1 year old male aggressive
 

I got Sam and Max from a woman that had to give them up. Max is good. Not aggressive at all but barks. Sam is very aggressive but lovable. He goes ballistic if I try to pick him up. I can't bath him and he stinks! He bit me yesterday just moving him on the couch. The two of them fight too. Not drawing blood but a good scrap. They are not fixed but are going next week to get that done. I give them both equal attention so there is no jealousy. Any ideas? They are going to obedience school in March.

OMGoodness you did not lol lol two of them lol. Congratulations.
How old are they. If they are young and after they are neutered the scrapping should stop or at least decrease. If they are older the fighting may have become a habit and can continue. Obedience school is a good idea but Sam may need a behaviorist if his biting continues.
How is Abby taking all this.
Any pictures you can post, we sure would love to see your new additions.

Whoops, I think I have you confused with a different member :confused:

I see they are a year old, I think they are young enough that scrapping has not become a habit, once they are neutered the scrapping will stop. Intact males fight for dominancy, once neutered no more raging testosterone, they should be a lot better.

I hope so. I'm more worried about Sam's aggressiveness to me when I try to pick him up.

Not knowing much about your two boys makes it hard for us to offer up advise / suggestions. Depending on how long you have had these pups, sometimes it takes a dog a long time to build trust and bond with you. With rescues everything must be done in baby steps. In rescues changes don't happen over night, I have a rescue, he was not an abused boy, he was loved much and spoiled but he came with baggage. I am sure you took these boys for a wellness check with your vet. Did you speak to your vet about Sam's aggressive behavior to rule out any medical issues. My now passed girl had the sweetest disposition, loved all ppl and all animals. When I pick up my babies I put one hand under their butt, my other hand goes under their front legs, I have always scooped up all my babies in that manner. One day a very good friend of mine stopped by, my Matese grew up with this friend in her life and loved them. They picked her up with hands around her middle, she yelped and bit the friend, she never, ever, bit anyone, I told my friend that is not a way to pick her up. I thought nothing of it tho. 2 weeks later I had to bring her to the vet for something, I forget what it was but nothing serious. My regular vet was not there, we saw another vet that was excellent with dogs, well, he picks her up the same way my friend did, around the middle of her body, she yelps and bites the vet. Immediately the vet says one word "Pancreatitis", WHAT he said he was going to run some tests, he believes she has pancreatitis from her reaction of being picked up. Well, the tests showed that was what she had.
I tell you this story because you say you cannot pick Sam up, when you did he bit you, the first thing that goes through my mind is when my Matese was picked up she bit. It's just a thought you may want to pass by your vet to make sure he does not have any health issues that is causing him to bite.
Can you contact the lady you got him from to ask her if Sam did this to her. This would let you know if he has always been a biter. The more you can find out about Sam will benefit him and you.

Oh my. I just lost Jazymyne to Pancreatitis. When they go in for their fix, I'll get them to run a blood test on them. Sam is very playful and is always running around. He doesn't sleep a certain way. But he seems to be very dominant over Max.

My girl showed no signs what so ever of being sick let alone Pancreatitis. When my friend, then the vet picked her by the middle of her body I just thought they hurt her. She was playful, good appetite, pee and poo was the same. Reason why I was taken back when the vet said Pancreatitis.

At a year old they can still be rough when playing, bite rough. My boy is that way, actually was that way. He bonded with me in a few hours, it was amazing, he was gone from his prev. owner only 5 days when I got him. I let him chill for a couple of weeks, get to know the house, smells, no noise lol, it's very quiet where I live, he came from NYC, lots of traffic noise, ppl coming and going in the home he lived in. He didn't know what a toy was, so for 2 weeks I would just play with him using the toys. Then one night he was on my bed and I made monster hands saying in a different tone then what he was use to "I'm gonna get you" a game I played with all my girls, I crouched down and slowly crept towards the bed then grabbed at his paw and he bit me drawing blood, I said in a firm harsh tone "no bite the mama" and repeated it several times. I knew he did that because he was scared, he still didn't know me 100% he was with me a bit under a month. Many months later I played that game again but first said "no bite the mama" when I went to grab at his paw he was going to bite me, quickly I told him no biting. Now when I play that game he runs and gets a plush toy and bites and kills it the bashes me with it lol because he knows no biting is allowed.

So, reaching out to pick Sam up may scare him because he doesn't know you yet. His prev. owner may not have trained that no biting when playing out of him.

