6+ years old, had it up to here - need help.

[yorkieusa]

Originally Posted by megansmomma

I have one thing to say-----

Happy Thanksgiving to you, too, Jodi!

[megansmomma]

Originally Posted by yorkieusa

Happy Thanksgiving to you, too, Jodi!

to you too

[Crestwing]

You can have a professional trainer come to your house to help sort out and correct issues. That way the trainer can work with all 3 of you to help resolve the issues. Try to find one who specials in small breed dogs. Sometimes it helps to have a professional opinion. Yorkies do better with positive reinforcement training. Good luck.

[Ashley V]

Originally Posted by Luvdogs2

Still don't know on the food - fiance puts it in a tupperware container and throws the bag away. It was a little hard to spell out when I was looking at protein content and details to the mixture a month ago.

I hadn't thought about the puppy mill idea and it makes serious sense. Interaction with the litter and mom makes a big difference at such an impressionable age of a few weeks in a bright big world.

Cheerios!! I hadn't even thought of that! I'll go get a box tonight.

Bdog doesn't have a favorite spot to use the bathroom. She picks on and goes, then she is all reclusive because she knows she did bad. If she gets out of sight, and you call her name...if she doesn't come bouncing back and in good spirits - you go on the hunt to figure out where it was and what needs to be cleaned.

I doubt she was not going to have ammo - but it's like she knows she is supposed to go outside so she acts like she does when it's apparent that she has to go.

Another thing I left out and I can't believe I did is she will get pissed if you take out the trash or do something quick like run out to the car to get something you left in it. If the fiance walks out and leaves her loose while she goes to put laundry in the washer, she will come back to a mess. If you take her for a ride, you better pay at the pump because she will mess in the car if you leave her in there for less than a minute. I consider this behavior as vindictive...am I wrong? (that is a serious question)

With this last part, is it possible she has some sort of separation anxiety? I think I remember you said she also does it in the crate too. It's not vindictive, she could be anxious. I had a dog that did that even if we baby gated him in our master bedroom and I walk the 10 feet to the bed that was directly in front of the bathroom door, except he would get bad diarrhea. Have you ever talked to your vet about advice?

My personal opinion is that I think you and your girlfriend are not on the same page with training, which can be very confusing for the dog. I think you are willing to take the time to try to train her properly, but need to get your girlfriend on the same page. As someone said before, you mentioned wanting kids in the future, but can't get on the same page with training a dog... a child requires more work and a lot more cooperation from both parents. Not a knock, I'm just saying that if you want kids, you two need to work on this issue long and hard before ever getting that far.

I think you've been given some great advice. I would talk to the vet and make sure there isn't anything wrong medically and maybe just mention some separation anxiety. I don't think that is the problem, or at least definitely not the whole problem, but I thought I'd throw that out there. I also wholeheartedly agree with the others in saying that a trainer needs consulted, but it will NOT work if you have two people working with a dog, that are not consistent and not on the same page. The dog is going to be confused if one is being consistent and doing the right thing, while the other is doing it half the time, then giving in the other half.

As for the growling/biting issue, look back on all the times she's done it and find a common denominator. I know you mentioned something about her chews. She sounds like she is getting protective over them. One of my two yorkies gets like that sometimes. I have to take it away from time to time and tell him "No!" when he growls. I won't give it back unless he's going to be nice. He's usually pretty good about it, but he has his moments. Another thing with the growling, because you have hit her in the past (once again, not a knock, just trying to help), she has probably already learned to fear you some. When dogs are afraid, they act out by growling and biting. They won't do it unless they feel afraid or threatened in some way. If you are going to make this training work, you need to regain her trust. Take her on walks, take her with you to places when you can, and even try to give her little treats for being good. For the tricks she knows, pull out the treats and have her do them sometimes for you and try and teach her some new ones. Most of all, be kind to her and talk nice to her.

[Luvdogs2]

Don't worry all, I won't be proactively looking to further arguments. People who are short sighted with noses stuck in the air are making themselves apparent and finding the ignore list.

I'm not mean spirited, I'm not a dog hater, I'm not anything that I have been called. I'm honest and looking for help. Ridiculing me and making your negative judgments is a problem that YOU have to bear. It's hurtful to read, but in the long run, I know the story and many others do too. Hate me - I could care less. Accept me and learn a bit more about me and realize who I am and what I do for people before myself and you will be pleasantly surprised.

I came for help and to get a better understanding to the Yorkie Talk, and I have learned so much over the last few days. Some Yorkie owners are sincere, loving and accepting. Others fall into the - I'll just not say anything.

I have said my piece here, I have answered questions alluding to my credibility. I don't think this thread should be shut down, I think those that are derailing it should find other places to spend their time and it will be fine. If you don't appreciate my involvement on these forums, I have an idea....use ignore and don't read my stuff. I can do it, I can post instructions on how to do it too if needed.

I don't have free time, that's why I'm working over Thanksgiving and it's now 12:30 am and I'm headed back out to the shop. I do have time to address problems that need to be handled and if I have to get less work done in my shop to address my investment of time on these forums and work at getting a better idea on how to train and work this pup, then so be it.

Please, for God's sake...let's move ahead and keep working at this. I obviously need support here which is why I'm here. If you choose not to help, that's fine. If you aren't going to help, why derail it because you don't like me? Is that helping the dog any? Is that helping my fiance any? Screw my feelings on the matter...

