Suddenly barking and biting at me
 

We adopted Cookie a year and a half ago from the Humane Society. He was found as a stray, underweight with his ribs sticking out and severely matted hair. We don't know if he was neglected, abused, dumped, or lost.

At this particular moment, I tend to think that he was dumped. For the majority of the time that we've had him, he's been a great, albeit odd, dog. He seems to have some obsessive/compulsive issues, such as licking things for huge amounts of time (anything from a person's hand to the carpet).

I am a teacher. The first summer when I went back to work, he started staring at things that were not on the ceiling and running in a huge circle. We couldn't make him stop. The vet suggested we crate him as soon as the behavior started. After a couple of cratings, he stopped.

This year, when I went back to school after the summer, for FIVE WEEKS, every night, he lunged at me, bared his teeth, barked, growled, and tried to bite me. My roommate put him in the crate for about 15-20 minutes. Finally, it stopped....until this past week. He's doing it again, and I don't know what to do. He's in the crate at the moment. He never directs any aggression toward my roommate or anyone other than me. It's only at night. At first, it was when all three of us were on the couch, and I'd stand up....he'd come after me violently. As of tonight, it's also happening when I'm anywhere in the living room....but my roommate also has to be in the room. He doesn't do it if it's just him and me. My roommate says that he's afraid...however, that makes no sense to me at all.

He was at the vet a couple of weeks ago b/c I noticed that the skin on his underbelly was getting darker. The vet said it was just a natural changing of the pigment as he's aging. (We don't know how old he is...maybe around 4).

I'm at my wit's end. My roommate and I love him to death, and we'd never get rid of him. However, I'm scared that this violence is going to escalate and I'm going to end up in the ER. He went through basic obedience, which was mostly a nightmare b/c he doesn't like other dogs (but he ended up doing well by the end).

I hope that there's not a medical problem, although I doubt it since the aggression is only directed toward me. The only other next step that I can think of is to have treats with me in the living room and give him one as I get up.

Please let me know if you have any suggestions.
Thanks,
Kathy

Does your roommate provide most of his care? There's another thread here about a dog that is resource-guarding a chair. Humans can be resources too. Is it possible he is guarding a prized possession, ie your roommate?

If that's the case, I'd suggest that you take over feeding him, etc. Also, your roommate can correct him in this situation by taking him off the couch if he is aggressive towards you, or giving him a time out.

I think the treats idea is good too.

Hi Kathy, welcome to yt! I'm having similar issues with my recently adopted little guy...he too was a stray and was in horrible condition - he's still so thin and is still re-growing the hair on the back half of his body that he lost due to flea infestation and matting. :( We think he's about 5 yrs old. We've determined he is "resource guarding" and crazy as it sounds, his most prized possession seems to be my chair! There is lots of good info available on "resource guarding" if you will google that. I'm not sure what to make of Cookie's aggression being directed only at you. Hopefully you will get others' more expert advice on that.

You can read my thread and some of the great advice others have given me, some of which is already working! Good luck...I figure it will take a lot of time and patience to work through the "baggage" these poor little rescue guys bring along with them. Bless you for rescuing him! :)

Actually, I spend much more time with Cookie than my roommate does, and I am the one who feeds him, grooms him, etc.

For the first year or so, he never acted like this toward me. Right now, he's lying peacefully next to me, as he sleeps with me in the bed every night. He's fine when my roommate isn't around. By the way, my roommate and I get along fine...nothing there that would instigate his behavior.

He's always seemed to love us both. He does have some jealousy issues, though, and always wants TONS of attention (which he does get a lot).

Things just can't go on like this. I love him more than I can say, and he's not only scaring me, he's breaking my heart. We normally have a wonderful relationship. My mother is shocked by this behavior, b/c, as she said, I'm so wonderful to him. I'd do anything for him. I buy him the best foods, research everything, play with him, exercise him, spend time with him. And he's leaving me in tears every night.

What I really need is Victoria Stilwell to come here and help us.

Is he neutered? Just curious...

