My Harley? Mean? - Page 2 - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Rfwrosie · 10-28-2005, 10:04 PM

Our Bayley is five months old. We have him three weeks. Our kids are ages 8 and 5. The first two weeks was pure hell between the kids and the puppy. Bayley went nuts every time they came in the room. Attacking them, growling, nipping, barking. The younger one couldn't even walk passed the dog without him biting his feet or his legs. I think it was a combination of the noise and the fast movements that scared the dog.

I also read that Yorkies are not good with children and was really beginning to worry that this wasn't going to work out. So, I had my kids sit quietly on the floor, not touch the dog or pick him up, let the dog go to them. Bayley got used to being with them and is getting used to their wild ways. Lets face it, they are kids. Whenever he goes after them, Bayley gets it from Momma. In one week, Bayley behaves much better around the kids, but we still have a way to go. Good luck.

FirstYorkie · 10-29-2005, 12:15 AM

Sounds like Bayley is doing great. You could maybe speed up the process by having the kids give him his meals. Also, make the kids into mini treat-dispensing-machines. I like your advice of having the kids wait for the dog to come to them and not vice-versa!

spydergurl · 10-29-2005, 08:11 PM

Mine were practically raised by my grandkids. My Yorkie girls are six years old, and my grandchildren are now 10 and 7. So, you see they were 4 and 1 when I first got them. My Yorkie girls are very nice to my grandgirls, and vice versa. Sure, there were a few scary moments when my grandgirls got too rough with them, but they never did anything harmful to them, thank God! My Yorkie girls love everyone, kids and adults alike. Chewy is definitely more outgoing, like I am, and Sierra is more of a quiet, stay at home body like my husband. Thy all have different personalities like people, I'm sure. And they do tend to take after their owners, JMO.

I would definitely look up the agressive training, for sure, if I were you! They are easily trained and aim to please. They learn quickly! Good luck!

Marie · 10-29-2005, 08:55 PM

Aww I hope you can resolve your problem with Harleys' aggression. I have some problems with Gucci too. She is fine as long small kids dont get on top of her without letting smell them first, she will growl and will try to nip. Also she doesnt allowed anyone but me to tocuch her when she is eating. ANy suggestions?

FirstYorkie · 10-30-2005, 01:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marie

Aww I hope you can resolve your problem with Harleys' aggression. I have some problems with Gucci too. She is fine as long small kids dont get on top of her without letting smell them first, she will growl and will try to nip. Also she doesnt allowed anyone but me to tocuch her when she is eating. ANy suggestions?

First, as far as not wanting to be touched while eating, this is known as food or object guarding. There is an excellent article on how to deal with it here:
http://www.clickersolutions.com/arti...ctguarding.htm

As far as the kids, I think it's perfectly reasonable on Gucci's part to want to smell them before she lets them get all over her. Again, as kids approach, I'd hold up my hand in a "stop sign" fashion and say "Stop! Let her come to you first". If they don't stop, add "She bites!". If they still don't stop, scoop up Gucci and leave - these kids need more training than you have time for!

While Gucci is sniffing the kids, I'd give them some small dog treats to give her so that she learns "good things come from small people". At first, have the kids just drop the treats (to be sure Gucci doesn't nip their hands). As Gucci gets more comfortable, show the kids how to offer treats from an open palm.

I'm betting that Gucci can learn to tolerate kids!

Marie · 10-31-2005, 09:07 PM

Thank you so much for the link and advise. i will defenetely check out that link.

FirstYorkie · 11-01-2005, 12:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marie

Thank you so much for the link and advise. i will defenetely check out that link.

You're welcome! Let us know how it goes!

I wonder how Harley is doing....

