Aggression in 3 yr old Yorkie is scaring us. Advice?

[livingdustmops]

Originally Posted by Ladymom

Thank you so much for posting that!

The Alpha Roll was started by the Monks of New Skete in the 1970's, They have since apologized for it and said that it was only intended to be used by trained professionals in cases of extreme aggression.

It is horrible that it is still being used today. Dogs only roll one another onto their backs to kill them. It is not the same as a dog rolling over on his back voluntarily as a sign of submission. The use of the Alpha Roll has damaged so many dog psyches and made so many dogs aggressive.

I have to admit it drives me crazy that people are still using this method. The information is out there and many of us have posted about the Alpha Roll here on YT. If people would only read more books or articles on training we would have less problems with a lot of the dogs.

[joey301]

Originally Posted by livingdustmops

I have to admit it drives me crazy that people are still using this method. The information is out there and many of us have posted about the Alpha Roll here on YT. If people would only read more books or articles on training we would have less problems with a lot of the dogs.

Before I had my Yorkies, I had a Maltese for 14 years. Eventually, I decided with that dog that leash training was cruel, and I would never use that with my Yorkies. But, I never had the behavior problems with her that I am having with the Yorkies, she never tried to bite. My Yorkies had their second meeting with the behavior therapist, and no matter what people may think, she had those dogs in total control in a very short time. And, they seem to remember what they have learned and I see an improvement already. She did not use the alpha roll, but it seems to me that using the leash and a choke collar is similar, it is about dominance without hurting. I watcher her carefully while she worked with my dogs, and I discussed my fear that something may be cruel. Her response was that it is a balance that has to be achieved between enough force and not enough force, and never did I feel that she hurt the dogs, she just got their attention and made them submit. I have tried reward and praise as my primary training, and included the clicker method. It just has not worked, instead, the dogs are too spoiled. I don't think this leash thing will work totally for me because i like for my dogs to be a little spoiled, but I will stop them from biting no matter what, it is just not acceptable. My behaviorist is a huge fan of Ceasar and she suggested I get his book and watch his first two seasons of Dog Whisperer. By doing what she suggested, I can now walk both dogs on the same leash and they stay with me. The improvements are obvious and both Yorkies still love me and seek my lap. I have got to stop treating my Yorkies as my equal and they have to know who is the boss when it's necessary. I will still give them rewards and praise because it makes them happy.

j

[joey301]

Originally Posted by ARCHIE

Buddy has been banned from the bed again!
He has charged me in the middle of the night because I moved him.
The first time he did it I thought was because he was sleeping and I frightened him but the second time,
I would keep your dog out of you bed forever. Put the dog on a leash
when people come into the room and control him that way until he is
comfortable with the company. I feel Yorkies are very smart and easy to
train however they are unpredictable as a most toy dogs breeds can be.

I love sleeping with my dogs, I have a huge king size bed and there is plenty of room.....but I don't do it. When I travel, I will let them sleep with me, but it is a special treat only, or we may bring the futon mattress down for 'camping' in the family room occasionally. As much fun as this is, it may eventually break the dog's heart. With my last dog, she finally got so sick that she could no longer stay on the bed reliably without an accident, and I went so far as to get a plastic mattress cover. But, eventually, she was too old and sick to stay on the bed due to accidents, and being too frail to get off of the bed without hurting herself. So, in addition to being sick, she thought she was being abandoned and punished when I finally had to banish her from the bed. I don't want this to happen with my Yorkies, so I never started them sleeping on my bed and they seem happy with their 'room' in the closet, which is open and filled with their bedding and open cage.

joey

[Riddicks Mommy]

Originally Posted by joey301

Before I had my Yorkies, I had a Maltese for 14 years. Eventually, I decided with that dog that leash training was cruel, and I would never use that with my Yorkies. But, I never had the behavior problems with her that I am having with the Yorkies, she never tried to bite. My Yorkies had their second meeting with the behavior therapist, and no matter what people may think, she had those dogs in total control in a very short time. And, they seem to remember what they have learned and I see an improvement already. She did not use the alpha roll, but it seems to me that using the leash and a choke collar is similar, it is about dominance without hurting. I watcher her carefully while she worked with my dogs, and I discussed my fear that something may be cruel. Her response was that it is a balance that has to be achieved between enough force and not enough force, and never did I feel that she hurt the dogs, she just got their attention and made them submit. I have tried reward and praise as my primary training, and included the clicker method. It just has not worked, instead, the dogs are too spoiled. I don't think this leash thing will work totally for me because i like for my dogs to be a little spoiled, but I will stop them from biting no matter what, it is just not acceptable. My behaviorist is a huge fan of Ceasar and she suggested I get his book and watch his first two seasons of Dog Whisperer. By doing what she suggested, I can now walk both dogs on the same leash and they stay with me. The improvements are obvious and both Yorkies still love me and seek my lap. I have got to stop treating my Yorkies as my equal and they have to know who is the boss when it's necessary. I will still give them rewards and praise because it makes them happy.

j

I am a big Cesar Millan fan too... Since I have been applying what I've learned from watching him, I have seen a huge change in Riddick.. I, like so many other owners out there, treat their babies as humans.. They aren't humans, they are dogs, and are happier when they treated as such, with you, (the owner) being the dominant one. Cesar says he is the alpha male even in his household, and his children are very obedient.. I wish I could get Cesar to train me, so that I could get my children that obedient.. lol..
I still can't get Riddick to walk beside me, but that is my fault.. We don't go on enough walks.. And he's not neutered, so he is always smelling the air.. Once I find his booties, I should take him out with me every morning when I do my walks.. Our winter has been really cold this year, not even I have left the house much.. Riddick's fur is Sooooo thin that you can see his skin, and he doesn't have an ounce of fat on his poor body.. So my baby freezes every time he goes outside.. We are looking forward to Spring!! One day I hope to have him totally submissive!!

[anthroboi]

Originally Posted by Ladymom

Please google "alpha roll" and "Monks of New Skete". You will see that the alpha roll came from the 1976 book "How To Be Your Dog's Best Friend" by the Monks of New Skete. The Monks later on apologized for introducing the Alpha Roll when they realized how it was misinterpreted and misused.

I used to do this with our dobie but I think it only encourages aggression. According to the wikipedia article on the alpha roll, the monks of new skete no longer recommend it (i realize wikipedia isn't the most reliable source, but it makes sense).

Best of luck with the aggression issues. It's very hard to deal with and honestly you may require a behaviourist.