Yes, the Humane Society neutered him when we adopted him. He wasn't neutered prior to then.

The resource guarding thing makes sense. I'm going to do some research about that. What have you done that's worked to help your Yorkie stop guarding the chair?

Thanks so much,
Kathy

For starters - he is NOT allowed on the chair, period. Apparently there is a connection between him being up on the chair (he liked to sit up on top of the chair back, level with my head) and him feeling like the chair is his possession. If he gets on the chair (even if I am not sitting on it) I tell him "down". The first couple days, he growled/barked and I had to force him down, but now he does get down on verbal command. Actually, this evening he hasn't even tried to get up - that's progress! And he isn't allowed to get on ANY furniture...one of the articles said to keep them on the floor at all times. It's very interesting; he does seem to understand that his place is on the floor now and he actually seems more content, not as fidgety or nervous. I am hoping that at some point in the future when the issues are resolved, he can come sit with me again....I enjoy that as much as the furbabies do!

I keep his toys picked up; if I give him a toy, he has to sit for it first. Same with treats - he has to work for them. It's the NILIF method (Nothing In Life Is Free).

He's a real challenge; my Olivia is such a sweet, laid-back little girl - I wanted a little guy so much....I guess I got a triple-dose of little guy! LOL
I know how upsetting it is though...and scary. Especially since you've had him for a while. Do research on "resource guarding"; I'm sure you will find it helpful. Good luck and keep us posted!

Thanks for all of your input. I went back and read replies to your thread as well. I will do more research on resource guarding and see what happens.

I need to replenish my Buddy Biscuits supply to use as treats. The other treats are too difficult to break into small pieces...and I have a feeling that breaking him of this might require quite a few treats!

Thanks again, and good luck with your little guy. I read something this weekend that brought me to tears. It was written by someone who had adopted an adult dog who had issues and required a lot of patience and understanding. She had the dog for 12 years and it recently passed away. She talked about how she needed her dog, and her dog needed her. I have a feeling that we both have dogs who need someone who won't give up on them, no matter what.
Have a happy holiday,
Kathy

Good for you that you're not giving up on the little guy
He's likely resource guarding and he's resource guarding YOU!

It happens at night because he knows that you are going to be getting up to go to bed
alot of dogs do this when people leave the house to
they're fine until someone gets up to leave and then they start lunging and barking
You need to add some discipline to the love you give him
Make sure he knows that it's You who owns him and not the other way round

Sometimes the hardest ones along the journey are the most rewarding in the end...keep faith that your actions will help him get there and how wonderful of you not to give up on him. :)

Good luck, I hope you can find the answers. I have been watching a steady dose of Victoria Stilwell and I think she is Awesome! Her training methods make so much sense to me.

Kimberly, your message brought tears to my eyes. As difficult as Cookie can be lately, I am so proud of even the smallest of his accomplishments. Last night, I decided to really work with his obedience training and to practice his commands (sit, down, roll over, etc.), which he does very well. I made him work for his food and I hand fed it to him. Then, I was finally able to teach him "give paw." I was just gushing over him for being able to do this. I've tried a little before, but he never got it until now. We practiced it again tonight.

My roommate wasn't home last night, and he did somewhat better, although he started to bark a little meanly at me at night when I got up, but he didn't try to bite me.

Tonight he got to go for a car ride (which he LOVES), he got groomed, we practiced obedience tricks, and I even gave him one of his Christmas presents since he loves toys. We'll see how he does when it's night, night time. Keep your fingers crossed!

Kathy

Well, another unsucessful night <sigh>

I tried to have an evening of positive interactions with Cookie...lots of fun, playing, obedience for food, etc.

It happened again. He was up on the couch (it's happened on the floor also) and he flipped out on me out of the blue....baring his teeth, lunging at me, barking viciously, etc. I just don't know what to do. We're trying to keep him off the couch, but he jumps up, flips out, and then attacks. He's behaving extremely violently...so much so that it's scary to try to pick him up to take him off of the couch....he's attempting to bite. I can't really get near him.