I have put myself out here on every level but giving you the information to know what I do, where I live and what our names are. I ask for honest suggestions and I get honest impressions on me. I will read back through the messages and posts and address the ones That were posted on a positive note and respond. I apologize for the delay, but as I said, I had 2 test earlier this week.

I'll keep you all posted, even those that don't care. Please just keep the negative comments to yourself. I'm sure you know that the rules of the forum apply to me, but they do apply to you all too so let's all stay civil and not cause any future problems.

[Baby Blessing]

First of all I would take that crate and throw it in the trash, it sounds to me like you have one very unhappy yorkie.

Maybe some thought should be put into what can be done so this yorkie can live out a happier life (maybe the best solution is to place it within another home) then also you and your girl friend can be happier too.

Training takes a lot of patience and time, which starts in the beginning and not six and half years later.

In situations such as this I feel very sorry for the dog and not the owner.

Good luck to your doggie, I hope the best to be for it.

Patti and Jack

[Luvdogs2]

Originally Posted by Ashley V

With this last part, is it possible she has some sort of separation anxiety? I think I remember you said she also does it in the crate too. It's not vindictive, she could be anxious. I had a dog that did that even if we baby gated him in our master bedroom and I walk the 10 feet to the bed that was directly in front of the bathroom door, except he would get bad diarrhea. Have you ever talked to your vet about advice?

My personal opinion is that I think you and your girlfriend are not on the same page with training, which can be very confusing for the dog. I think you are willing to take the time to try to train her properly, but need to get your girlfriend on the same page. As someone said before, you mentioned wanting kids in the future, but can't get on the same page with training a dog... a child requires more work and a lot more cooperation from both parents. Not a knock, I'm just saying that if you want kids, you two need to work on this issue long and hard before ever getting that far.

I think you've been given some great advice. I would talk to the vet and make sure there isn't anything wrong medically and maybe just mention some separation anxiety. I don't think that is the problem, or at least definitely not the whole problem, but I thought I'd throw that out there. I also wholeheartedly agree with the others in saying that a trainer needs consulted, but it will NOT work if you have two people working with a dog, that are not consistent and not on the same page. The dog is going to be confused if one is being consistent and doing the right thing, while the other is doing it half the time, then giving in the other half.

As for the growling/biting issue, look back on all the times she's done it and find a common denominator. I know you mentioned something about her chews. She sounds like she is getting protective over them. One of my two yorkies gets like that sometimes. I have to take it away from time to time and tell him "No!" when he growls. I won't give it back unless he's going to be nice. He's usually pretty good about it, but he has his moments. Another thing with the growling, because you have hit her in the past (once again, not a knock, just trying to help), she has probably already learned to fear you some. When dogs are afraid, they act out by growling and biting. They won't do it unless they feel afraid or threatened in some way. If you are going to make this training work, you need to regain her trust. Take her on walks, take her with you to places when you can, and even try to give her little treats for being good. For the tricks she knows, pull out the treats and have her do them sometimes for you and try and teach her some new ones. Most of all, be kind to her and talk nice to her.

She doesn't get diarrhea when this happens, it must be the anxiety causing spasms or something along the digestive track making her speed up the need to go rather than vindictive. (This is one of my ignorant ideas that I was clueless on). I'll make sure that my fiance speaks with the vet about doing a checkup to make sure all the plumbing is good if I can't go for whatever reason.

As far as the same page goes, I was supposed to be back home to get into my work about 1am because I waited for her to get home from work. I wanted to show her the progress and using the speak in order to go outside so she would try doing it over the weekend I was going to be gone. It became a 3 hour talk about working together. She got pretty defensive about things and we talked a great deal about where I am thinking and where she is thinking. I explained, with the help of those posting here, a lot of what I have learned and what we should try to do. I didn't tell her to do anything though she felt like I was...which she said was her problem. I swear, I was presenting things to her on a level of which I'm not going to bark orders, I want to try doing some things and it won't work unless she is helping. I also asked her to come up with ideas too and I'll work with her as well. Another patron of this site mentioned that women don't like being told how to raise their children or pets...and that statement is very true. We also spoke about kids and I brought up the fact that if we can't work together on this dog, how are kids even going to be possible? I love kids, my nephews and nieces will drop anything they are doing to spend time with me and I try to do something with them at every opportunity I can - which, sadly isn't anywhere as much as I would like to.

We weren't fighting, but we weren't smiling through this talk, but by the end of the conversation, we were smiling and joking and it was a good situation. I just wish it wasn't 4:30 in the morning when I got to my shop and started working. I went to bed about 6 and got up at 10 to get back to work.

I think I have established the source on the biting idea. I must have been moving too fast around my fiance because I about got it again last night. I was getting ready to leave and when I bent down to give my fiance a kiss, I ran my hand up her leg to her waist for the start of a hug (she was climbing in bed for the evening) and a bolt of gray and cinnamon from the side of the bed to stop with her jaw resting on my hand and a serious look on the face. That may have been the cause of one of the bites anyway. She must be acting in an over protective mode since I'm new in comparison.

We'll get this. I know it won't happen overnight, but I'm persistent in anything I do. I think my fiance is on the same page too - and after the talks, I think she had the right idea on some of the training methods she had tried before, I just don't think she was doing them long enough by the suggestions by you all and research I have done. Point in fact, in the conversation last night, she said she tried a trainer...when I asked how many sessions I was told almost 2 weeks. I don't think that's enough with 95% of the dogs out there (not just Yorkies).

