Help!! Extremely aggressive yorkie!
 

My lovely wife brought a 7 year old Yorkie into our marriage last year. During our dating and engagement I had a few run-ins with the dog but we chalked it up to changing surroundings and rules because I wasn't going to tolerate some of the things she had tolerated with him in the past. To solve the marking we began crate training, which they had never done with him. One morning after we got married I went to sit on the bed by my wife after I had gotten up and messed around the house a little and the dog (Pepper) was in the bed still. I layed down and put my arm over my wife to cuddle and he bit my hand. Well, from that moment he was banished from the bedroom and the crating began. The dog goes absolutely nuts in the crate and is almost like he has chlostrophobia (did I spell that right?). He pants, claws at the grating on the front, slobbers, licks the crate, barks, etc... He does the same thing when traveling in his small crate, but the crate he stays in the house in is for up to 25-30 lb dogs. The crating didn't help much with marking, so we began using those bellyband-like products as a diaper to prevent staining of furniture and carpet. To this day he still marks any time he is out of his crate and we forget to put his diaper on. We never see it happen, but we'll be cleaning and notice new pee stains on our hardwood floors, baseboards, couch, carpet, shower curtain, etc..

That I can tolerate and deal with, it's just a pain. The part I cannot tolerate is his aggressiveness. Any time he doesn't get his way he growls at me, and sometimes will do so with my wife. For example, he was trying to lick a guest in the face and my wife told him no in a polite voice, he ignored her and kept on, so I got stern and said "Pepper, no!" He immediately stopped but looked at me and growled. He also likes to go under the bed and when he does so we can't get him out for fear of being bitten, squeak toys use to work but he has caught on and will not come out when we are trying to leave. He has never bitten my wife, but just last week she caught him trying to go under the bed and told him no and he ignored her so she reached down to stop him by trying to pick him up and he snapped around and snapped his teeth several times at her hand but missed. We discipline him every time he exhibits this kind of behaviour, but it hasn't helped. Last night was the final straw. Pepper was laying on the couch and I went to pick him up and move him out of my way and without warning (no growl, no showing of teeth, nothing) he turned and chomped down on my thumb in three places. My thumb bled for probably 10-15 minutes and is red, throbbing, and swollen today. I'm afraid I am going to have to go to the doctor to get on antibiotics because I think it got infected eventhough I used peroxide and neosporine on it.

What can I do with this dog??? I'm sick and tired of it and I'm really concerned about the future when we begin trying to have kids in a couple of years.

He needs a skilled trainer to work with him. Your very right youve got to get this nipped in the bud before you have kids or he will have to go because without training his bad behavior will continue. I would also stuff underneath your bed with pillows so he cant go under there. He knows hes in control when he goes there.

I wouldn't even know where to begin with training this dog or where to find a trainer to accomplish the goal. It's not that he doesn't know what is and what isn't acceptable, he just chooses not to behave as desired. That's tough to deal with. I have owned numerous dogs in my life and my wife and I currently own 2 more dogs (a westie and a lab) and have no problems training them. My westie is completley house broken (female) but lives outdoors with the lab most of the time. I wouldn't say they are the best behaved dogs in the world, but both of them realize when they've done something wrong and show submissive traits when disciplined. No matter what method of discipline used on the yorkie, he shows aggressiveness and hostility towards the person disciplining and never changes. If he pees somewhere and you find it later, you can take him back to the spot where he peed and as soon as you sit him by it he knows and remembers that he did it, that you aren't happy about it, and he growls at you.

I agree with the advice to seek out a really good trainer to come to your home.

Your frustration is very understandable, but the first thing you need to do is hide your aggravation from the dog. No matter what he does, stay in command and maintain a calm demeanor. Be assertive, but not angry or exasperated. If you are anxious and excited, the dog is going to feed off of that negative energy.

Marking: is the dog neutered? Breaking the established habit at that age will be a challenge. Always praise the dog when he potties in the correct place (outdoors or piddle pad). If you catch him marking, give a firm "no." Never scold if you find evidence of marking. It's counterproductive.

Crating probably won't help with marking. Crating should never be used as punishment either. I would try containing him in an xpen or a single room, gated off with baby gates. If he is a jumper/climber, make sure you have an xpen or gates that are tall enough.