HisNameIsHarley · 11-01-2005, 04:55 AM

I took Harley w/ me to a church event and discovered something.. He has a sweet and social side! When I arrived I announced to everyone in advance (it was a PJ party.. about 2 women dressed in pjs @ a Praise Jesus party! hehe) that he will nip/bite/snarl whatever if you charge him too quickly. So I asked everyone and anyone who might feel an impulse to touch his cute goofy butt (he was wearing his pj's too!) that they give him a couple feet, try and call him over and then let him sniff you. If he likes you he'll stick around and roll over for a belly rub. If he thinks you smell silly or he's running low on tolerance he'll flip up his little tail and prance off! All of them listened (being that they were all between the age range of 18-60 instead of 3-12!) and he was AWESOME! He never once acted out! And I mean there was a lady trying to pet him every other minute! I feel a lot better and realize that he needs to check THEM out before they touch HIM!

Ponyup · 11-01-2005, 07:03 AM

I don't have any aggresion issues with Logan, but i also socialized the crap out of him from the moment I got him. I got him the 4th of July weekend and took him to a family reunion on sat. & a friends party on sun. So he got used to all kinds of people real fast. The only times he gets a little shy or scared is if someone rushes him. He likes to be the aggressive one, or approach people on his own terms and most of the times he does because he runs right up to people before they even see him. Maybe somethng you can do to help is act like a kid yourself. Ever since he was little him and I would go outside and play chase. I would jump around and act like a idiot and he would jump and bark and chase me. and if he ever snapped or bit to hard I would just say no. That way he got used to fast sporatic movement in a safe environment.

We had a Scottish terrier when I was a kid that bit everyone. Even me and mom, so it had nothing to do with strangers. I was a small child at the time. Something I realized that my mom thinks I'm nuts, but I think it might have merit is that everytime he bit me it was in a kinda dark place and I was moving in very quickly to pet him. If I moved slowly I was fine. I think it had something to do with instincts. He saw this quick movement in the dark and went after it as if it were a rabbit or something. Just a thought. We never got him over it and he had to be put away any time strangers were about.

Samiebaby · 11-01-2005, 08:41 AM

I wish I had some great tips for you, but unfortunately, maggie is pretty much in love with everyone. I'm not sure whether it's because the first two days I had her she lived in my dorm and met a lot of people or just her personality in general. I know it sounds a little crazy, but i'm only 5'1" and maybe she just thinks kids aren't any different than me lol. Hope you get it worked out. I'm sure he'll come around with a little work.

HisNameIsHarley · 11-01-2005, 04:10 PM

Harley has made another step in the right direction today! I decided to bring him on campus w/ me today and brought him along to my drawing class. I carried him in my kari pack so I didn't have to worry about him scampering away from me. Well of course EVERYBODY wanted to pet him.. I mean geesh.. Who can resist a yorkie!? So I told them all to let him sniff you first and once he licks you or starts wagging his little nubby tail

then you're A-ok to pet him.. And sure enough.. No problems at all! He was soo friendly! And over 10 people even held him and he gave them kisses all over their faces! I'm so impressed w/ the difference it makes just by giving him the chance to see who's about to pet him!

And my professor is a real nut! He's originally from yugoslavia and has been teaching for over 45 yrs! He can barely speak english even though he's been living in the states for 20+ yrs and his accent made Harley act funny! But Fadja was soo sweet w/ him and let him check him out first and then he spent most of the class playing w/ Harley rather than critiquing our sketches! (everyone appriciated this!)

Now all I have to do is tackle the children aggression.. And I have found the perfect little helper! My little 4 yr old cousin Donovan has brightly volunteered and I'll keep you guys updated!

crystalsmom · 11-01-2005, 04:58 PM

Lee Ann, you and Harley are doing so well that I doubt if you will need this
but there may be something for someone else. This is from a book that I
really like on dogs. My Crystal loves everyone, adults, kids, dogs, cats etc.
but a couple months ago my friends two boys were shooting b b guns (no
noise and I cannot figure out why she was so frightened) I hate the things
and she doesn't watch tv so she's not frightened of guns

. You just never
know what goes through their heads. Anyway this is from the book

If your dog is only a puppy between seven weeks and six months old, his growling (snarling and nipping, too) can be ended with corrections using vocal reprimands ("No") with or without rattling a shake can. Careful
employment of the corrective jerk (use is based on the dogs temperament)
can successfully solve this problem. Young dogs between the ages of six
and ten months old can still be turned around with firm corrections. Of course
at this age growling is often accompanied by snalrling, snapping and shallow
bites and must be dealt with quickly and effectively. But growling dogs ten
months and older are difficult to change. Once a dog is past ten months of
age and has a growling, snarling, or biting problem, he can cause serious injuries and requires professional evaluation.