The dog is in a good home and she will be staying in this home. I hope to be reporting some major changes and exciting new through the next months for you all to read.

[kjc]

Another warning: Yorkies can be very defensive of their owners in the bed! (Sorry, seems you found this out) Mine still chases and attacks the cats and others Yorkies on the bed, and when he does this, he gets put on the floor. Another Yorkie thing. Don't take it as a set back, she just isn't comfortable with you yet enough ... some never get over it.

That behavior may carry over even on the couch, if you're too close to DF, or if you move too quickly around DF. That's a whole separate issue and will need work. For now, have DF gently place her on the floor whenever wherever she reacts like that, as DF is the one Bdog is protecting. This would be one reason for you to take over feeding Bdog for a while. Also best for you to be non-reactive, you don't want to let her know that her agression has any effect on your behavior. When they see something doesn't work, they stop doing it.

The first Yorkie I got from the shelter would growl whenever I tried to move her from the bed or couch, when I tried to pick her up. I was so shaken the first couple of times, I left the room so she wouldn't sense my fear. After I composed myself, I went back to her and when she growled again, I acted shocked, and laughed a little, and said 'What, you're going to growl at me? Yeah, right!' It was enough of a distraction and kept me relaxed enough to pick her up without getting bit. Growling is definitely a warning and a bite may follow. Best to diffuse the situation, rather than to let it escalate.

When you are all on the couch, and Bdog is accepting your presence, she can have a treat, from DF. You can do that in the bed too. If she gets nasty, DF should put Bdog on the floor, until she relaxes and is friendly again. With Yorkies, this is a form of stress and can cause innappropriate elimination, so I wouldn't push Bdog too far too soon.

The easiest and quickest way for you all to bond is by taking walks together.

[Luvdogs2]

Originally Posted by kjc

Another warning: Yorkies can be very defensive of their owners in the bed! (Sorry, seems you found this out) Mine still chases and attacks the cats and others Yorkies on the bed, and when he does this, he gets put on the floor. Another Yorkie thing. Don't take it as a set back, she just isn't comfortable with you yet enough ... some never get over it.

That behavior may carry over even on the couch, if you're too close to DF, or if you move too quickly around DF. That's a whole separate issue and will need work. For now, have DF gently place her on the floor whenever wherever she reacts like that, as DF is the one Bdog is protecting. This would be one reason for you to take over feeding Bdog for a while. Also best for you to be non-reactive, you don't want to let her know that her agression has any effect on your behavior. When they see something doesn't work, they stop doing it.

The first Yorkie I got from the shelter would growl whenever I tried to move her from the bed or couch, when I tried to pick her up. I was so shaken the first couple of times, I left the room so she wouldn't sense my fear. After I composed myself, I went back to her and when she growled again, I acted shocked, and laughed a little, and said 'What, you're going to growl at me? Yeah, right!' It was enough of a distraction and kept me relaxed enough to pick her up without getting bit. Growling is definitely a warning and a bite may follow. Best to diffuse the situation, rather than to let it escalate.

When you are all on the couch, and Bdog is accepting your presence, she can have a treat, from DF. You can do that in the bed too. If she gets nasty, DF should put Bdog on the floor, until she relaxes and is friendly again. With Yorkies, this is a form of stress and can cause innappropriate elimination, so I wouldn't push Bdog too far too soon.

The easiest and quickest way for you all to bond is by taking walks together.

When we sit on the couch, Bdog will sit up there with us, but usually on the other side of my fiance or on my side...or up on the headrest area...wherever she wants basically - unless she has a chew treat, then it's right next to you and as I said before, if you move at all - it's bare teeth and growling. Oh, and it's not just with me, if my fiance moves or anything, she does it to her too. If you pick her up, she FREAKS, but you don't get bitten because she keeps her jaws locked on the chewy. She even freaks out if you push her over to the edge so she has to jump down herself (we never just shove her off the couch). My fiance will take the chewy away when she acts like that, but she has to pretty much stick her fingers in the mouth and (for lack of better word) pry and work it out of the mouth to get her to release it. She doesn't just rip it out or anything. I don't deal with that, I don't push my luck in that department.

When you do take the chewy away, she goes neurotic though. If she sees where you put it, she will circle the table or wherever forever. Also, when she whittles the chew treat down to a dangerous size, you have to get her quick and slip your fingers in her mouth to get it or she will try and swallow it whole. Again, I try to get it when she's sleeping or has left it somewhere so I don't have to stick my hands in her mouth or push my luck.

For the time being, she's not getting those treats. She really likes them though. Maybe after we get some real good time together and she starts making some good progress, we can start working on not getting so crazy with them.

I have asked my fiance if I can have one time of feeding per day. Would you suggest if I did all of the feedings for a while? I know the food giver is often the one of most respect so I wonder if me taking over for a while completely would be a good idea.

Oh, I have been meaning to ask you all, what size of pup(s) do you have in pounds and how much do you feed them (and how often) do you feed them. I have read a good number of posts on schedules to feed, but I could use some pointers on how much. I read that an adult Yorkie needs between 1/4 cup to 1/3 of a cup of kibble per day. That doesn't look like much food at all. The fiance wants to feed her about 1/3 to 1/2 a cup in one sitting, and that looks like too much.