When my roommate yelled, "Cookie, NO!" he immediately stopped, cowered, and came submissively over to me and pressed himself up to me..and licked my hand. It was like watching him do a sudden and total personality change from Cujo to a sweet little puppy in an instant.

I was then able to pick him up and put him in the crate upstairs for a while (about 45 minutes, I think). He didn't bark or anything. When I let him out, he pressed himself up against me again and I just started crying.

This happens EVERY night. I don't know how to make it stop. And what kills me is that he never did this for the first year that we had him.

Please give me some ideas of what to do.

Thanks,
Kathy

Aw, I'm sorry.

Can you possibly afford a trainer?

I do think it's probably going to take more than one or two tries to diffuse the behavior. Can you and your roommate practice this over and over one night? The last "It's Me or the Dog" episode said it can take up to 20 tries to change a behavior.

Alternatively, maybe you can prevent the behavior before it starts. Why don't you crate him earlier in the evening? Maybe you can put the crate in your living room and he can spend evenings in there with you guys.

Cookiesmommy, just so you don't feel all alone - I have had the worst 2 days yet with my guy! :eek: He has bit my son-in-law and me, and snarled/snapped at my other son-in-law and grandkids. I have been trying so hard, using all the techniques that I can think of - but then we go right back to where we started. It's really getting to me...my family doesn't like him and I can understand why.

But at least my guy came to me this way...I can imagine how discouraging this is for you since you have had Cookie for a while. I don't even know what to do next. :confused:

Terri -

I'm SO sorry that you're going through this, too. How badly did your little guy bite you and your son-in-law? Did he break the skin?

When Cookie acts like that, I'm afraid he's really going to hurt me badly....like E.R. badly. I've never seen such viciousness. :-( I've volunteered at an animal shelter for a while now, and I walk Pit Bulls and other large dogs regularly. I'm not afraid of most of them...but I'm afraid of a 13 lb. Yorkie :-(

Have you talked to your vet? Tonight, so far (fingers crossed), he's fine...but my roommate is staying at her parents tonight.

A friend was over a few nights ago and witnessed this. She was totally shocked b/c she knows how loving he usually is with me.

When my roommate is here, I'm going to let him sleep in her room and see if that makes any difference. I'm also going to ask her to call the vet and see what he says.

He may end up sleeping in the crate. I really hate to do that. I know that people swear by using a crate, but I just don't like it.

Good night and Merry Christmas. I wish us both luck. This is such an emotionally draining situation to be in.

Kathy

Kathy,

We've had 2 more episodes and yes he broke skin during one of those. Both of my (grown) daughters have a lot of experience with all kinds and sizes of dogs including pit bulls, but they agree that they have never seen the likes of my 5# yorkie! He simply will NOT back down, no matter what...we've tried the controversial alpha roll, jabbing with a finger in the neck, but nothing seems to work. He continues to snarl and snap until we finally put him in his crate which I don't like to do but at least that way I don't have to worry about him biting anyone. Eventually (at least an hour or so) he'll calm down and I'll let him out of his crate and he is FINE...no problem. Until he decides he wants something - this morning's episode was over a sucker that got knocked off of the kitchen counter while I was cooking breakfast. My entire family thinks I need to return him to the rescue place...but I just am not sure about that.

No I haven't talked to the vet; I have been emailing with the foster mom though. She said he did have some food aggression but they worked with him and he got better. But this is more than food aggression! It sure has made for a very unpleasant Christmas...:(

Good luck...I feel badly for you because you've had Cookie for a while and I am sure are attached to him. It must be so sad for you....keep me posted!

Terri

I went through a bad patch with one of my dogs, and while we were trying to establish who owned who I had to use a cloth muzzle for awhile. They have them at Petco, and the dog can still drink water with it on.

This was our immediate solution, and I only suggest it to keep you safe while you work through this. Best wishes to both of you.

