Please help, I can't take it any more
 

I've had Harley for about a month now, and he has been wonderful...for the most part. At first, Harley loved my boyfriend. Harley would go sit with him and not me. He seems to only like to play with men, and wants to cuddle women. My boyfriend is great with him, and takes him for walks and every thing.

But now, its another story. It started a 2 weeks ago when I was laying on the ground because my bf was going to pop my back. Harley went nuts and went after my bf. He chased him and was trying to bite him. He was fine once I grabbed him and told him "NO". I had my bf pet him and talk to him nice so that he knew that my bf wasn't trying to hurt me.

A few other incidents happened, but last night was the absolute worst. I took Harley out for a walk, and my (sick) bf got in bed. Harley and I came back in and when I went to get in bed, Harley jumped up and ran right over to my bf and tried to bite him. He would not let up and kept trying to bite him. So I finally went out in the living room so the big ol' sick baby could get some sleep.

Harley fell asleep on me, and after about an hour, I went back to bed. He ran up to my bf and bit him. He got him bad on the hand, which he used to block his face. I put him out of the room and closed the door, but he was so loud and scratching the door, and we both needed to sleep. I ended up putting Harley on his leash and had to sleep that way so he wouldn't attack my bf. I was up allll night.

He just gets really aggressive when my bf is over and bites pillows and tears up shoes. He NEVER is aggressive when my bf isn't around. He is actually really lazy and I have to force him to get out of bed sometimes, lol. So I need help. I want to get married and have kids eventually, and I'll never be able to if I have Harley.

How old is Harley???

He's 4 years old.

Is he a rescue? Do you know anything about his past life? I ask these questions because the answers may help.

These are learned behaviors and you can work with him. For now, I would rec. having your boyfriend be the one to feed him, (always after he sits for his food) and walk him (at least some of the time). He's got to figure out that he (the human) is in charge. Even more importantly, I'd find a good trainer to work with you all. It'll take some time, but you will all be better off for it.

Good luck! Hopefully someone here will have more direct advice. Regardless, I don't think there is any substitute for regularly working with a good trainer when there are aggression issues.

Harley is showing he's your main man and not your BF.
First off I would not allow him on the bed, ever! Put his bed next
to yours but it's important he stay off the bed. Show him the bed
is yours not his. Second have your BF walk him and give him treats.
Your BF needs to be more involved in his life. You have to show him
your Alpha. His leader. I am sure he's a good boy but having issues
when your BF is over is not good. He just needs some re adjusting
of his way of thinking. Good luck and have patience.

I got him from someone on here, who got him from a rescue. As far as I know, I am his 4th owner. She didn't tell me about his aggression at all. All she said was that he didn't like cats and he wasn't happy with her and her family. I believe she only had him for a few weeks. Thanks for the advice, but unfortuanately I can't afford a trainer. I just finished spending hundreds on getting rid of the lice he was infested with when I got him.

Well then, I say, go with Carol's advice (posted above) as it is really sound and on the mark. Also, hopefully more will post.

IMO... I think your BF needs to assert himself as the "alpha dog/male"... If your pup goes to bite him, or acts in any way that he isnt suppose to, HE needs to tell the dog NO firmly, not you... If not, it seems to me that this will continue... Hope this helps :)

What should I do when he does bite or get aggressive? I believe he was abused, because when I tell him "NO!" he crouches down and closes his eyes like I'm going to beat him. Its really sad.

Thats right...
 

Carol, ya hit it right on the nose :thumbup:

Thanks for that advice! Its going to be fun trying to keep him off the bed! But you're right, I need to do that.

Telling them NO firmly is perfectly fine and its a must...

I think he's doing that because he knows he's done wrong... Meka crouches down and looks away when I tell her no... and its because they are very smart and understand perfectly what they are and arent to do. Even my 5 yr old daughter does that sad look... Its a natural reaction when one realizes fault... JMO :)

When NO isn't enough anymore, roll him over onto his back and don't let him up until he gives up the fight. Have your BF do it too.

So, the last 2 nights Harley has not slept in my bed. I got him a little bed, but he won't lay in it, he gets underneath it! He always slept under the covers with me so, I think he just likes being cozy!

My bf hasn't been over since the other day, so we haven't gotten any where with that part yet. Just working on the bed thing, which hasn't realyl been too bad.

I forgot I had taken this picture about a week ago, and thought I would share. This is what is frustrating, he will cuddle my bf, but then attack him.

BTW, my bf doesn't really look this ugly...he looks fat, but he weighs like 170 llbs, lol.

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s...ey/Mine005.jpg

That's a great start, your doing good.
Put a blanket in his bed. It's his choice to use it or not.
I am sure he already knows your taking charge.
When your BF does come over make sure he comes with treat in hand
when you let him in. When Harley realizes your BF comes with treats
for him he will welcome him with open paws.

The only problem with the treat thing is that Harley doesn't like ANY treats!! I've tried everything! Carrots, all natural home made ones from a little Paw Spa boutique, and even regular crappy treats lol (I need something to bribe him with!). He doesn't like any kind of bone or chew thing either. We even went to Petsmart and a worker there let us try to give him EVERY kind of treat they had in their little buffet of treats thing. He wouldn't touch any!

