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10-24-2012, 01:18 AM | #1 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Portugal
Posts: 38
| Yorkie just snapped! I was in college so I didn't know what happen. 15 minutes into class my girlfriend calls me, crying!, that the dog bit her and is growling at her as we speak. She goes silent and lets me hear the dog growling. I asked what happened for him to be like that (since the dog is very skiddish and fearful). She told me nothing happened, she was in the couch with Snoopy on his bed right next to her, she picks up a toy so they would play and the dog just snaps her and keep barking at her until she goes away. She eventually leaves the dog alone, crying and calls me. Since I couldn't leave class to comfort her, I had to wait until it was over to go see her. I found out that her grandmother scolded her that those were the dogs toys and that they can not(!) be touched. Since my girlfriend is now afraid of the dog, I told her we could address the situation together when we can. She said no, that she wasn't ready and that the dog might snap at her again. So, what can we do? |
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10-24-2012, 08:05 PM | #2 |
I♥PeekTinkySaph&Finny Donating Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Posts: 18,866
| I think a professional trainer would be a big help...
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01-20-2013, 01:02 PM | #3 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Portugal
Posts: 38
| Unfortunately, they don't have the means to attend a professional trainer. The recession has hit them pretty hard. To bump this thread, here's an update. They buy these treats that are good for the dog's teeth and he's kind of afraid of them, but he's afraid of everything so I don't know... Nonetheless one day, he (relunctatly) picked the treat from my girlfriend's hand and put it on top of the carpet, ignored it and went to the couch to sleep. My girlfriend got up to go to the fridge and passed by the treat and the dog just snarled and started barking at her. She ignored it and after getting her drink sat on the couch again. Later, she petted him and the dog reacted, bit her and drew blood. Her mom scolded her that dog was asleep and wasn't supposed to be disturbed (what the hell?). So she got away from him and had to pass through the carpet (were the treat was) and the dog went crazy and just charged at her, biting her ankles. Her mom picked Snoopy up to get him away, and the dog bit her as well. Since my GF's father wasn't home, she called me in tears explaining what I just wrote. She told me that she and her mother were scared and for me to come over. So I went. When I got there I found out that Snoopy had bit my gf's grandmother as well, which is strange because she gives him treats she shouldn't. They locked the dog in the bathroom where he was barking and scratching the door. I don't think she said anything to her father about this, out of fear he would snap out of stress and take it out on the dog. She's now thinking of rehoming the dog or rehabilitating him. Since she doesn't have the emotional fortitude to train it herself nor the means to hire a professional trainer, things are looking bleak. I'll try to hold on to the dog if things come to that point, but there's so much I can do, money wise. |
01-20-2013, 07:24 PM | #4 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Australia
Posts: 57
| Hi. It sounds like it's resource/food aggression. It doesn't matter if she gave him the toy / treat in the first place. The yorkie would see it as his and try to protect his prized possessions and consider her as a "thief". Mine bit me too, especially when he was eating something he shouldn't and I tried to grab it out of his mouth. Drew blood / puncture marks many times but now (thankfully) I've got it handled Locking him would just exacerbate the issue. He barked/growled at her, probably as a warning, and since she ignored said warning, he bit. Do read more about handling resource aggression. She can do it herself. There are also plenty of videos on youtube about it, but in the meantime, here's what I do with my puppy: when I feed him, I only put half of his food in the bowl. Then when he eats, I approach slowly (he'd then look at me suspiciously) only to put more food on his bowl. Then I'll pet and praise him and put more food again. I do this until he associates my presence with more food/treat and can eat with me beside him at ease since he now knows I'm not a food thief Try it very slowly if the dog would just snap at the sight of you. Hand feeding also helps to bond better with the dog Also, do this with the treat. Don't just leave toy/food/treat lying on the floor - sometimes dog thinks they pop out of nowhere and try to protect it. As for sleeping, try to give him treats (in small bites) whenever she touches him. He'd slowly associate her touches as a positive thing. Do this, increase the frequency until she can handle and pet his body freely. Oh and google "nothing in life is for free dog training". Basically it's the idea that in order for them to have food/treat/toy, they have to do something first (sit, lie down, etc). Don't give in when he misbehaves, so he knows he gets good stuffs when he's calm and play nice. Do update us and all the best.