I completely forgot to ask her about the dog food too....I know they have a blend specially for Yorkies because I remember looking it up a few months ago looking for the nutrition label online. While we are on that, does anyone have a suggestion on preferred brand for this breed? If, by chance, the food she's laying down isn't the best - how much of a problem is it to change food types? Does a person have to start mixing them and transition or can it be a pretty bad shock to them?

One thing that is really shocking with the behavior I have seen is she doesn't chew shoes or anything like that on the floor. If the remote falls off the couch, she doesn't get into it. Magazines, cushions...nothing. What she goes after is if you hang your coat off the back of a chair, she gets into the pockets and will pull out tissues, gloves or coozies that I will use at school for my water and such. She is also a pretty big fan of snagging my fiances underwear through the laundry basket and dart under the bed. It's hard to not laugh at times with that one. My fiance will giggle about licking my mouth and I poke back and say "at least my undies are safe..."

I wish winter wasn't so close and the weather turning uncomfortably cold. The dog park and walks are a great idea together, but with her on second and my school schedule in the mornings and early afternoons, and studies in the afternoon/evenings - it's hard to meet up in our schedule, let alone in a time of day when it's nice and warmest. We'll find some times though, especially when springs starts showing up.

Back to the bed and being defensive...she has been set in her kennel overnight (she has a spacious kennel and a crate bit enough to turn in and lay down) when I had started sleeping over and leading up to me living there. On the weekends she is allowed to sleep on the bed with my fiance since I have to come home to work. Lets just say she doesn't do the lick in the mouth thing and is allowed to roam at night...if I roll over, have a leg spasm, shift in the night or have some romance - will there be a high risk of aggression? Would it be best to just keep the routine of the kennel in the evenings?

Thanks a bunch

[Ashley V]

Originally Posted by Luvdogs2

She doesn't get diarrhea when this happens, it must be the anxiety causing spasms or something along the digestive track making her speed up the need to go rather than vindictive. (This is one of my ignorant ideas that I was clueless on). I'll make sure that my fiance speaks with the vet about doing a checkup to make sure all the plumbing is good if I can't go for whatever reason.

As far as the same page goes, I was supposed to be back home to get into my work about 1am because I waited for her to get home from work. I wanted to show her the progress and using the speak in order to go outside so she would try doing it over the weekend I was going to be gone. It became a 3 hour talk about working together. She got pretty defensive about things and we talked a great deal about where I am thinking and where she is thinking. I explained, with the help of those posting here, a lot of what I have learned and what we should try to do. I didn't tell her to do anything though she felt like I was...which she said was her problem. I swear, I was presenting things to her on a level of which I'm not going to bark orders, I want to try doing some things and it won't work unless she is helping. I also asked her to come up with ideas too and I'll work with her as well. Another patron of this site mentioned that women don't like being told how to raise their children or pets...and that statement is very true. We also spoke about kids and I brought up the fact that if we can't work together on this dog, how are kids even going to be possible? I love kids, my nephews and nieces will drop anything they are doing to spend time with me and I try to do something with them at every opportunity I can - which, sadly isn't anywhere as much as I would like to.

We weren't fighting, but we weren't smiling through this talk, but by the end of the conversation, we were smiling and joking and it was a good situation. I just wish it wasn't 4:30 in the morning when I got to my shop and started working. I went to bed about 6 and got up at 10 to get back to work.

I think I have established the source on the biting idea. I must have been moving too fast around my fiance because I about got it again last night. I was getting ready to leave and when I bent down to give my fiance a kiss, I ran my hand up her leg to her waist for the start of a hug (she was climbing in bed for the evening) and a bolt of gray and cinnamon from the side of the bed to stop with her jaw resting on my hand and a serious look on the face. That may have been the cause of one of the bites anyway. She must be acting in an over protective mode since I'm new in comparison.

We'll get this. I know it won't happen overnight, but I'm persistent in anything I do. I think my fiance is on the same page too - and after the talks, I think she had the right idea on some of the training methods she had tried before, I just don't think she was doing them long enough by the suggestions by you all and research I have done. Point in fact, in the conversation last night, she said she tried a trainer...when I asked how many sessions I was told almost 2 weeks. I don't think that's enough with 95% of the dogs out there (not just Yorkies).

The dog is in a good home and she will be staying in this home. I hope to be reporting some major changes and exciting new through the next months for you all to read.

Sounds like you guys are off to a good start. It seems like she's willing to listen to your ideas, now you have to help her go through with them.

Okay, on the biting thing, since you think you've figured it out... One of my dogs after we brought him home started getting protective over me. My husband was working night shift and I was in bed when he would come home. Both dogs would run to the door and greet him all happily, then Smokey would come back and lay across my chest, look him square in the eye, and growl. If you think she is growling and biting over defense for her, your girlfriend needs to be the one to correct her. For a while my husband was the one that tried to correct that behavior and it didn't work. I had to put Smokey on the floor immediately and say "No!" firmly and he wasn't allowed back up for a little bit (like a few minutes) until he understood that I didn't need protecting from my own husband. About a week of being kicked off the bed by me, he stopped and hasn't done it since.

