Attacking Yorkie
 

I am re-posted in the breeders section... as per suggested...

My baby loves everyone he meets. At least he did until a few weeks ago!:(:(:(

I have posted questions, and answers in this forum, but I am stumped!! :confused:HELP!!!

My very friendly, good natured, snuggle bum, (1 1/2 years, unaltered male), comes to work with me every day, loves everyone that comes in the shop. He remembers all his people on the street. :)

A few weeks ago, he went after (growling, lunged, and snarled) at a woman who wanted to [COLOR=green ! important][COLOR=green ! important]pet[/COLOR][/COLOR] him:eek::eek:. He has always allowed strangers to pet him! It has happened a few times since then. There is no commonality in the people he wants to eat. They have not made contact with him. He is not injured, he has not been hurt by anyone, he is always with me! Some people he is ok with. He has not made contact with anyone yet...!

This morning, we were walking to work, and a woman spoke to him, then to me, and he sat down facing her, wagging his tail, like he wanted a pet! Then he went for her, when she reached down! The only thing I can think of, is because he is small, they have all crouched down ~ could that be it?

Help us... what has gotten into him??? Any ideas??? __________________

When was his last rabies shot? I have read that rabies shots can cause increased aggression and fear in some dogs. Sometimes the symptoms don't show up immediately.

Are there other members in your household? Could someone be mistreating him when you are not around?

:D :eek: :D laughing ... sorry ...

a tine yorkie who wants to eat humans... funny ... but serious.

Do you think he may be trying to protect you ??? territorial?

XOXO

I think it is both a territorial and a protective issue, too. Good luck!;)

Oh how I feel for you.

My female does it, always has. She is "protecting" me and my pocketbook mostly. (nothing like an alarm attack system all in one!)

I have never spoke to her about it because honestly I don't like people touching my dogs. You never know where they have had their hands and they can catch colds just like people. If you want to pet a dog, buy one is my motto.

I have always asked to pet someones dog but since I got my own I have decided to keep my hands to myself and rub my poochie.

Best of luck!

This may be it!... Any suggestions?
I don't want to be picking people out of his teeth! LOL:rolleyes:

Wish I could help you. Sorry! If my docile lil girl ever starts something like that I'm going to have to come to you, because by then you will have learned how to handle it.:p

Thats just it, he is my docile little man. He is the one I take to work!
his rabise shot was way back, almost a year ago ( he got the 2 year shot)
I breed, I have 3 unaltered males, and there is no aggression here.

What troubles me most is HIM INVITING people to pet him, then attacking!!

Any one have ideas, even if it is protection?
As for abuse, like I said, he is always with me, unless he is home alone (rarely)

He is drawing them in to take a bite.. LOL

Seriously I hope he starts acting better. Do you have any females in heat at home? He could be protective over that.

If you do a search of the site, you should find something and it will probably be in the "training" threads.

You can use the "search" button on the blue bar at the top of the screen. Wish I could help more.

I have one "due" for a heat soon, but she isn't with us!
And it started before any of the girls were even close...

My hubby and I were talking about it last night and he reminded me of the FIRST time...
A man ~ trying to be politically correct here ~ with a brain injury, reach down to pet, him, he was happy... (man and dog :rolleyes:), just as he was about to make contact a fire (or ambulance, can't remember) hit the siren, fairly near us. My boy made his move. He has never been scared of sirens before, and isn't bothered by them now, but that was his first attempt! He still isn't trusting of people with mental disabilities though.

I understand your frustration. My Duke does a similar thing. He's never tried to bite anyone, but some people he is completely fine with, and others he's barking, snarling and growling like Cujo..lol

I do think think some of it is a territorial/protective thing, as he will do it more so when he's with me. However, he does it at home when people come over too. He also crouches (like at cat) and pouches on my 65lb lab/chow every time she comes in from going potty. He snarls and jumps on her head to bite her ears.:eek: I correct him for it, but we have been unable to stop it.

Good luck, I will be interested to see what suggestions others make. They think they are big dogs in disguise. :p:D

Hi I have made a post in your original thread..but I do think he is protecting you...my suggestion is to let someone else take control i.e. when walking etc. and see if he reacts the same then...but not with you there....!!

You say you take him to work every day and he has always been so friendly...I think this is the problem...he is guarding his mom...what has started this behavious is hard to say really...but a lot of dogs do. One of our earlier yorkies always reacted like this when I walked him...but never when my hubby did...

Chris x

Does your boy only try to eat people when he is on leash or off-leash as well.
It is pretty threatening for a little dog to have people bending over and approaching them from above when they know that they are on leash and can't move away.
Maybe if you are tense and worried about him attacking, he can sense that as well and then he thinks you are tense about the person and he can't trust them.

We don't have a place I would be comfortable off leash. Besides I need willing strangers...:eek:

Hi again..yes do try my suggestion and see how your yorkie reacts when someone else has him without you around. If he is good with other people and doesn't go to lunge or bite..then the problem lies with him protecting you..and he may need some training in that direction..to make him understand that no-one means you an y harm.