You said "went through" - did it improve? :confused:

Well, Terri, I had a pretty lousy Christmas, too...but at least he didn't bite me. He did flip out on me earlier today in front of my parents and we had to crate him for a little bit.

I'm going to contact someone at the Humane Society and see if they can help me since I adopted him there. They said he had food aggression when I adopted him, and I had to hand-feed him for a few weeks. I never noticed any problem with that really.

Kaitlin, PLEASE, let us know what you did to iron things out with your dog. I'm so burned out daily over this, and there's no end in sight. I really don't think that I could ever get rid of him. I've had him for a year and a half, and I love him like an important part of my family. It would be like getting rid of a child for me.

I'm just at a loss. He'll be wonderful...and then he flips out.

<sigh> Merry Christmas.

Mine was a little different than what you are talking about. We had two females and the dominant one took a dislike to the other when they were in heat and attacked her on several occasions. Once when I tried to break them up I got bit as well. I cried and cried. So I know how upsetting it can be.

We went to a vet/behavior person who explained the NILF program. I also learned that the time I was bit, my dog was very angry with me for interfering with her attack on the other dog. For us, it was a dominance issue. I had to become the pack leader and make the dominant female submissive to me.

However, I must tell you that in the end we had to re-home the other female, for other reasons, but we were never able to completely break this cycle. I was told a good outcome had only a "fair" chance by the behaviorist. We have not had any further problems since we re-homed the other female.

But while you work it out, I really would suggest a muzzle. When our dominant female wore the muzzle she never even tried to be aggressive. You could put it on in the evening before bed, or when you know there will be others around. It won't change the behavior behind the aggressiveness, but at least you and others won't get hurt.

I feel so bad for both of you. It is a hard thing to deal with, especially when you love the dog and can't part with it. Sending all my good wishes.

Thank you for your reply, Katelin. And my problem differs from Kathy's a bit in that Kathy has had Cookie for some time now and is very much attached. I have just had this dog for a couple of weeks and have not gotten attached to him at all, due to this behavior - I don't trust him and right now he is not very likeable. Which makes me very sad because I wanted a little boy so badly... :(

Oh I'm so sorry. I hope you can figure this out, or that he will find the right home so everyone can be happy.

Hmm ... that's too bad
The problem with aggression is that it sometimes gets worse if not nipped in the bud
You said you have some other dogs
so it's not surprising that this dog's aggression is getting worse because he feels he has to compete for some things
Instead of putting him in his crate
why don't you try this ..... try putting a treat in your hand
and let him search for it
if he growls whiles he's licking your hand take it away
if he wags his tail and is good give it to him and praise him
also while he is eating move his bowl
and praise him if he let's you do it without growling
take the food away if he does
and keep trying to set up situations where he might become aggressive
and prasie and treat him if he doesn't growl or bite

Well, I spoke too soon when I said that Cookie hadn't bitten me on Christmas. Later that evening, I asked him if he wanted to go for a walk. He got up, was excited and happy about the walk, I got the leash, reached for him, and he flipped out when I went to attach the leash (which I've done at least a thousand times). He Cujo-ed out on me....bit at my hand (caught a little skin, but there was no blood). My parents were shocked. My father tried to put on the leash and he bit at him as well.

This was in the living room. At the time, my roommate was asleep on the couch in that room.

I have a 3:15 appointment at the vet's to rule out any medical issues.

This morning, he's been his usual loving, sweet self with me...which he usually is earlier in the day. It's as the day progresses that this happens.

I just can't reconcile these two totally different personalities in my own little dog who's always been so sweet with me up until now. He's breaking my heart. If I have to, I'll hire a trainer. Anyone have any idea what they cost?

I honestly don't think that I could ever give him up... but this violence is escalating fast. It happened out of the blue about a week ago or so, and it's getting worse every day.

Does anyone know of any medical conditions that could lead to this?

Kathy

Thank you for posting this. A huge light just went on for me.

My dog lunges and barks when I leave the house -- I understood that she was trying to keep me from leaving, or at least, leaving without her.