But I would speak to the vet about it and get him tested for Pancreatitis.

I meant to ask, is Sam and Max litter mates.

Yes they are brothers. Turned a year old yesterday. They get fixed on the 3rd of February. Sam is the smaller grey faced one in the picture.

I would definitely make sure he gets a full exam by the vet to make sure he isn’t having any pain. Neutering might help. It may take him more time to adjust. If you are fearful when you go to pick him up then he will feel that and take control of that. My moms rescue would growl and snap when I would go to brush his teeth and I would stop. Well one time I didn’t stop and he stopped growling and let me brush his teeth and never did that again. It might also take a trainer to work with him but be very careful and make sure it’s a trainer that only uses positive reinforcement. Have you sat on the floor with treats to get him to come to you and sit by you and such?

He lays at my feet all the time and sleeps beside me at night. I'm just wondering if its a jealousy thing. I just wish I could bath him.

Does he let other people pick him up?

They are both beautiful boys.

Thanks for the photo

For now I wouldn't push it or force him. Does he let you brush him.

He is the same for everyone but he likes women better. I can pick him up if I give him notice.

I wonder if it is startling him when he doesn’t know your about to pick him up. How long have you had them?

About 2.5 months now. Sam was awake just now and I was looking at a knot in his fur on his hind leg. He lost it. He sure is temperamental.

Well the boys were neutered today. I also had them chipped and complete bloodwork. Their blood is excellent. I got the bandage off Max's leg easily but Sam snarled and attacked me. I had him by the collar so he couldn't bite me but he completely lost it. If i can't get him trained, I will be getting rid of him.

I am sorry to hear that. I hope you can work on it and him be able to stay with you. If you can not keep him please surrender him to a Yorkie rescue and don’t just drop him at a kill shelter or because of his aggression he will be put to sleep.

I'm just frustrated. I am going to take them both to obedience training in March. I hope that will curb his aggression. I just don't know why he's so angry. I pamper him so much. Something happened with the last owner. I treat Max and Sam the same so they don't get jealous.

Happy to hear they are neutered, chipped and blood work turned out good.

I don't think Sam needs obedience training, with his aggression obedience training will not help that. A dog behaviorist will work with him to see what triggers the aggression and work on that. Something in his past has caused fear in him when someone reaches out to him, he's scared and reason he attacks, he's protecting himself, someone in his past hurt him, maybe beat him. He's young enough to have that trained out of him, you need the proper trainer for that.

You mentioned you held him by his collar when he tried to attack him, collars are for tags only, when on a leash they should have harnesses on.

It's horrible what ppl do to these sweet loving dog. Please find the proper trainer for Sam before you get rid of him. If it has to come to that, please follow Lovetodream advise, turn him over to a yorkie rescue, please to not bring him to a kill shelter. It's not his fault, someone made him that way, he's young and he's fixable with the proper training.
Please keep us updated on how Sam is coming along.

I've had many yorkies and never experienced anything like Sam. I would use a harness but I'd never get it on him. He'd attack me. So unfortunately until he's trained, I have to use a collar to walk him. My other yorkies never needed a collar. This is new to me.

Wow, this has to be so hard on you. With all the yorkies you have had you must know using collars can cause collapsed trachea. I fully understand your dilemma and reason for having to use the collar. This poor poor dog, this is all from someone in his past harming him, I am sure of this. Like I have said, he is young and with the right trainer he IS fixable, I just do not think basic obedience training will train out his aggression, it can make it worse. I truly believe a dog behaviorist is what Sam needs, a trainer that will focus on his aggression. In Sam's case if he senses fear in you of him he will take control. And I do understand, no one wants to get severely bitten by a dog. Please keep us updated.

Here's some thoughts on retraining poor or bad behavior out of a dog. The owner/handler must be totally eager to show their dog how to live another way and motivated enough to stay 3 steps ahead of them in every situation, prethinking and outmaneuvering every response during behavior modification retraining. It is no small task to truly change a fear-aggressive dog but you almost always can.

