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03-09-2009, 07:07 PM | #1 |
Yorkie Talker Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: pasadena, ca, usa
Posts: 10
| My dog is MEAN!!! I'm so upset. First off, when I adopted my baby Einstein from his previous owner, I was told that I would be adopting a yorkie. The owner explained the Einstein intimidated the family dog, a toy poodle hence they had to rehome Einstein. Well, as Einstein continues to grow, he looks more and more like a silky (he's 8 pounds now and is long with fully erect ears). Yes, I did ask for paperwork, but the previous owners kept on dodging the issue and ultimately ignored all of my requests. That doesn't make me love my silky less, but imagine my embarrassment after I brought him to all of these yorkie meetups and he didn't quite look like any of them. Anyhow, sorry I had to vent. My Einstein is now 7 months, and I adopted him when he was 4 months old. He did live with 2 children prior to becoming my baby. However, over the past month, I've noticed that he would snap at anyone who approached him, especially children. I've taken him to the dog park and walk around outdoor malls to better socialize him. Yet, I'm surprised by his sudden aggression. When I first had him, he loved all strangers and did fairly well with children until a particular 2 year old girl tortured him (she yanked on his ears and slapped him pretty hard...she's just very mean towards dogs). I did not learn about this until after the incident already occurred. However, he has since been around other children who are much more gentle towards him. But I don't understand why he suddenly developed this aggression. It used to that when I walked him around the neighborhood, he would ignore other pedestrians or even wags his tail at them. But now, he wants to attack them as they walk past by. He nips at kids when they walk past him. He grows at pedestrians and bikers as I drive past them. It's really embarrassing to take him out in public since he's so mean. My biggest fear is that he will eventually bite someone. I don't know how to break this habit. I've emailed the previous owners multiple times for the paperwork as I was concerned that Einstein's aggression is the result of generations of inbreeding. Not that it really matters as I will still keep him (he really does love me and treats me differently). But just for peace of mind to figure out why he's so mean sometimes. I've taken him to puppy training class at Petsmart, and it did nothing! Well, I wasn't impressed by the trainers either. Someone told me that this is normal terrier behavior and someone else mentioned that he's difficult since he's going through his adolescent years. I've never had a terrier before. I've always had shih tzu, but I wanted something different and smaller. Thus I chose to adopt a yorkie, but ended with a silky. Also, he still hasn't stopped eating his poop despite me trying forbid, deter, pineapple, and switching his diet to Wellness. Eww...I just don't like knowing that he eats poop when he licks me. If anyone can help me with this behavior issue, then that would be much appreciated. Last edited by geekygirl; 03-09-2009 at 07:12 PM. |
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03-09-2009, 08:01 PM | #2 |
Donating YT 10K Club Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: S. W. Suburbs of Chicago, IL
Posts: 12,235
| I am confused? How do you know he is a Silkie and not a Yorkie? Is it because he is 8 lbs? My Pebbles is 11 lbs of purebred Yorkie. As for the aggression issues before I would hire a trainer I would suggest this book Let the Dog Decide Amazon.com: Let the Dog Decide: The Revolutionary... I used this on Pebbles after we hired a trainer and spent a small fortune. This book really helped me to understand and worked great. I would really like to see pictures of your little guy. Don't worry about the papers from his previous owners. You need to concentrate on getting this little guy under control so that you can enjoy your time together on walks and outing.
__________________ “Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.” Mark Twain |
03-09-2009, 08:09 PM | #3 |
I ♥ Snoopy and Sally! Donating YT Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Ohio
Posts: 780
| Have you ruled out any health problems? A sudden change in personality might indicate illness. Wouldn't hurt to check it out. Best of luck!
__________________ Snoopy, Sally, and Mommy |
03-09-2009, 08:51 PM | #4 |
Yorkie Talker Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: pasadena, ca, usa
Posts: 10
| thanks for your help! i will try to upload pictures of him tomorrow. i need to resize them first. i know there are some members with big yorkies (20 pounds plus), but i'm convinced mine's a silky. his ears shoot straight up and are parallel to each other instead of hanging from the head in v-shape. when i first adopted him, his ears were hanging down. his body is long compared to his height (almost dachshund like). and he has a silver patch on his head, and this area is slowly expanding. it was only a small spot on his head previously but now the top of his head is completely white...i love him anyhow. he's had multiple trips to the vet the past month. twice for tapeworms (he received 2 praziquental injections...ouch) and twice for neutering and follow up stitch removal. he's been checked and hasn't had any health problems outside of the tapeworms. i will definitely try to get that book soon and read up on it. i've really tried to socialize him, but i don't want the people around me to fear my little boy. it's funny. when he goes to the dog park, he is much nicer around strangers than outside of the dogpark. |
03-10-2009, 01:48 AM | #5 |
YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: England,UK
Posts: 1,176
| look forward to seeing some pictures. Molly weighs in at 14lbs and doesnt have the typical square body that yorkies shoud have. I do have her papers that say she is all yorkie,but it doesnt change the fact that she is quite long in the body....and also very very cute!! |
03-10-2009, 02:21 AM | #6 | |
Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: nj
Posts: 1,256
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03-10-2009, 04:36 AM | #7 | |
Love my Mika!!! Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Cheshire UK
Posts: 2,430
| WELCOME to YT!!! Quote:
__________________ YORKIE MUM TO MIKA 12 MONTHS OLD!!! MIKA & FLETCHER D.O.B. 03/17/08 | |
03-10-2009, 05:14 AM | #8 |
YT Addict | I have been reading Ceaser Millan's books and I have found them to be really helpfull. I think that he is taking over in the leader of the pack role. You need to be more firm with him. I would really suggest reading his books. They can really help you. I had some of the same problems with my lab and I have been applying what he said in the book and I have been some major changes. I hope that helps. |
03-10-2009, 05:25 AM | #9 |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 10,534
| Your Einstein sounds like my Fletcher in looks and almost my Dexter in personality. My Fletcher is 9lbs, LONG and thin, his head turned whitish color and his body is steel blue. He is 100% yorkie. His brother Dexter is from the same litter, same parents and he is only 5-5.5lbs, hes compact with short legs. Fletcher's ears are VERY erect and Dexter's ears flop at the tips. Fletcher is very friendly and will come up to anyone for petting. He is a little wired and nervous though at times... Dexter on the other hand is a shy mommas boy. He really just likes his mom to hold him and if other people are around (esp children) he wants nothing to do with anyone but me. He is also aggressive towards other dogs, whereas Fletcher LOVES other dogs. I usually just hold him and most people might try to pet him or just leave him alone when Ive got him in my arms. I don't try to force dogs on him or kids just in case he does try to bite. I don't think he would. I have trained them hard to not do that. Here are some pics of my babies... the first ones are Fletcher, and second ones are Dexter.