Overall disposition and behavior: if you don't already, give the dog a schedule for feeding, exercising, playing, sleeping. Structure is calming. Try taking over the responsibility of feeding him and walking with him. If he has to look to you for food and walks, he will likely develop more respect for you.

Get involved with the dog by playing fetch with him for 10 minutes or more. Work on teaching him some tricks.

Give the dog a daily massage, if he will let you and/or your wife.

Check out books and videos on dog training and behavior.

If the dog bites, always use keywords and phrases to let him know that it is not acceptable -- "no bite."

I hope some of this will help to start improving your relationship with the dog.

He is not neutered, but I doubt doing that now will help with the marking. However, that possibly could help with aggression, right?

Crating is never used as punishment, just for sleep and during times when we are not there.

His life is fairly structured due to us both working and having to be structured ourselves. He gets out of his crate first thing in the morning and gets to go outside to do his business. Then he gets to come back in and eat while we get ready for work. When we are both gone, he stays in the crate. As soon as we get back he gets to go outside again, most of the time with one or both of us, then he gets to come back in and eat, then play time/petting while we are watching tv, then he gets to go out again before he is crated again at night to sleep.

He loves to play fetch and both me and my wife play with him. I play with him as much as she does. We teach him tricks as well. Nothing I have tried has worked with this dog.

It's not only aggression towards us, it is toward the other dogs as well. I'm not sure that makes much of a difference in how to handle him, but he constantly attacks our lab puppy if he gets too much into his personal space. It seems like any time he doesn't get HIS way or something annoys him, he turns to aggressive behavior.

Just a thought, but since you said that he has now growled at and nipped towards your wife and that is a new thing, have you taken him to the vets to be checked out? An underlying illness MIGHT be leading to the increasingly aggressive behavior.

Also, after being crated while you are at work all day, he may have a lot of pent up energy/anxiety that is being turned in to aggression. Is he getting enough exercise (walking?)

I feel like he is getting enough exercise, it's not like he's being hyperactive or anything, it's more like he's being extremely grumpy and wants to be left alone. He was just at the vet for a check-up about 2 weeks ago.

Svt Geek, I missed your second post in this thread when I responded the first time. Yorkies are challenging dogs. Like you, I have never had to work so hard for any other dog I've owned.

Glad to hear that you already have structure, play time, and trick training, together time going -- you are interacting with the dog. That's good.

I would definitely discuss with your vet the possibility of having your Yorkie boy neutered. What sex are your other two dogs and are they altered or intact?

How long have you, your wife, and all 3 dogs been together in one house? Is this a new home for the Yorkie? Is this a new home or familiar territory for your other dogs? I think there must be a dynamic of territory and rivalry between dogs that is contributing to the Yorkie's aggression. Also, many people here with Yorkie/big dog combos say that the Yorkie ends up ruling the pack.

I strongly recommend not crating this Yorkie. A dog that wasn't trained in a crate as a pup doesn't really like being cooped up in one, even if the crate is on the larger side. My one boy would probably have a nervous breakdown if I tried to crate him.

Give him at least an xpen (or 2 hooked up together) or one room (somewhere he can't destroy or mark on your belongings). I agree with the above poster that this will help eliminate a lot of frustration that is probably feeding the aggression.

Regarding the aggression toward you when you get close to your wife -- check your library or look online for Cesar Milan's DVD "Toughest Cases." Cesar dealt with a aggressive chihuahua that was guarding his owner.

I would try to look for a pro trainer. Make some calls (look in Yellow Pages) and ask lots of questions before you hire. Some trainers offer guarantees and free return visits.

I would try walking him as well - if you don't already to so. Walking him will calm him; help you to bond; and the exercise will make him tired. Hopefully, too tired to be aggressive.

You can also google "Nothing in Life for Free or NILF". This would be a good way to get started establishing who is in charge in your home. I can't remember all the details offhand; but we used this with my dominant, male Westie.

He has to sit before his food is given; sit before he goes out the door; sit or down before he gets any treats . . . .it's a very polite way of reinforcing that you are in charge.

It helped us a lot. My cousin had a male Yorkie who was not neutered and he marked terribly in her house and became aggressive around 5 years old or so. I would check with the vet to see if it is too late and whether that would help with your marking and aggression issues.

Good Luck! You can work on these behaviors and see improvement.