[Ashley V]

Originally Posted by Luvdogs2

When we sit on the couch, Bdog will sit up there with us, but usually on the other side of my fiance or on my side...or up on the headrest area...wherever she wants basically - unless she has a chew treat, then it's right next to you and as I said before, if you move at all - it's bare teeth and growling. Oh, and it's not just with me, if my fiance moves or anything, she does it to her too. If you pick her up, she FREAKS, but you don't get bitten because she keeps her jaws locked on the chewy. She even freaks out if you push her over to the edge so she has to jump down herself (we never just shove her off the couch). My fiance will take the chewy away when she acts like that, but she has to pretty much stick her fingers in the mouth and (for lack of better word) pry and work it out of the mouth to get her to release it. She doesn't just rip it out or anything. I don't deal with that, I don't push my luck in that department.

When you do take the chewy away, she goes neurotic though. If she sees where you put it, she will circle the table or wherever forever. Also, when she whittles the chew treat down to a dangerous size, you have to get her quick and slip your fingers in her mouth to get it or she will try and swallow it whole. Again, I try to get it when she's sleeping or has left it somewhere so I don't have to stick my hands in her mouth or push my luck.

For the time being, she's not getting those treats. She really likes them though. Maybe after we get some real good time together and she starts making some good progress, we can start working on not getting so crazy with them.

I have asked my fiance if I can have one time of feeding per day. Would you suggest if I did all of the feedings for a while? I know the food giver is often the one of most respect so I wonder if me taking over for a while completely would be a good idea.

Oh, I have been meaning to ask you all, what size of pup(s) do you have in pounds and how much do you feed them (and how often) do you feed them. I have read a good number of posts on schedules to feed, but I could use some pointers on how much. I read that an adult Yorkie needs between 1/4 cup to 1/3 of a cup of kibble per day. That doesn't look like much food at all. The fiance wants to feed her about 1/3 to 1/2 a cup in one sitting, and that looks like too much.

I completely forgot to ask her about the dog food too....I know they have a blend specially for Yorkies because I remember looking it up a few months ago looking for the nutrition label online. While we are on that, does anyone have a suggestion on preferred brand for this breed? If, by chance, the food she's laying down isn't the best - how much of a problem is it to change food types? Does a person have to start mixing them and transition or can it be a pretty bad shock to them?

One thing that is really shocking with the behavior I have seen is she doesn't chew shoes or anything like that on the floor. If the remote falls off the couch, she doesn't get into it. Magazines, cushions...nothing. What she goes after is if you hang your coat off the back of a chair, she gets into the pockets and will pull out tissues, gloves or coozies that I will use at school for my water and such. She is also a pretty big fan of snagging my fiances underwear through the laundry basket and dart under the bed. It's hard to not laugh at times with that one. My fiance will giggle about licking my mouth and I poke back and say "at least my undies are safe..."

I wish winter wasn't so close and the weather turning uncomfortably cold. The dog park and walks are a great idea together, but with her on second and my school schedule in the mornings and early afternoons, and studies in the afternoon/evenings - it's hard to meet up in our schedule, let alone in a time of day when it's nice and warmest. We'll find some times though, especially when springs starts showing up.

Back to the bed and being defensive...she has been set in her kennel overnight (she has a spacious kennel and a crate bit enough to turn in and lay down) when I had started sleeping over and leading up to me living there. On the weekends she is allowed to sleep on the bed with my fiance since I have to come home to work. Lets just say she doesn't do the lick in the mouth thing and is allowed to roam at night...if I roll over, have a leg spasm, shift in the night or have some romance - will there be a high risk of aggression? Would it be best to just keep the routine of the kennel in the evenings?

Thanks a bunch

Okay, about the chewies, if she gets like that, she cannot have them. I have a dog that gets like that over certain chew toys and if he gets like that and I manage to get it away from him without being bit (he's only bitten once), it goes in the trash. The only thing he doesn't act that way with is one certain kind of bone and he's usually pretty good with bully sticks... usually. Chip does the exact same thing she does. He will either lay on top of it and snarl or he'll clutch onto it with his teeth for dear life and if you try and pick it up, he'll also clutch it with his front paws. If you take it away, he'll follow you to where ever you put it and bark and freak out until I have to get up and put it somewhere else while someone distracts him. My recommendation is to not give those back to her or maybe find something that she's not so protective about.

Is the food your girlfriend feeding by any chance Royal Canin? I know they have a formula just for yorkies. I've never used that, but was told not to because of the high amount of corn. From what I've been told, corn can cause allergies in yorkies. Someone, correct me if I'm wrong! If switching food, do transition it. I'm no help on the feeding schedule... I have two dogs, one 15 lbs, the other 7, and I free feed both of them. It works for them and they are perfect weight wise. I don't recommend that for your situation though.

As for getting things out of coat pockets, don't hang your coats on the back of the chair. Just like with baby proofing a house for a nosy, in to everything toddler, you have to puppy proof everything. If you know that your dog gets into coat pockets, you can't let it be accessible to her. Same thing is said to new puppy owners with shoes and such that puppies like to chew on. You can't expect to leave things out that you know she likes and expect her not to get into it. Chip likes to search my purse, so I can't expect to leave it unzipped and not come back to find my stuff everywhere. Just like you can't leave things out for toddlers to get into, the same thing applies to dogs. Keep these items out of reach, problem solved.