We have a great trainer that will help you over the phone if it's not a busy
day for him and you may have someone like that in your town and possibly obedience training would help so that the dog
knows that you are alpha and not he/she. I really believe in obedience
training. I know I was trained as much as my dogs were.

yorkieusa · 11-01-2005, 07:22 PM

That makes me so happy to read this about Harley. You're doing a great job with him. I think it will all work out fine.

FirstYorkie · 11-02-2005, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HisNameIsHarley

So I told them all to let him sniff you first and once he licks you or starts wagging his little nubby tail

then you're A-ok to pet him.. And sure enough.. No problems at all!

Now all I have to do is tackle the children aggression.. And I have found the perfect little helper! My little 4 yr old cousin Donovan has brightly volunteered and I'll keep you guys updated!

I'm glad this is working for you, LeeAnn! Just be careful because there seems to be one in every group who think they know more about dogs than you do & won't follow your instructions. It is especially hard in a Nursing Home because of many residents' reduced ability to hear and/or understand what you are saying.

Your cousin is a great place to start with working on the kid-thing! Once Harley is happy with him, it would be a good idea to extend it to other kids before "turning him loose".

HisNameIsHarley · 11-02-2005, 05:03 AM

Thank you for all your tips and support everybody! I know EXACTLY what you mean FirstYorkie, by that one person in a crowd who thinks they know more about dogs than ANYONE on the planet! I get those ALL the time and I try to stay patient but in the end if they persist I end up giving them a correctional lecture explaining to them exactly why they are wrong! If they don't like it they can go away! If they take it in stride then great! lol

Oh yea, I almost forgot, I've decided not to allow Harley to run around on his own or be pet by anyone in the nursing home anymore. If he comes at all he will be in his kari pet or in his bag and he will go straight to my grandaddys room! No problems there!

And my moms older terrier mutt (oh tut tut my language!

) rescue TA has replaced Harley! She is now their official visiting buddy! But this dog could be a therapy dog if you asked her to be! She's perfect for the job! Calm, quiet, patient, comes when she's called (even by strangers), loves being in your lap, will sit in one place for an hour as long as your rubbing her ears.. Basically.. She's everything that Harleys NOT! haha

10-28-2005, 10:04 PM	#16
Rfwrosie Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NEW JERSEY Posts: 14	My Harley?Mean? Our Bayley is five months old. We have him three weeks. Our kids are ages 8 and 5. The first two weeks was pure hell between the kids and the puppy. Bayley went nuts every time they came in the room. Attacking them, growling, nipping, barking. The younger one couldn't even walk passed the dog without him biting his feet or his legs. I think it was a combination of the noise and the fast movements that scared the dog. I also read that Yorkies are not good with children and was really beginning to worry that this wasn't going to work out. So, I had my kids sit quietly on the floor, not touch the dog or pick him up, let the dog go to them. Bayley got used to being with them and is getting used to their wild ways. Lets face it, they are kids. Whenever he goes after them, Bayley gets it from Momma. In one week, Bayley behaves much better around the kids, but we still have a way to go. Good luck.

10-29-2005, 08:55 PM	#19
Marie Mom loves Gucci Donating Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: New York City Posts: 6,427	Aww I hope you can resolve your problem with Harleys' aggression. I have some problems with Gucci too. She is fine as long small kids dont get on top of her without letting smell them first, she will growl and will try to nip. Also she doesnt allowed anyone but me to tocuch her when she is eating. ANy suggestions? __________________ Huggies, Gucci and Marie http://www.dogster.com/?132187 "I have been egged"

10-31-2005, 09:07 PM	#21
Marie Mom loves Gucci Donating Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: New York City Posts: 6,427	Thank you so much for the link and advise. i will defenetely check out that link. __________________ Huggies, Gucci and Marie http://www.dogster.com/?132187 "I have been egged"