If on the other hand he reacts in the same manner with other people when you are not walking him etc. then maybe you should seek help from your Vet..firstly to make sure everything is well with him..and to ask their advice.
Something must have set him down this road...!!

Do let us know what happens..:)

Only things I can think of is .You may have to have him fixed ? Another thing is the first time they do it if they are not corrected .and the person walks away a habit is formed .Lol my little guy can't stand strange dogs walking past him .He looks like a little physco pup when it happens

This makes a good point. I have a similar issue with Duke(I posted earlier in this thread) I did notice something yesterday though. On Tuesday morning my ex stopped by to drop something off, and I was holding Duke when I answered the door. Duke was going crazy barking at him and growling a bit (good dog...lol:p). Last night when he brought my son home Duke went right over to him and was fine. He even let him hold him.

Since Duke is very attached to me I think that could be the case that he is "protecting" My trainer told me you have to teach them that if you accept the person they should too....well that is easier said than done!! :rolleyes::D

I appreciate your continued suggestions. Thank so much!:D

I'll have to get hubby to walk him on the weekend, or maybe dear ol' Dad. Can't do anything before the w/e though. I am nervous to "turn him loose" on an unsuspecting walker, or public! :eek: ;) Help...lol

Muzzle???
 

He was better with hubby, but not perfectly relaxed.

What do you think of a muzzle? He is a 15 pounder... I just wondered, :rolleyes:maybe I could relax, if I knew he couldn't hurt anyone.

Weigh in on the muzzle idea, please. I really appreciate your input. Thanks!

We're working on a similar issue with Bandit, but more with aggressive barking. He used to be the sweetest cuddling dog, and without any trigger that I can think of seemed to get somewhat aggressive. He'll bark at the dog park at dogs on the other side of the fence and at dogs coming in, but then will run around and play with them. Same thing with doggie daycare. He'll bark at people and dogs coming in and out but will play with dogs and allow people to pet him. On walks he barks so meanly at certain people with no discernible pattern. Good luck with your pup!

I was going to suggest a basket muzzle, which is what I would do. Maybe if he undersatnds he's not in control he'll back off. You could use the command "LEAVE IT" and continue on your way. You don't want a law suit on your hands....little booger...lol

PS. How have You reacted when he does this?

You are right about the law suit!! I say "NO! LEAVE IT (or NEVER MIND)" and if he is on the ground I step on his lead, so he can't move forward. If he is in my arms I grab his bottom jaw, and turn him away.
Any idea where I can find a basket muzzle with the stop of his face, won't it sit against his eyes?? I got a nylon one, he just takes it off! Or one of the other dogs helps him get it off. (He doesn't object to me putting it on... he knows it'll be off in a sec! lol)

I didn't find a basket muzzle to fit him, but I did get the nylon one fitted, so he leaves it on (not if left unattended...)
He doesn't walk well with it on, he is very distracted. He doesn't look as tense walking as he did, but if he is in my arms, he is just as bad, barking.
I had to leave the bank yesterday, because once he started, I couldn't calm him down!

Does anyone rough play with him at home? Sounds like a case for the Dog Whisperer. I know that how we act, even in the slightest movement or feelings - dogs can pick up on this. Be sure that you are the alpha and will not put up with this. You need to let him know this - be sure to use the right gestures to correct this behavior. And if someone is rough playing with him at home - tell them to stop it. It is hard for dogs to know the difference between playing or not.

P.S. I hate to see muzzles on dogs.

Should I walk away from the situation with him (drag him) or stand and force him to settle??
NO no one has EVER rough housed with him, I believe strongly against that! I have 2 big dogs, that have never been roughed with either!
Keep the ideas coming... PLEEEEEZZZE!!!

All I can say is that I completely sympathize! We had a dog named Sabre. Half black lab, half border collie. She did the same thing your boy does. She would sit there all pretty and inviting, even run up to people and nudge their hands to be petted. She'd let them pet about one time and then bite. Not an attacking or vicious bite. Just enough to let them know she was the queen. No matter what we did, she never grew out of it. That was just her personality. She protected our family like none other. I refused to put a muzzle on her. I did it one time to give her a bath (she hated baths) after she got sprayed by a skunk. Never again though. It was awful for her. Sadly, we had to put her down 3 weeks ago. She was a little over 20 yrs. old. :(

Everyone that knows us loved her. Regardless of her habit. They all knew it and came to appreciate it. I'm not sure if that's what your little guy is going through but it really sounds like he wants to protect you. I'm not a dog trainer, so I have no advice. Just wanted to offer up some sympathy.

The little beast has never bitten... but his growly-bark, makes me think that I have been quick enough to avert it! Luckily!
Sorry to hear about your Lab.. It is heartbreaking, I know!

Who is walking in front?

Usually he is right beside me, I take the lead. But in that instance, he stepped in front of me, to approach her, for what I thought would be a pet!

I have switched back to the harness from the collar (this morning) and he seemed more relaxed, but we didn't encounter anyone, so who knows!