Love is... when your puppy licks your face even though you left him alone all day! Izzabella and Cindy

08-02-2006, 01:07 PM	#3
chachi I Love My Yorkies Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana Posts: 37,147	At 9 weeks old hes probably not snapping in a mean way but rather chewing. That is common for his age. What we would do with Chachi when he would do that is tell him no bite then give him a toy or a chewy to try to redirect him. __________________ Chachi's & Jewels Mom Jewels http://www.dogster.com/?132431 Chachi http://www.dogster.com/?132427

08-02-2006, 06:01 PM	#4
mylittletigger YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 1,216	Bitter apple found at most pet retailers. or Bitter yuck(better version no alcohol) __________________ Tigger's dogster http://www.dogster.com/?257308 Bear's dogster: www.dogster.com/?368626. Krystal, John, Tigger and Baby Bear.

08-02-2006, 06:08 PM	#5
peanut Dogs Rule Cats Drool! Donating Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Tennessee Posts: 7,895	He is probably just chewing on you, they do it at that age, Lexie did and sometimes she still does...Peanut snap at me the other day for the 1st time in 10 years, he decided he didn't want his hair cut..Trust me there is a big difference between snap & chewing....He is just a puppy thats what puppys do. __________________ KIM

08-02-2006, 06:24 PM	#6
YorkieRose No Longer a Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 8,577	snapping If he is snapping and not playing, you need to talk with the breeder..aggression at 9 weeks is totally unacceptable. Find out if he was bullied or teased by any one at the breeders..were the parents aggressive? Snapping can turn into biting as an adult..you need to set him straight as to who is the leader... You can take a hold of his muzzle and speak firmly..NO and look him in the eye..do not allow him to walk away until he diverts his eyes...the leader never breaks eye contact. His dam would have been just as stern with him if he snapped at her.. You got him at 6 weeks and this bothers me..he was removed from his dam and litter mates far too early..and temperament problems can result. Best wishes

08-02-2006, 07:35 PM	#7
bensonmomof4 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: McCook, NE Posts: 62	We have a one year old male Joey. He snaps when someone comes up behind him and grabs him or when he is sleeping. He has never done it to me but I'm his Mom and feed him!

08-02-2006, 07:37 PM	#8
pinkdred1 YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 5	Snapping Thanks for all of ur help. Later today, he snapped at me again and I said to him firmly, "No Bite!" and then put him in his pen for "puppy time-out". My whole family totally ignored him. Thirty minutes later, I brought him out again, and he didn't try to snap again.

08-02-2006, 09:31 PM	#9
ginnysanchez No Longer a Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Northern NJ / NYC Posts: 175	That's a great way to handle it...but also keep in mind that Yorkies "live in the now."...they'll have no idea, 5 minutes from now, why they're behind that gate. Google understands that it is simply unacceptable for him to put his teeth on me, unless I am sticking my hand in there to clean him. I taught him this way: every time he tried to snap, or teethe, or whatever, and his teeth touched my skin I did not say "no" or call his name...I yelled "HEY!" or "OW!" very sharply, which got his IMMEDIATE attention, I pulled away and I ignored him for about a minute. I didn't touch him to put him in his playpen or anything, I just walked away; I read that when puppies start playing too rough and nip each other, they respond by yelping and then ignoring their littermate. I did it and...it works!