Mostly, the expert obedience or behavior-modification handlers train the owner how to handle and understand their own dog, how to see life from his POV, think how he thinks and and how to gear themselves up to motivate the dog to WANT to learn how to behave differently because he sees change as a win. If the dog sees any behavior as a win, he'll readily go along, wanting more and more benefits for changing of happy praise, treats, positive rewards, oodles of smiles from you, etc. But I think if an owner is not strongly motivated to be an excellent dog handler, he'll always have problems with his dogs, no matter how much obedience/behavior retraining takes place by expensive experts. Just takes the intense interest, the determination of the dog owner to WANT to remake his dog. Most people just don't have that level of interest and never have completely controllable dogs, which can be fine. Not everyone has that level of determination or dog handling skills or want-to. Our pets don't have to be perfect.

Obedience training or behavior modification are 2 very different things and many dogs do well on the positive-reinforcement they get from working together to learn simple obedience skills and prosper greatly with that method. Behavior modification teaches the dog a new, better, more rewarding way to react to former problem situations and the owner being skillful and determined enough to stay 3 steps ahead of his dog until he has managed to gain control the old, unwanted behavior in EVERY case. The dog changes his behavior in a specific situation because he's been properly motivated to want to change - for a reason. The best way is he expects a very positive reward for his new behavior. If he gets it wrong, we give him a negative frown, an "uh oh" to mark his miss and redirect him to the positive reaction we want and expect, with much gleeful praise and treats for getting it right during his retraining. It's up to his handler to know how to instill that motivation in his dog and can drive all positive behavior change.

If a dog is not motivated to change his behavior, he won't or he won't for long. It's constant work until your dog LEARNS to respond to your directions by rote, automatically, unthinkingly. He never gives not responding correctly a thought; in fact he eventually, slowly LEARNS your way benefits him most. Once you attain that level of interaction, he begins to try to stay 3 steps ahead of YOU and automatically does what he's pretty sure you'll want from him, based on all your training and previous interactions, which he's studied like mad over the time he's spent with you; and boy, is that a state of nirvana when you eventually get there!

I train dogs to love reacting positively to my requests immediately and w/out thinking about it and they all begin to outthink ME eventually, automatically behaving as I want just for the pleasure it gives them to make me proud. It is a learned skill and one that dog soon does from muscle memory. Automatically reacts as he thinks you'll like to every situation simply because his reward for doing so makes HIM happy. Takes about 3 years to get a problem dog there but it's doable and so worth it if one is so motivated. But it requires you being hyper alert to pre-think everything your dog might do in EVERY situation and physically step in front of him, block him with a frown on your face, an "uh oh" verbal feedback and reward his turning around, backing down every time he thinks of lunging or growling, biting at another dog or you. The turn around/back down warrants smiles, happy partying and treats right there in the middle of the living room, store or the street. Happy times! He's earned it! Soon, you'll see him catch himself as he knows the reward he's about to get will be far more rewarding than any charge he'll get from lunging at another dog. No, he'll be busy trying to prethink YOU. Usually dogs lunge or growl/bite out of fear, having decided the best defense is a good offense but they can unlearn that, be re-directed with enough positive determination by the handler, always thinking way ahead of how their dog might react and he begins to think you know everything about him, that it's just best to work to please you than cross you. His learned trust, fostered during the training/bonding process, in you sustains and grows with every win he gets and soon, he's obeying you before you give a request, an action you always reward with big praise and fun times during retraining. After he's learned it, the praise is more restrained as he doesn't need the big party anymore, his big reward is internal, in his own brain chemistry, the oxytocin his brain releases, a great feeling, by knowing he's pleased his team leader and works as one with you.

Funny how that happens but it does, they just signal they don't need all the big party rewards, just your fond look or smile, a gentle nudge or touch. Even poorly obedience trained dogs can learn a new way and eventually change but as I always say, the trainer has to be more determined than the dog they are retraining. Few people are but if you are one of them, it's very rewarding to see that problem dog change over the years into a model citizen who trusts you beyond measure and wants nothing more than your pride in him, so much so that he prides himself in always behaving as he knows you'll approve of.

But if our dogs are not perfection, it's okay as long as they don't scare, hurt or destroy things. None of us is perfect. Just know, if you are not more determined than your dog and willing and motivated to help him in EVERY instance, to prethink and outmaneuver him well ahead of his thinking of how he'll react, he'll likely not change much. Good luck if you wish to embark on this level of retraining. It's a lot of work, constant vigilance of your dog during the retraining and greatly rewarding to you both. Your dog may get addicted to all the pleasures of this type of retraining and push you for more!