As for the underwear thing, I have TWO dogs that did the same thing. Somehow, they grew out of it. They only liked MY underwear. When Chip was a puppy, I was sorting out laundry and there was one pair that he really wanted... I'd look behind me and he had taken it out of it's pile and was licking it. I took it away, said "No" and put it back where it belonged. A few minutes later, guess who's mouth was on it again? Yup, Chip's! I took it away and put it at the bottom of the pile. Turned back around to sort more laundry and next thing I know Chip is sprinting by me with this pink lacy thing hanging out of his mouth and flying behind him like a cape. I couldn't quit laughing! Smokey, my other dog, he would pull them out of the little holes in the hamper and I'd wake up to find large holes torn out of my underwear. I had to keep buying more and more until he finally learned that doing that was bad.

I understand it's cold but the dog does need walked and played with. I know it's unreasonable to say every time you have to do it together, but if you are both home, then both take her for a walk or both spend time playing with her on the floor or whatever it takes. You also need to gain her trust by spending one on one time with her too.

[Wylie's Mom]

I've been following this entire thread closely and guess it is now time for me to toss my hat in the ring.

Originally Posted by Luvdogs2

Don't worry all, I won't be proactively looking to further arguments. People who are short sighted with noses stuck in the air are making themselves apparent and finding the ignore list.

First, um, these two sentences are incongruous. You can't genuinely set the intention of the first sentence, and then follow it up with that second sentence. My recommendation would be to stick with your thought in your first sentence and then, truly chuck the urge to make statements such as the latter one.

If you want support and kindness - one way to find it is to offer it (and, only it).

Originally Posted by Luvdogs2

Another thing I left out and I can't believe I did is she will get pissed if you take out the trash or do something quick like run out to the car to get something you left in it. If the fiance walks out and leaves her loose while she goes to put laundry in the washer, she will come back to a mess. If you take her for a ride, you better pay at the pump because she will mess in the car if you leave her in there for less than a minute. I consider this behavior as vindictive...am I wrong? (that is a serious question)

Dogs are not vindictive. A dog will pee bc it has to go (where it goes depends on potty training), it wants to mark territory, or it is in great fear (ie, 'soiling itself' in human equivalent). Which do you think she is doing when she has her 'messes'? If she is soiling the area out of fear, then it'd be clear that this kiddo is EXtremely anxious, fearful, confused, traumatized.

Just a few suggestions (as others have already given good ones):

--Forget the crate; if she is a puppy mill dog - a crate will just recreate that living situation for her, over and over and over and over

--If she needs an 'area', use something like this, which fits a bed, water, some toys, a pee pad

--Do not ever hit a dog; not only is it wrong, it will end the line of communication which you are trying to establish. Remember that dogs descend from the wolf; an alpha wolf doesn't hit, or even need to bite to mitigate behavior. Rather, a wolf would perhaps place their mouth/jaw at the top of the other dog's neck, and push down

--Re-frame the mind: there is no 'bad' behavior in dogs. Rather, think of it as preferable and non-preferable. That may sound simplistic, but it does help take emotion out of the way you view the situation and helps prevent a negatively focused viewpoint

--Call a local rescue, ask them who they'd recommend (as a trainer) for dogs who have been abused, neglected, and are former puppy mill dogs. Tell them you want someone who uses positive reinforcement ONLY, no negative.

--Btw, are you playing with her? I.e., being goofy with her? Getting down on her level and just being plain silly with her can create great bonds

That's all I can think of right now, it's early. Best of luck.

[kalina82]

Originally Posted by Luvdogs2

I think I have established the source on the biting idea. I must have been moving too fast around my fiance because I about got it again last night. I was getting ready to leave and when I bent down to give my fiance a kiss, I ran my hand up her leg to her waist for the start of a hug (she was climbing in bed for the evening) and a bolt of gray and cinnamon from the side of the bed to stop with her jaw resting on my hand and a serious look on the face. That may have been the cause of one of the bites anyway. She must be acting in an over protective mode since I'm new in comparison.

It might have been because you were moving too fast but it could also have been because she is possessive of your fiancee or the bed. Does she do this every time you try to get in bed when your fiancee is already in it with Bdog? Does she do it when you try to sit on the couch with DF and Bdog? If so (or even if its only sometimes) your DF needs to quickly address the situation. As soon as Bdog moves or growls to be aggressive your fiancee needs to make a disapproving noise like "at" or "ught" and immediately pick up Bdog and put her on the floor. no discussion or anything else. she has to learn that that kind of behavior will get her a nice position on the floor by herself.

We'll get this. I know it won't happen overnight, but I'm persistent in anything I do. I think my fiance is on the same page too - and after the talks, I think she had the right idea on some of the training methods she had tried before, I just don't think she was doing them long enough by the suggestions by you all and research I have done. Point in fact, in the conversation last night, she said she tried a trainer...when I asked how many sessions I was told almost 2 weeks. I don't think that's enough with 95% of the dogs out there (not just Yorkies).

The dog is in a good home and she will be staying in this home. I hope to be reporting some major changes and exciting new through the next months for you all to read.

I'm glad to hear you and your DF had a nice long talk about the situation and will hopefully start working together with Bdog.

[kalina82]

Originally Posted by Luvdogs2

For the time being, she's not getting those treats. She really likes them though. Maybe after we get some real good time together and she starts making some good progress, we can start working on not getting so crazy with them.

This is where the drop it/take it game will come in handy.

I have asked my fiance if I can have one time of feeding per day. Would you suggest if I did all of the feedings for a while? I know the food giver is often the one of most respect so I wonder if me taking over for a while completely would be a good idea.

Ideally you should be the giver of all food and treats for a while but if you don't want to push it with DF then do what you can.