Hi Reading through this, I realise my Tye is the same. We have had him 2 weeks so he is new to living here. He was with his previous owner 7 years. She had to give him up as she was leaving uk to live in America. Overall Tye is a goodboy, But he is quite aggressive if he doesnt want me to do something to him ie move him away from something, pick him up, tell him off. He growls and shows his teeth to me. There have been times where he has gone for me or my hubby and son too. We are being very patient with him as he is new to him new surroundings. We have 8 cats too, which isnt a problem for him as he lived with 2 in the past. I am going to the vets tomorrow to get more meds for his Epilepsy so will discuss this with them.
The aggressiveness is pretty scarey I have to say, for a little dog he has big attitude. He is a smaller version of the standard Yorkie. Do you think it could be that Tye hasnt been neutered? He is 7 years old.

Your best course of action is to go see a vet with behaviour in your area and get professional help.
I would go look at American College of Veterinary Behavorialists (ACVB)
the link is in the Yorkie talk Libary section.
Or ask your own vet to send you to a vet with behaviour training or a Certified pet behaviourist.
A skilled trainer maybe able to help but only if postive based in their training.

JL

I think the 'Dog Whisperer' Cesar Milan had very good results in the past with dominant aggressive dog. He has a TV series on Nat Geo and books and videos too.
I personally learned a lot by watching him for getting the skills to walk and handle a pack of five.

Not the course of action for this dog. Ceaser can not by law diagnose aggresion and he tends to get rather tough to fast. This dog is going to have to be taken slow and easy with to work through the problems. And watching a Tv is not the best course of action until someone with skill and a DVM in behaviour or a PHD sees the dog and makes sure it is not medical or chemially caused.

The show even says get help for aggression do not do this at home without a trained professianl with you. In the wrong hands with the wrong dog his training methods can kill a dog.

I still grinning over his lastest suggestion of rubbing yourself on your dogs food to make it smell of you to stop food aggresion,,, would not that be the dog eating you.... Logical people he is not logical at all.

JL

Well... it worked for me and my first four now five Yorkies. Before I tried his approach to the walking thingy I was fighting and de-tangling the leashes constantly and was miserable every day to the point where I gave up walking all together. Now we have fun all the way and I get compliments on my well behaved Yorkies every time we walk. Even my husband, which is not the one to walk a lot, has fun now. All 5 fur babies are more content too, don't bark that much anymore and listen way better.

But of course everybody is entitled to his/her own opinion and I would never say this is absolutely wrong or this is absolutely right. I think if you don't know this dog personally it's maybe a bit daring to say "Not the course of action for this dog."

Oh... and I actually didn't see him to getting tough if it was not appropriate and never saw a dog getting hurt or injured but maybe I just don't have all facts.

I am not going to be labour the point. he has two tickes against him one for dogs and one for human kids for putting them in danger. So I not thinking I let him near anyone I love to work with them.
Why then would they say do not do his stuff if you are not a pro if it is not to be used by lay people at the begining of his show.
Lastly what you see on the show is not what is left on the cutting rooom floor it is called editting and like all reality shows should be taken with a large grain of salt and common sence in that what you are seeing is not really real.

JL

I love to watch Cesear ~ my son makes terrible fun of me for it. Most of his shows seem to deal with larger dogs though.

I rarely try his methods because they do seem pretty rough.

But my Westie thanks me for watching his show. Because of him, I learned that my dog needs to WALK. That knowledge really helped us with Ringo; who was so hyper and barky. He loves to walk and now we walk him every day; he's a fantastic walker and loves every second of it.

That is definitely one positive thing we took away from his show.

I would start off by getting him neutered right away...unneutered dogs can be aggressive cause they want to be top dog and control, that will also help with the marking in your house...any good trainer will tell you to get your dog neutered before training begins when it comes to this type of behavior. Good Luck!!

I agree, the dog whiperer has had many episodes on this exact same issue.

The dog is running the house, and needs to learn that he is not the pack leader, that all humans are leader over dogs.

he would also tell you to get him neutered. It might help with the marking and the agression, and is definitely best for his health.

He has had many episodes on this same issue with smaller dogs. I think this type of issue is more common with small dogs, because people would not keep a large breed dog that bites them. They tend to tolerate more bad behavior with a small dog.