P. S. Forgot to add that I usually produce a high-value treat paired with a happy request or anything the dog values highly to encourage the turn-around or back-down, thus directing his attention to the thing he wants and if he follows suit and complies, more rewards, smiles, praise, a stern frown and total blocking of unwanted behavior during early training if he's a bit slow on the uptake. Smart, properly motivated dogs choose the treat or the toy and the smiles over the other quickly and eventually learn there's no other way. The dog is NEVER punished or demeaned, verbally berated for getting it wrong, just blocked with unhappy faces, "uh oh" sounds and whatever body part or small pillow or whatever I have at the ready to encourage his wanting to get it right rather than wrong during early training. He soon learns I'm always and forever ahead of him and begins to rethink how he'll respond, quickly learning to love the good times vs. the other. Dogs hate to be outfoxed and they'll work hard to beat you to it once they get it.

OHmygosh, these 2 babies are precious! You are indeed blessed with 2 little dolls; still, aren't they all? Such cutie pies. With little bits like these, retraining old, unwanted behavior is usually quite easy and so rewarding if you are motivated and determined to help your dog through his moments of poor judgment. Just stay 3 thoughts and moves ahead of them, project your problem-one's next moves and block, redirect to what you want so your baby comes out the winner of the encounter. Always end your interactions on a win for him. Lots of happy, high-pitched, happy praise for getting it right. He'll feed off that! Just out-terrier your terrier! It's the 115 lb. big old growler, teeth showing-fear-aggressive biter that can be a real challenge.

Two days after being fixed and no change. I had bloodwork done and they are completely healthy. Poor Sam pooped this morning and had poop all over his bum. I couldn’t get near him to clean him. I had to use the hose outside. He was so upset and I feel terrible. He is going to see a behaviourist in March. In the meantime would the vet have a sedative that they could give him? Or would a ThunderShirt be worth a try? I think he was abused by a man before I got him. My mom told me she will take him if he doesn’t respond to the training.

For some immediate tools I would keep a halter and leash on both of them even in the house and that way you have something you can grab to separate both of them or to keep the one off of you when he attacks. Another thing you can try is taking a kind of a thick towel and wrap it around his neck gently but that will keep him from being able to turn to bite you. Always be calm working with him. Hope this helps. Exercise before attempting grooming may help to burn up some of his energy.

If you cannot get a harness on him you will never get a thunder shirt on. Speak with your vet, in one of my earlier post I told you the same thing, to speak to your vet about his behavior. There are meds, sedatives, but you don't want him dope up 24/7 until he sees a behaviorist, I am glad you have elected a behaviorist over obedience training.

I agree, I believe this poor dog was beat and reason when you reach out for him he gets aggressive, protecting himself. It could have been by a man but, my family consists of mostly woman. When I had a pack of 3, my youngest one would go after the heels of any man that came near her. When repair men came in I had to lock her up. I believe it was the masculine voice and the tallness towering over her, there were 2 males in my family that she was ok with because she saw them a lot, she was use to soft woman voices. I bought her as a wee lil puppy so she wasn't abused. As for them being neutered, again in a earlier post I wrote do not expect overnight changes after they get neutered, everything takes time. You will see changes over time but not in 48 hours. These are rescues even if you paid money for them to some woman who no longer wanted them, they still come with baggage. A behaviorist will work with you and Sam, the trainer will show and tell you how to retrain Sam, you will have to work with Sam using the method the trainer told / showed you. Do not think the behaviorist comes in, sees what triggers Sam's aggression and fixes it, behavior problems has to be worked out of a dog, retrain him and this does not happen in a week or two, it all depends on the dog and the consistency of your training him during the week everyday. He will respond to training, but that is all up to you in being consistent, you have to put the time in, in retraining this poor little dog. I am glad to know that your mom will take him.

Here is a poem, I hope it can help you understand what Sam is going through.


Now that I'm all home, bathed, settled and fed,
All nicely tucked in my warm new bed,
I'd like to open my baggage lest I forget,
There is so much to carry, so much to regret.

Hmmmmm, Yes, there it is right on the top,
Let's unpack Loneliness, Heartache and Loss,
And there by my leash hides Fear and Shame,
As I look on these things I tried so hard to leave,
I still have to unpack my baggage called Pain.

I loved them, the others, the ones who left me,
But I wasn't good enough; for they didn't want me.
Will you add to my baggage? Will you help me unpack?
Or will you just look at my things and take me right back?
Do you have the time to help me unpack?
To put away my baggage,
To never repack?
I pray that you do; I'm so tired, you see. But I do come with baggage; will you still want me?