Oh, I have been meaning to ask you all, what size of pup(s) do you have in pounds and how much do you feed them (and how often) do you feed them. I have read a good number of posts on schedules to feed, but I could use some pointers on how much. I read that an adult Yorkie needs between 1/4 cup to 1/3 of a cup of kibble per day. That doesn't look like much food at all. The fiance wants to feed her about 1/3 to 1/2 a cup in one sitting, and that looks like too much.

my Morgan is about 5lbs and she is eating Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream. Since Morgan is a good weight I go by what the bag says as far as feeding amount. She gets between 1/3 and 1/2 of a cup of food per day. I have a measuring cup for dog food and use that to measure it out. Even with that amount she usually doesn't eat it all in one day. Its a grain free, high quality food with no fillers so when she eats she is only getting the important nutrients. when they eat food with fillers it just fills them up for a little while and then they poop out most of it. They are not getting enough nutrients from that food so they need to eat more of it. A high quality food will make them poops less, and poop smaller amounts because their body is absorbing more of the nutrients.

I completely forgot to ask her about the dog food too....I know they have a blend specially for Yorkies because I remember looking it up a few months ago looking for the nutrition label online. While we are on that, does anyone have a suggestion on preferred brand for this breed? If, by chance, the food she's laying down isn't the best - how much of a problem is it to change food types? Does a person have to start mixing them and transition or can it be a pretty bad shock to them?

Perhaps its Royal Canin Yorkshire Terrier Food | Royal Canin or Eukanuba Yorkshire Terrier Dog Food | Eukanuba.com ? I know they both make yorkie formulas. I don't like Eukanuba/Iams corp so i would never feed one of their formulas even if they were high quality (which they are not). There are people here on YT that do feed the Royal Canin and have great success with. Personally i feed a grain free, by-product free, corn free, high quality food with a good amount of protein in it for my specific dog's needs.

In your case, whatever you are feeding I would stick with right now. You don't want to change anything and further upset her. She's already dealing with a lot. Wait until she's further along in the training process before you change anything else. When you do change foods you need to do it gradually over the course of 1-2 weeks by slowly mixing in a few kibbles of the new food with the old food until you are only feeding new food.

One thing that is really shocking with the behavior I have seen is she doesn't chew shoes or anything like that on the floor. If the remote falls off the couch, she doesn't get into it. Magazines, cushions...nothing. What she goes after is if you hang your coat off the back of a chair, she gets into the pockets and will pull out tissues, gloves or coozies that I will use at school for my water and such. She is also a pretty big fan of snagging my fiances underwear through the laundry basket and dart under the bed. It's hard to not laugh at times with that one. My fiance will giggle about licking my mouth and I poke back and say "at least my undies are safe..."

Simple Solution - hang your coats up in a closet or on a door hook where she can't reach it. Put the laundry basket in the closet or on something higher up so she can't reach it. Or get a hamper with no holes in it.

Back to the bed and being defensive...she has been set in her kennel overnight (she has a spacious kennel and a crate bit enough to turn in and lay down) when I had started sleeping over and leading up to me living there. On the weekends she is allowed to sleep on the bed with my fiance since I have to come home to work. Lets just say she doesn't do the lick in the mouth thing and is allowed to roam at night...if I roll over, have a leg spasm, shift in the night or have some romance - will there be a high risk of aggression? Would it be best to just keep the routine of the kennel in the evenings?

Thanks a bunch

I would crate her at night. This way she won't have the opportunity to be aggressive for any reason. It will also help to potty train her. Her crate should only be big enough for her to stand up, turn around, and lay down in. Any more room and she will use one side as a toilet and the other side as a bed. The crate i have is 24"L x 18"W x 21"H and it comes with a divider panel. Without the divider the crate would be too big for potty training purposes. When morgan was a baby she had less then half of the crate to use because she was so small. I put a bed in there that took up the whole area that she had so it was only a bed area with no room to do anything else. This was used at night time, and while i was not home. I made sure i was never gone for more then 4 hours by coming home mid-day to take her outside. That kind of small space is not to be used for long periods of time (besides night time) so if you are gone longer then that she should be set up in an ex-pen with a wee-wee pad, bed, water, and toys.

[kjc]

Originally Posted by Luvdogs2

When we sit on the couch, Bdog will sit up there with us, but usually on the other side of my fiance or on my side...or up on the headrest area...wherever she wants basically - unless she has a chew treat, then it's right next to you and as I said before, if you move at all - it's bare teeth and growling. Oh, and it's not just with me, if my fiance moves or anything, she does it to her too. If you pick her up, she FREAKS, but you don't get bitten because she keeps her jaws locked on the chewy. She even freaks out if you push her over to the edge so she has to jump down herself (we never just shove her off the couch). My fiance will take the chewy away when she acts like that, but she has to pretty much stick her fingers in the mouth and (for lack of better word) pry and work it out of the mouth to get her to release it. She doesn't just rip it out or anything. I don't deal with that, I don't push my luck in that department.

When you do take the chewy away, she goes neurotic though. If she sees where you put it, she will circle the table or wherever forever. Also, when she whittles the chew treat down to a dangerous size, you have to get her quick and slip your fingers in her mouth to get it or she will try and swallow it whole. Again, I try to get it when she's sleeping or has left it somewhere so I don't have to stick my hands in her mouth or push my luck.

For the time being, she's not getting those treats. She really likes them though. Maybe after we get some real good time together and she starts making some good progress, we can start working on not getting so crazy with them..