__________________ “Petting, scratching, and cuddling a dog could be as soothing to the mind and heart as deep meditation and almost as good for the soul as prayer.” ― Dean Koontz |
03-10-2009, 05:36 AM | #10 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2008 Location: Milwaukee
Posts: 159
| Nothing you've said about him would put him outside of the breed standard (except for his weight, but there are porky yorkies). As for the agression, he might still be clearing some of the hormones out of his system. At 7 months, a lot is happening to him in his development, and he might just be in a stage. There are ways to help him to trust strangers. Take him to a place like Petsmart where they're understanding of bad behavior, and ask some strangers to help you train him. Bring some ridiculously tasty treats with you--make these your special "stranger treats." Ask strangers if you can give them one to then give to Einstein. Never give him those treats in other circumstances. Einstein should start to associate strangers with good things (i.e., the treats) and look forward to seeing them. As for the poop eating, you can put tabasco sauce on it right after he goes. That'll teach him real quickly not to eat it. |
03-10-2009, 05:54 AM | #11 | |
Donating YT 10K Club Member | Quote:
Personally I don't think he's mean...I think he's a terrier. Inside the dog park he's not defending his terriority ...outside he feels it's his "job".
__________________ Deb, Reese, Reggie, Frazier, Libby, Sidney, & Bodie Trace & Ramsey who watch over us www.biewersbythebay.com | |
03-10-2009, 02:29 PM | #12 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: St Francis, MN
Posts: 66
| I feel for you with his anger issues. Woody was barely over a year old when taking a summer vacation at the lake. A friend drove up for the day with her little boy who had a set of plastic golf clubs (he was 3yrs old). They are neighbors so they knew Woody well and have played together many times. Well, that day, Izack must have had a mean streak in him as well after the car ride, and was trying to hit Woody with one of his clubs. I just about had a heart attack when I saw him!! To this day, Woody is VERY uneasy around children especially when the kids are hyper. I am here to tell you that there is hope. He is very young and can relearn that children are fun to play with. Woody has been socializing with my 2yr old grand daughter for the last year and they have become good friends. Ava can come up to him now and pet him and kiss the top of his head without worring about being nipped at. THERE IS HOPE!!!
__________________ Woody Bogie |
03-10-2009, 02:45 PM | #13 | |
I ♥ Joey & Ralphie! Donating Member | Quote:
All it takes is one incident like this. It's so important to NEVER leave puppies unattended. You may need some advice from a behaviorist since he's snapping at children. Eating poop is caused by different things, what works depends on what causing the behavior. Some dogs eat their poop to "hide the evidence", and think they have done a good thing when they eat it. That's why so many trainers say never to raise your voice when housebreaking, they might think you are mad for them pooping, and will then try to hide it from you. Pineapple works with some dogs because it contains a Bromelain that tenderizes the protein in meat, making the meat easier to digest. The dog will no longer smell nutrients in the poop, and will be less likely to eat it. You have to do it every meal, and add about two chunks to each meal. Don't start and stop, continue this for at least a month. Some foods contain easier to digest protein, and that why switching foods can help. Some people say that dogs eat poop because they need potassium, although I haven't read any real evidence of this. Some people say canned pumpkin works, and suggest you use one teaspoon of unsweetened pumpkin with each meal. I'm not sure what scientific evidence this is based upon, but people have reported success.
__________________ NancyJoey Proud members of the CrAzYcLuB and YAP! ** Just Say No to Puppymills – Join YAP! Yorkshire Terrier Club of America – Breeder Referrals | |
03-10-2009, 09:51 PM | #15 |
♥Love My Snuggle Bugs♥ Donating Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Missouri
Posts: 4,290
| I will try to post for you a picture of my daughters silky and one of our yorkie so you can see the difference and its really not all that drastic. The first one is daughters registered silky second of course our registered yorkie. the main difference to me is in the nose and length of body. of course hair texture also. Last edited by nanahas3; 03-10-2009 at 09:52 PM. |
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