Help with a growling yorkie!!

[Jennxling]

Carmel started to growl at other dogs when he's leashed...it's usually because he's really excited and wants to go up and say hi. How do you fix that? It's getting worst and worst. One time, he growled at a big dog and it growled back, which was not a friendly one...he doesn't understand that other people and dogs think he's growling because he's aggressive. Also, today, he snapped at another dog that came up to him...and he kept growling when my bf pinned him down. I don't know what to do. This only happens when he's leashed too. Mostly when he can't get to the other dog...? This happened once too when he was in the car looking out, he growled at another dog... Please help!! Does anyone else's yorkie do this too??

[ReesiesDad]

Raises hand (I do, I do)

Reesie growls, barks, and downright squeals when she sees ANYTHING that has four legs. Sunday she chased a neighbor's Shih-Tsu down the road and it yelped in fear all the way home, about a quarter mile! Darn little Reesie is fast! I couldn't keep up.

I've been thinking that she was taken away from other little ones way too soon and now has trouble adjusting. She doesn't get a chance to play with any other dogs, and her and our Border Collie are just shadows of each other. Not really play friends, but if you see one you'll see the other close by.
Not many people let their dogs play with others, probably because of fleas and stuff, so what can be done? I think she's having the same behavior problems that you're seeing.

[Jennxling]

Originally Posted by ReesiesDad

Raises hand (I do, I do)

Reesie growls, barks, and downright squeals when she sees ANYTHING that has four legs. Sunday she chased a neighbor's Shih-Tsu down the road and it yelped in fear all the way home, about a quarter mile! Darn little Reesie is fast! I couldn't keep up.

I've been thinking that she was taken away from other little ones way too soon and now has trouble adjusting. She doesn't get a chance to play with any other dogs, and her and our Border Collie are just shadows of each other. Not really play friends, but if you see one you'll see the other close by.
Not many people let their dogs play with others, probably because of fleas and stuff, so what can be done? I think she's having the same behavior problems that you're seeing.

Oh yeah, Carmel would go up to other dogs too!! He doesn't hurt them, he just growls and pulls to get close to the other dog, then he just smells them. Yesterday was the only time where he snapped at the other dog (it was a puppy). At petsmart yesterday, he kept growling (he was leashed) when there's another dog! Boy, it was embarrassing!! I have no idea what it's stemming from, but I suspect that it's over-excitement of the presence of another dog. *sigh*

[alaskayorkie]

How old is Carmel? If he's under a year, I'd suggest putting him in a puppy class to help with his social skills. If he's older, find some friends with little dogs and start a regular little-dog meetup. Find a place where they can play off-leash, like someone's fenced backyard or a fenced ballpark.

There's something about being trapped on a leash that makes interacting with other dogs difficult. When they have a little freedom to move away from any perceived threats, they learn that they can handle the situation in a friendlier fashion.

Also, if other dogs are too pushy, step in and show Carmel that you won't let anything bad happen to him -- you'll solve the problem, and he doesn't have to. Don't necessarily pick him up, just use your body to give him some space and keep the pushy dog away.

All that said, a little growing isn't necessarily a bad thing. It shows the other dogs that Carmel wants some space.

[Jennxling]

Originally Posted by alaskayorkie

How old is Carmel? If he's under a year, I'd suggest putting him in a puppy class to help with his social skills. If he's older, find some friends with little dogs and start a regular little-dog meetup. Find a place where they can play off-leash, like someone's fenced backyard or a fenced ballpark.

There's something about being trapped on a leash that makes interacting with other dogs difficult. When they have a little freedom to move away from any perceived threats, they learn that they can handle the situation in a friendlier fashion.

Also, if other dogs are too pushy, step in and show Carmel that you won't let anything bad happen to him -- you'll solve the problem, and he doesn't have to. Don't necessarily pick him up, just use your body to give him some space and keep the pushy dog away.

All that said, a little growing isn't necessarily a bad thing. It shows the other dogs that Carmel wants some space.

Carmel is 2 years old. He growls when he's leashed as he's trying to go up to other dogs so I don't think it's because he wants more space...I think I socialized him too much that he wants to play and say hi to EVERY dog he sees. Since he can't when leashed, he growls (not aggressive) because he wants to go up and sniff the dog.

[alaskayorkie]

Originally Posted by Jennxling

Carmel is 2 years old. He growls when he's leashed as he's trying to go up to other dogs so I don't think it's because he wants more space...I think I socialized him too much that he wants to play and say hi to EVERY dog he sees. Since he can't when leashed, he growls (not aggressive) because he wants to go up and sniff the dog.

Hmm. Maybe try distracting him while you're on walks and he reacts to another dog. Pull out a toy or a treat and get his attention back on you. That worked with mine. There's a neighbor dog that sets them off in a fenced yard. Gradually, they started paying less and less attention to him because they knew I had something more rewarding.