They are dangerous: Choking Hazard. Try giving her Cheerios for good behavior on the couch or Gerber's Graduates Puffs.

Originally Posted by Luvdogs2

I have asked my fiance if I can have one time of feeding per day. Would you suggest if I did all of the feedings for a while? I know the food giver is often the one of most respect so I wonder if me taking over for a while completely would be a good idea..

It would be best... changes will occur quicker. Your DF probably won't notice any change in how Bdog reacts to her....We just need to get you up to Alpha status asap.

Originally Posted by Luvdogs2

Oh, I have been meaning to ask you all, what size of pup(s) do you have in pounds and how much do you feed them (and how often) do you feed them. I have read a good number of posts on schedules to feed, but I could use some pointers on how much. I read that an adult Yorkie needs between 1/4 cup to 1/3 of a cup of kibble per day. That doesn't look like much food at all. The fiance wants to feed her about 1/3 to 1/2 a cup in one sitting, and that looks like too much..

Look on the bag, or look it up online. As all foods are different, the amount to feed is listed on the bag. Take the daily recommended amount, divide by 2, and give her that much twice daily. Better quality foods usually require that less is fed as more nutrition is packed into each serving, and may produce fewer bowel movements.

Originally Posted by Luvdogs2

I completely forgot to ask her about the dog food too....I know they have a blend specially for Yorkies because I remember looking it up a few months ago looking for the nutrition label online. While we are on that, does anyone have a suggestion on preferred brand for this breed? If, by chance, the food she's laying down isn't the best - how much of a problem is it to change food types? Does a person have to start mixing them and transition or can it be a pretty bad shock to them?.

A quick change may cause diarrhea and/or tummy upset. Best to start mixing the new in with the old over 7 days or so. Some brands are really high in protein (45-50%). Personally, I'll feed any of the better brands (Petco or PetsMart) with a protein content of 18-25% (midrange). I don't feed anything that contains fish or fish meal due to the preservatives used on the fish before processing. If she tends to have allergies, try a Limited Ingredient Diet, or one the doesn't contain chicken as the main ingredient. Also watch her weight to make sure she's not losing or gaining, if she does lose or gain, adjust the amount fed accordingly.

Originally Posted by Luvdogs2

One thing that is really shocking with the behavior I have seen is she doesn't chew shoes or anything like that on the floor. If the remote falls off the couch, she doesn't get into it. Magazines, cushions...nothing. What she goes after is if you hang your coat off the back of a chair, she gets into the pockets and will pull out tissues, gloves or coozies that I will use at school for my water and such. She is also a pretty big fan of snagging my fiances underwear through the laundry basket and dart under the bed. It's hard to not laugh at times with that one. My fiance will giggle about licking my mouth and I poke back and say "at least my undies are safe...".

My one female used to do the underwear bit, and then she began to chew the metal zippers out of our jeans. Get in the habit of putting your clothes away where she cannot get at them. Basically your Bdog is a thief! (JK) These tendencies may change with changes in her diet.

Originally Posted by Luvdogs2

I wish winter wasn't so close and the weather turning uncomfortably cold. The dog park and walks are a great idea together, but with her on second and my school schedule in the mornings and early afternoons, and studies in the afternoon/evenings - it's hard to meet up in our schedule, let alone in a time of day when it's nice and warmest. We'll find some times though, especially when springs starts showing up..

Maybe you could develop some indoor training routines, like trick training, or beginning agility or doggy dancing if you are so inclined....

Originally Posted by Luvdogs2

Back to the bed and being defensive...she has been set in her kennel overnight (she has a spacious kennel and a crate bit enough to turn in and lay down) when I had started sleeping over and leading up to me living there. On the weekends she is allowed to sleep on the bed with my fiance since I have to come home to work. Lets just say she doesn't do the lick in the mouth thing and is allowed to roam at night...if I roll over, have a leg spasm, shift in the night or have some romance - will there be a high risk of aggression? Would it be best to just keep the routine of the kennel in the evenings?

Thanks a bunch

If she's comfortable in her kennel at night, it may be best for her right now. Changing everything all at once may overwhelm her, so I would work on one or two things most in need of changing first. Then, in a couple weeks, add another project. This way too you'll be better able to tell what is working for her and what may need tweaking.

As for in the bed... many Yorkies wake up unexpectedly in a defensive mood. If I pet my male gently while he's sleeping, he's more likely to awaken and bite my hand than anything. Don't know why he does this... so I am very careful approaching him when he's sleeping. I did work on this for a bit, but as he's older I was afraid of causing him a heart attack, so I decided it was best for him if I just tolerate this behavior, and adjust my approach, rather than try to change the outcome.

It really depends on the dog as to how much risk of aggression there will be in the bed. Maybe start out with some weekend naps to see how things go. As all her new training comes together, it may help to build her confidence, and help her to be less jumpy. One test to access her aggression would be to put your arm under the covers and move it around. She may play and try to catch your arm, or she may try to kill your arm. If she plays, I would think you would be at less risk of attack during sleep making random movements. If she gets in kill mode with your arm, maybe kennel her in the bedroom, it's still a bonding experience for you all to sleep together in the same room, and would be safer for you, and avoiding confrontation needing correction for her, for now.

As for anything more than sleeping, I would not have her in the room. She may interpret things wrong and think you are hurting her Mommie.