This sounds exactly like my little guy. He used to growl at my partner when she got into bed, or snapped at her when she leaned over to get a hug or kiss. He was (and sometimes still is) territorial and has even bit me a couple of times. What solved our problem was being more stern "pack leaders." I know not everyone agrees with Ceasar Milan's approach, but it really worked for us. It sounds like your wife is making the same mistake I did and being too "nice." No more nice - you've both got to be stern and consistent. If he snaps or growls while on the bed, he goes on the floor. If you're consistent, he will eventually learn that behavior is not acceptable. I would not crate at night, but rather put him in a bed next to your own bed or at least in the same room. That way, he is close to you both but has his own space.

Some dogs will always be snappy little dogs. My formerly aggressive dog, Vinnie, is just that way. He's much better now, but I still never let kids pet or play with him unless I know them really well and am sure they know how to behave around him. Yes, you can have children with a dog like this, but they will need to be supervised around the dog. One thing I've found with Vinnie is that he's very tolerant of toddlers and babies more than he is of older children, almost as if he knows that they are defenseless and mean no harm. And remember that a little Yorkie cannot do much damage. Yes, they may break the skin and cause a little bleeding, but given their size, there's not a whole lot they can do (although I would never leave a dog like that alone with a baby). My grandmother had a little yippy dog when I was a kid who bit me no less than a dozen times. I've still got a couple of scars, but I survived. My parents had a cat when I was a baby/young child who was tempremental and scratched me a few times. I simply learned to avoid the cat.

It is not top dog and conrtol it is that they are dealing with the chemicals in thier bodies that will shift and change, do to having the boy or girl parts still working. Those wonderful chemicals make life tough on them to balance their attitude sometimes.

JL

Yes I agree with part of that but over working a dog and not enough sleep can stress them out and make them wild as well. It is a fine line to balance.
Also an overtired dog does not learn as fast nor retain the info sent or to be learned as well. I have seen him push a dog to far passed tired on his shows and the dog is really not learning one thing. Again it is a fine line and not easy to catch but dogs do need around 17 hours a day sleep to be ok.

JL

I LOVE Cesar Milan he is amazing!!! A little hunky too :D Alot of people use his methods and its works great.... if his methods didnt work would he really be as well known as he is?

Yes take caution when dealing with an aggressive dog and it would be best to see a dog trainer. But i think Cesar Milan is amazing and its very real the things he manages to do with the dog. Yes they edit things out but i think what he does still is amazing remember hes just there for 1day. I love watching it and have tried to pick up some tips for when Poppy is a little older xxxx

You may want ot poke around here and see what a few well educated and trained actually professianls have to say.
BEYOND CESAR MILLAN - Home

This is what youre own country mates that are educated in dogs have to say about him.

Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors (UK) challenges C.M.

Date Released: 16/12/2009

The APBC has joined with national and international behaviour and welfare organisations in condemning some of the techniques used by Cesar Millan, the self-styled “Dog Whisperer”.

Although some of Millan’s training methods can effect positive changes in pets - many pets will benefit from consistency, firm boundaries and increased exercise - the use of outdated “dominance” theories to explain dog behaviour can lead to conflict and welfare implications for dogs.

APBC Chair, David Ryan, said, “As clinical behaviourists, many of whom have a background in dog training, we know that punitive ‘alpha rolls’, lead jerks, jabs and other harsh corrections can subdue a dog – if you are fit, quick, agile, strong, and consistent in applying them. But most pet owners are not. Neither do pet owners relish going head to head with an aggressive dog. Get it wrong and the dog can become more aggressive. Why does Cesar need to state, “Don’t try this at home”? It is because some dogs may react aggressively if they feel threatened or fearful. Also, in the long term, if a dog is confused and anxious about their interactions with people it can make them more likely to be aggressive in general.”

Cesar Millan has a responsibility to the people who watch him on TV and to their pets, as does anyone who provides a service for a cost. In order to fulfil that obligation he must constantly review his methods to provide the best advice available. When he continues to use his current outdated methods he lets down the very pets and people he professes to want to help.

APBC members regularly work with dogs that show extreme aggression (dogs that Mr Millan would consider “Red Zone”) helping owners to change their pets’ behaviour with methods that can be used at home without using aversive or potentially dangerous techniques.

“We have written to Cesar Millan to challenge him to take his dog training techniques out of the dark ages and learn how to bring his methods up to date. We would be delighted to help him.”



For further details:
Pippa Hutchison APBC Public Relations

01436 840194 positiveimprint@aol.com