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01-21-2013, 09:53 AM | #5 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Portugal
Posts: 38
| So, more discipline towards food and food-relation affection. I'll definitely look up the Nothing in Life is Free method, I think I've heard about it. |
01-21-2013, 10:11 AM | #6 |
♥ Love My Tibbe! ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: D/FW, Texas
Posts: 22,140
| Oops. Misread the date on the initial post and thought it current so am amending first response. Did you ever have the dog checked for medical problems possibly causing aberrant behavior?
__________________ Jeanie and Tibbe One must do the best one can. You may get some marks for a very imperfect answer: you will certainly get none for leaving the question alone. C. S. Lewis Last edited by yorkietalkjilly; 01-21-2013 at 10:14 AM. |
01-21-2013, 10:32 AM | #7 |
YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: NY
Posts: 6,582
| I would have to think there is a lot more to this dog's story. Some other events must have led up to this type of behavior. It sounds as though the dad may have misused the dog at some time? The dog could also have some health issues. A dog does not just snap for no reason. If the dog is re-homed the new owners need to be people who have experience training dogs with problems. I hope that Snoopy get put into an environment that he feels more at ease in. If your girlfriend is afraid of him she really should stay as far away as possible. |
01-21-2013, 12:24 PM | #8 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Portugal
Posts: 38
| As far as I know, the dad never hit the dog nor the other members of the family. It's not that she's afraid of Snoopy per se, just scared that something triggers that reaction. Snoopy is, by all means, a healthy dog albeit a very lethargic dog. Honestly IMO, they just pampered him and let him get away with some wrong behaviours just because he's a small dog. |
01-21-2013, 12:54 PM | #9 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Portugal
Posts: 38
| Sorry for the double post, but I was on my phone and couldn't edit. As far as I know, the dad never hit the dog nor the other members of the family. It's not that she's afraid of Snoopy per se, just scared that something triggers that reaction again. Snoopy is, by all means, a healthy albeit a very lethargic dog. Honestly IMO, they just pampered him and let him get away with some wrong behaviours just because he's a small dog and these are the results they're taking. The dog has become a spoiled brat who bites and snarls at whoever is against him. Although action should've been taken before, I'm surprised she ignored such behaviour and didn't correct him. |
01-21-2013, 01:26 PM | #10 |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Ohio
Posts: 3,044
| I think the others have given you some good ideas of where to start and it may be that they let him get away with things because he is small. Fortunately neither of my two have had aggression issues. Something else to consider, Snoopy can pick up on those feelings that your GF has of being scared/nervous around Snoopy and that may cause him to be even more agitated/nervous/aggressive. I like the idea of making the dog work for its food. I don't have this issue with regular food but I do make them work for treats. One thing you can also try if Snoopy doesn't like the treats, is to use boiled chicken or even a scrambled egg. He may like that better than the treats and have your GF and her grandma give him some. Good luck!
__________________ ~Lori ~ Mom to fur babies Jack, Izzy & Jada & their kitty siblings, Mr. Poops, Milo, Pearl & barn kitty Nanny. |
01-22-2013, 10:57 AM | #11 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Portugal
Posts: 38
| Thank you so much for all your help. This is why I really like YorkieTalk, you can learn so much about the breed, its behaviour and how to handle it |
01-30-2013, 07:44 AM | #12 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Derwood, MD
Posts: 92
| I think the biggest issue here is that your girlfriend is afraid of the dog, the dog can feel it and feeds off of it. Prior to getting my yorkie, my boyfriend and I watched a bunch of videos about yorkies. This one popped in my mind as I was reading your post: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwZjILYPhzQ Maybe your girlfriend can use similar technique. I always had big dogs and I know for a fact its NOT good if your dog snaps at you, even though yorkies are small an't can't do much damage, but still. |
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