The only thing I've found that he does like is edamames, and I think only because I was eating them, lol. So I'll have to have my bf come in with edamames I guess, lol.

Maybe you could try the baby food hot dogs. They come in different flavors, like chicken, turkey and beef.

That sounds like a great idea! He's a big begger, so any type of human food makes him happy! (But don't worry, the only time I gave him any was when he was taking medicine for his infection from the lice, and I had to get it down some how!) Are they ok for them?

right on
 

your actions the first time it happened reinforced to Harley that this would be acceptable

as you can see it escalated!!

do not reward after bad behavior with treats
your boyfriend will have to establish control,you cannot make harley respect him
HE HAS TOO!
CLAIM THE AREA THEN DO NOT ALLOW HIM IN THAT SAID AREA(BED COUCH ETC..)DO IT BY MOVING INTO HIS SPACE AND TELLING HIM BACK AS HE MOVES BACK YOU ARE ESTABLISHING YOUR DOMINANCE AND DO NOT SAY GOOD BOY HIS REWARD IS IN YOUR ENERGY WHEN HE RESPONDS TO YOUR COMMAND (HE KNOWS)


HECK JUST WATCH CEASAR MILLAN(AND YOU DO NOT HAVE TO TOUCH HIM IF YOU ARE AGAINST THAT PART BUT IT WILL TAKE MORE CREATIVITY AND PATIENCE)

Yes they can have people food, it is just that you have to give them healthy stuff.:) You can go to the Health threads to find all kinds of recipes you can make for your dog. Here is the thread, http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=75933

Hope this helps!;)

Have you tried things like Cheerios? Tessa loves them as welll as little bits of cheese.;)

No, but I will have to try! Thanks so much for the suggestions!

Then, what about play time with a special toy, reserved only for play with bf? Many professional working dogs are rewarded/reinforced with play - not food.

I agree with not letting him on the bed - until such time as Harley knows he is third in the pack, anyway.

I totally agree with Archie's mom. You is Harley's woman! There was an episode of It's Me or the Dog on Animal Planet where a woman had a Yorkie who was in a very similar situation as you. Her husband was sleeping on the couch because anytime he got near the bed the yorkie went crazy. If the husband put his arms around her he went nuts too. She said that the yorkie is no longer to sleep in the same bed. She left the bedroom door open but gated it and left the yorkie outside. He cried at first but eventually learned that it was not a place he was allowed. A lot of Archie's mom's advise was what the trainer told this lady as well. It doesn't sound like your dog is aggressive but rather sweet and just being protective of you. I am sure if you and your bf continue to work with him he'll come around.

Harley has not been allowed on the bed at all for the last 3 days. I used to leave my bedroom door open while gone, but I am keeping it closed so he can't get on the bed while I'm away. I would like to get a baby gate so that I can keep him in the kitchen while I'm gone, but we'll see. It really hasn't been that bad. I feel a little bad, but I know its for the best! Each night he tries 1 time to get up with me. Its so cute because he does it all sneaky and runs up and scoots as close as he can to me and lays down real fast. So I pick him up and tell him "No, lay down," and put him in his bed (or pile of blankets). Then I tell him "Stay" and he wimpers a little, and I say "Shhh," and he goes to sleep, lol. Its not bad at all. My bf still hasn't been around yet, so we'll have to work on all that next. Thanks for all the support and advice!

So my bf spent the night last night, and really put Harley in his place. I felt bad because Harley ran over to my side of the bed and I just turned my face away while my bf told him to lay down- in his meanest "dad tone" ever. It even made me scared! :eek: After that, Harley finally went and laid down in his bed and went to sleep. It was about a 1/2 hour of fighting with him over it, but my bf handled it all. So it was a little bit of progress!

Way to go!
Sounds like you are doing great so far.

It can be hard to dicipline at first but it is so worth it in the long run! It kind of makes me think of when I was little and got in trouble I would tell my mom, "I'm never going to tell my kids no!" Ha ha. Yeah Right!

Maybe Harley is thinking hes protecting you:aimeeyork

Is this a new boyfriend?

I know when someone comes to my house Minnie & Scamp snap @ someone if they come near me..

If its someone that comes over a lot they are just fine..
Thats why I was asking if its a new boyfriend?

My bf has been around for 3 years and Harley has only been around for a month or so, lol. I don't think its a case of him protecting me, but more of him being possesive over me. He loves my bf as long as I'm not around!

Possessive; Protective - it's all the same to a dog. He feels the needed to protect you because he is possessive of you. Doesn't matter how long anyone has been in the household before him. It matters only how you treat him and where you have elevated him to in the pack. Advise above is correct.

Also for training treats try: cooked chicken (you can get it out of the cans if you want), cheese, hotdogs (cut up into very very small pieces); or liverwurst or brunswieger or other sandwich meats, bologna is good.

For chew sticks - Try bully sticks from free-range cows: http://www.petexpertise.com/item--Bu...ully_bulk.html
(Yorkies love these)

and/or paddy wacks: http://www.jefferspet.com/ssc/produc...&pf_id=0027997
(I have not met a yorkie who did not like these.) You cannot get them at your local petco or petsmart. You may be able to get them a dog boutique, but on-line is good.