But Demi s also terrible in the car. She's gotten better about riding, but when I stop the car, all heck breaks loose. When I stop the car and unleash her from her carseat, she leaps onto my lap and attacks the steering wheel and my purse.

Now I'm thinking that she's jealous of the car and the purse.

Very strange.

I often wonder what she'd say if she could talk, but I suspect that her two favorite phrases would be "I shall NOT!" and "I PROTEST!" Ha ha ha!

BTW, Demi is being operated on this afternoon, so if you're reading this and have any good thoughts to spare, send some her way. I'm terrified about the anesthethia. Also, the house seems so empty without her - it's amazing how one little 5-lb dog fills up a room. I'm distraught without her.

Jay

Jay -

I'm keeping you and Demi in my thoughts and prayers.

Kathy

Thank you for the tips - I will try them.
* yes I have 1 other yorkie; Olivia was already here when the new little guy came 2 weeks ago.
* I only put him in his crate when he is snapping, snarling and biting and will not stop. Are you saying instead of crating him at that moment, use the treat in my hand? I can see where that would be a good training exercise at another time (not when he's snarling/biting, right?)
* I do move his food dish around while he's eating; he doesn't growl or anything but he eats SOOOO fast (I feed a raw grind), seriously he eats it all in 15 seconds or less! So there's not too much opportunity to move the bowl around. I have been mixing some of his grain free kibble in with the raw grind and that does slow him down, just another 5-10 seconds though!
* It makes sense that I need to set up situations where he might act up - that is what my son-in-law did yesterday; the dog was sitting in his bed and actually let go of the toy when my sil took it, but then proceeded to growl/snarl...but he didn't bite, he just stayed in his bed snarling. So I will work on doing that too.
Thanks!
Terri

Well, I went to the vet today with Cookie. She said he's fine...no fever, weight's fine, etc. Just to be on the safe side, I'm having a $96 blood panel done to rule out any probs. Although I believe that everything is most likely behavioral, I just feel better having this done once since we haven't had him his entire life.

She's very big on Cesar Milan and recommended that I get one of his books. I already read one, and I have mixed feelings about his methods. I'll probably reread something (or borrow the dvd from the library) to see if there's anything I want to use here.

In the meantime, I am feeding every piece of his food by hand and making him earn it by doing commands (sit, paw, down, etc.). I did do some of the Cesar stuff, like making him sit before going out for a walk and having him walk beside me rather than ahead of me. I'm also keeping him off of the furniture for now.

Believe it or not, YEA!...he didn't bite me tonight or act up. I don't know if it's b/c he spent the night in the crate last night (he never sleeps in that...only when we first adopted him...before we trusted him) or b/c I've been doing more of the obedience stuff. Who knows....just....please...pray it works.

Oh...I also put some of his kibble in the end of a kong bone and he was focused on that for a while in the living room. (but he was good before that, too). I think I'm going to use that more. When I reprimanded my roommate for allowing him to jump on the chair with her (and taking a good minute and some petting before she put him on the floor), he started to bark a couple of times, but then put the bone in his mouth and shut up...almost like he was trying to control himself.

Again...please say some prayers that things stay good. I have a constant knot in my stomach right now.

Kathy

Kathy - I am glad to hear you are having a bit of success! Every little bit counts, for sure. I too can say that today was a better day with my guy. It's just been me in the house most of the afternoon/evening so it's really quiet. He has kept himself busy with his toys too. However a friend of ours was out in the "man room" above the garage and they came in for a few minutes awhile ago. Our friend (he thought it was Olivia!) reached down and tuggled with the toy that my guy was chewing on...I warned him to be alert etc. but the dog actually released the toy without snarling/biting! Our friend tossed the toy across the room and the dog ran to get it and brought it back, wagging his nubby little tail! Go figure! I'm not naive enough to think the problem is solved - but I am sure glad to have a bit of reprieve!

Glad to hear Cookie doesn't have physical problems...and I know what you mean about that knot in the stomach. *sigh* you're in my thoughts - hang in there!
Terri