max's mum
 

hi, Dixie's a great cuddle dog now. You might like to do a little basic training, which means you're paying lots of positive attention to your dog. (though throw any treats on the ground to avoid any temptation for your puppy to nibble your fingers!).

hey well he jumps onto the bed without me picking him up so that doesn't work :( He's a destroyer he is always out to eat something. I buy him toys and they are riped open in less then an hour. He loves to play and that's how he plays. He's two different dogs we came to that conclusion lol I'm hoping as he gets older this will drift away. The spray bottle works for me with water in it he eventually stops and gives me a look like why you squirting me. My vet said not to put him in the cage for punishment so I stoped doing that. He gets his moments is this a male thing? lol

You are so helpful
 

Dear Dougal and Little:

Thanks so much for your support. It really makes a difference. I love this site - He's not the only yorkie in town who's difficult to train (although he's really getting it with #1), and who's nipping and biting, and who's a finicky eater, etc.

It's really nice to have people who have these amazing dogs and can help us newbies.

There's something so special about these dogs. I've had many pets before - some dogs, but mostly cats, but never one who made me laugh so much. I just love the yorkie personality.

Judy

I know what you mean. Yorkies are definitely one of a kind! Although Dougal's the first dog I've ever had (& Dixie's the second) so I don't have a lot of comparison. I've learnt so much about myself since I got my furbabies!

Biter....please help!
 

Hi all. I am new to the site and so thankful, please help. My yorkie, Tressa is 5 months old and she is a nipper, and I have curbed it alot by always having chew sticks, giving them to her instead of my hands, and giving a time out here and there. The main issue is that when we are walking, she eats anything and everything off the sidewalk. I live in New York, so you can imagine what's out there on the streets. When I go to take whatever it is out of her mouth, she bites me, and yesterday she made my thumb bleed and it is now infected. When this occurs she is growling at me with ferocity and is Very Nasty. The only way I can even control her wiggling is by holding the skin at the back of her neck. She is 7 pounds. It seems to be getting worse with the summer heat, and all the smells out there. At the time of correction, I tell her "NO" and take whatever it is out of her mouth. She is So Ticked off by this, truly. And she Does not pay any attention to what I say at all, and she goes and does it again 2 minutes later. We were outside and She picked up at least 10 things in 5 minutes! After the episod is over and I tell her not to do it again, she will not look at me in the eyes and has an expression on her face of "I don't care", I've Won.......She has plenty of food at all times and is not hungry. If I give her a time out after we get home, I think it may confuse her. I am out of ideas and I definetley do not want another bummed finger or my puppy hurt by what she thinks is playing? Please help! Thank you , Sou & Tressa

Max also gets Very Nasty
 

When I take something away from Max he gets very excited and wants to play. The more I try to get it, the more agitated and excited he gets AND, of course, the more he bites me. I realized yesterday, after he got downright nasty that it might be best to calm him down first and then replace whatever he's got with either a toy or even a treat - not as a reward, but NY streets are filthy. I live in Brooklyn, so I know what you mean. I think some dogs get more hyper and bite more when they are overagitated.

Good luck,

Judy

You're right! NO chasing - that just makes it more fun. Trade for something yummy. If Loki gets something I left where he could get it (my fault!) I just let him have it. If I don't chase him he gets bored and will spit it out. If it's something he shouldn't have or is dangerous I just trade him for a yummy treat. You can also teach "fetch" and "drop" When Loki steals my socks I just yell "fetch!" and he bring them back and drops them at my feet. I use stinky treats to make sure the reward is as good as the stinky sock. Sometimes he will steal things and come and drop them by me. HA! The hardest thing is paper, because he likes to shred it. I just wait til he's done and pick up the mess.

You can also teach "Leave it" which is a great one for cigarette butts and nasty things on the ground.

:thumbup: Excellent post!:thumbup:

That's exactly how we do things here, too. No chasing and strong "leave it" and "drop it" commands (for which he does get rewarded!).