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Backs off when I approach When I need to take Ruger for a walk, I often lure him with a treat and then leash him and we go. Lately, he's been backing off even if I offer him a treat. He'll back all the way down the stairs and under the bed. Once the leash is on, which can take awhile, he will go to the door himself and seems happy and ready to go. I can't think of anything outside that would make him nervous about going for a walk. If I just open the front door he'll run outside and I can often leash him up then, but I don't understand the initial backing away. Otherwise, he's just as affectionate and friendly as ever. He's around 13 months old. Thanks. |
Typical yorkie. I think most of them do the same. I would teach him some commands like sit, stay, come, etc. Or you could sit yourself and ask if he wants to go for a walk.:D I would actually stick with the commands myself, but he isn't afraid of anything outside or of you. It's just him being a yorkie.:) |
Thanks for the reply. He does know how to sit, stay, off, leave it, come, etc. Although he doesn't stay or come that well. :( This morning he went right to the door by himself and let me hook him up, so I don't get it. Normally it's a battle with me holding a treat and him "sitting" and "staying" after the command, then moving backwards sitting and staying along the way. I know he wants the treat cause he's licking his chops the whole time. :animal36 The big problem with Yorkies, IMHO, is that they are so cute you can't get mad at them. :D |
Are you bending over him while you leash him up? He's probably intimidated. FYI, licking lips is an "appeasement" signal as well, not a sign he's hungry. Try positioning yourself differently and see if that makes a difference. I sit on the ground and call Thor to me to get his harness on. If he's not strong on Come, try working on that separately. Again, staying low on the floor and avoiding eye contact is less threatening. If he comes, just toss the treat a few inches away from you so he's totally comfortable. Also, you can try bending over him randomly and just giving him a treat without doing anything else. This may desensitize him to your position. |
I usually kneel down or often sit and just wait to see what happens. The no eye contact thing sounds reasonable to me, but I really thought he was licking his chops for the treat. Thanks for the tip on being a lot bigger than he is. I try to look at him like a little kid and always get to his level, but I often forget. Also, when he was in Puppy School they told me to stay upright as much as possible. Never had a dog before, so I'm still learning. I have a feeling the learning never ends. :rolleyes: |
If you are interested, there is a fantastic book on dog body language:  Amazon.com: Canine Body Language: A Photographic... It's VERY long, but extremely helpful. There's also a shorter guide that's excellent on "appeasement" signals. Amazon.com: On Talking Terms With Dogs: Calming... This is also a great online reference for training in general: Dog Star Daily I can almost guarantee you that if he if he is obeying your commands while backing away and licking his lips, he is uncomfortable. I don't mean this as criticism. Some dogs are simply very shy, and the smaller they are, the more likely shyness is. Just as we may not understand dog body language, they don't understand ours either. You are being friendly, but he may not recognize it as such. It sounds to me like he is trying to obey you while keeping himself safe by maintaining a certain distance. |
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