11-01-2005, 04:55 AM	#23
HisNameIsHarley YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: West Virginia Posts: 1,119	I took Harley w/ me to a church event and discovered something.. He has a sweet and social side! When I arrived I announced to everyone in advance (it was a PJ party.. about 2 women dressed in pjs @ a Praise Jesus party! hehe) that he will nip/bite/snarl whatever if you charge him too quickly. So I asked everyone and anyone who might feel an impulse to touch his cute goofy butt (he was wearing his pj's too!) that they give him a couple feet, try and call him over and then let him sniff you. If he likes you he'll stick around and roll over for a belly rub. If he thinks you smell silly or he's running low on tolerance he'll flip up his little tail and prance off! All of them listened (being that they were all between the age range of 18-60 instead of 3-12!) and he was AWESOME! He never once acted out! And I mean there was a lady trying to pet him every other minute! I feel a lot better and realize that he needs to check THEM out before they touch HIM! __________________ LeeAnn Harley Remember.. Dog is God Spelled Backwards

11-01-2005, 07:03 AM	#24
Ponyup YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 1,252	I don't have any aggresion issues with Logan, but i also socialized the crap out of him from the moment I got him. I got him the 4th of July weekend and took him to a family reunion on sat. & a friends party on sun. So he got used to all kinds of people real fast. The only times he gets a little shy or scared is if someone rushes him. He likes to be the aggressive one, or approach people on his own terms and most of the times he does because he runs right up to people before they even see him. Maybe somethng you can do to help is act like a kid yourself. Ever since he was little him and I would go outside and play chase. I would jump around and act like a idiot and he would jump and bark and chase me. and if he ever snapped or bit to hard I would just say no. That way he got used to fast sporatic movement in a safe environment. We had a Scottish terrier when I was a kid that bit everyone. Even me and mom, so it had nothing to do with strangers. I was a small child at the time. Something I realized that my mom thinks I'm nuts, but I think it might have merit is that everytime he bit me it was in a kinda dark place and I was moving in very quickly to pet him. If I moved slowly I was fine. I think it had something to do with instincts. He saw this quick movement in the dark and went after it as if it were a rabbit or something. Just a thought. We never got him over it and he had to be put away any time strangers were about. __________________ Ponyup Mom to LOGAN

10-29-2005, 12:15 AM	#17
FirstYorkie YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: American in London Posts: 1,739	Sounds like Bayley is doing great. You could maybe speed up the process by having the kids give him his meals. Also, make the kids into mini treat-dispensing-machines. I like your advice of having the kids wait for the dog to come to them and not vice-versa!

10-29-2005, 08:11 PM	#18
spydergurl YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: California Posts: 516	Mine were practically raised by my grandkids. My Yorkie girls are six years old, and my grandchildren are now 10 and 7. So, you see they were 4 and 1 when I first got them. My Yorkie girls are very nice to my grandgirls, and vice versa. Sure, there were a few scary moments when my grandgirls got too rough with them, but they never did anything harmful to them, thank God! My Yorkie girls love everyone, kids and adults alike. Chewy is definitely more outgoing, like I am, and Sierra is more of a quiet, stay at home body like my husband. Thy all have different personalities like people, I'm sure. And they do tend to take after their owners, JMO. I would definitely look up the agressive training, for sure, if I were you! They are easily trained and aim to please. They learn quickly! Good luck!

11-01-2005, 08:41 AM	#25
Samiebaby Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 453	I wish I had some great tips for you, but unfortunately, maggie is pretty much in love with everyone. I'm not sure whether it's because the first two days I had her she lived in my dorm and met a lot of people or just her personality in general. I know it sounds a little crazy, but i'm only 5'1" and maybe she just thinks kids aren't any different than me lol. Hope you get it worked out. I'm sure he'll come around with a little work. __________________ Maggie and Max's mama

11-01-2005, 04:10 PM	#26
HisNameIsHarley YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: West Virginia Posts: 1,119	Harley has made another step in the right direction today! I decided to bring him on campus w/ me today and brought him along to my drawing class. I carried him in my kari pack so I didn't have to worry about him scampering away from me. Well of course EVERYBODY wanted to pet him.. I mean geesh.. Who can resist a yorkie!? So I told them all to let him sniff you first and once he licks you or starts wagging his little nubby tail then you're A-ok to pet him.. And sure enough.. No problems at all! He was soo friendly! And over 10 people even held him and he gave them kisses all over their faces! I'm so impressed w/ the difference it makes just by giving him the chance to see who's about to pet him! And my professor is a real nut! He's originally from yugoslavia and has been teaching for over 45 yrs! He can barely speak english even though he's been living in the states for 20+ yrs and his accent made Harley act funny! But Fadja was soo sweet w/ him and let him check him out first and then he spent most of the class playing w/ Harley rather than critiquing our sketches! (everyone appriciated this!) Now all I have to do is tackle the children aggression.. And I have found the perfect little helper! My little 4 yr old cousin Donovan has brightly volunteered and I'll keep you guys updated! __________________ LeeAnn Harley Remember.. Dog is God Spelled Backwards

11-01-2005, 04:58 PM	#27
crystalsmom Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 7,946	Don't think you'll neet this Lee Ann, you and Harley are doing so well that I doubt if you will need this but there may be something for someone else. This is from a book that I really like on dogs. My Crystal loves everyone, adults, kids, dogs, cats etc. but a couple months ago my friends two boys were shooting b b guns (no noise and I cannot figure out why she was so frightened) I hate the things and she doesn't watch tv so she's not frightened of guns . You just never know what goes through their heads. Anyway this is from the book If your dog is only a puppy between seven weeks and six months old, his growling (snarling and nipping, too) can be ended with corrections using vocal reprimands ("No") with or without rattling a shake can. Careful employment of the corrective jerk (use is based on the dogs temperament) can successfully solve this problem. Young dogs between the ages of six and ten months old can still be turned around with firm corrections. Of course at this age growling is often accompanied by snalrling, snapping and shallow bites and must be dealt with quickly and effectively. But growling dogs ten months and older are difficult to change. Once a dog is past ten months of age and has a growling, snarling, or biting problem, he can cause serious injuries and requires professional evaluation. We have a great trainer that will help you over the phone if it's not a busy day for him and you may have someone like that in your town and possibly obedience training would help so that the dog knows that you are alpha and not he/she. I really believe in obedience training. I know I was trained as much as my dogs were. __________________

11-01-2005, 07:22 PM	#28
yorkieusa Crazy about Kacee! Donating Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Kansas Posts: 21,173	That makes me so happy to read this about Harley. You're doing a great job with him. I think it will all work out fine. __________________ Karen Kacee Muffin 1991-2005 Rest in Peace My Little Angel

11-02-2005, 05:03 AM	#30
HisNameIsHarley YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: West Virginia Posts: 1,119	Thank you for all your tips and support everybody! I know EXACTLY what you mean FirstYorkie, by that one person in a crowd who thinks they know more about dogs than ANYONE on the planet! I get those ALL the time and I try to stay patient but in the end if they persist I end up giving them a correctional lecture explaining to them exactly why they are wrong! If they don't like it they can go away! If they take it in stride then great! lol Oh yea, I almost forgot, I've decided not to allow Harley to run around on his own or be pet by anyone in the nursing home anymore. If he comes at all he will be in his kari pet or in his bag and he will go straight to my grandaddys room! No problems there! And my moms older terrier mutt (oh tut tut my language! ) rescue TA has replaced Harley! She is now their official visiting buddy! But this dog could be a therapy dog if you asked her to be! She's perfect for the job! Calm, quiet, patient, comes when she's called (even by strangers), loves being in your lap, will sit in one place for an hour as long as your rubbing her ears.. Basically.. She's everything that Harleys NOT! haha __________________ LeeAnn Harley Remember.. Dog is God Spelled Backwards Last edited by HisNameIsHarley; 11-02-2005 at 05:07 AM.