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09-23-2011, 11:34 AM | #1 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: NY
Posts: 849
| Won't Let Me Walk Her??? The past few weeks Roxie has been giving me a REALLY difficult time about taking her out. She won't come to the door, and when I pick up her harness and leash to put them on her, she growls and barks at me while backing away quickly. If I get too close she will actually bite me (which has happened twice now). She NEVER does this to my SO, who also lives here. DBF usually walks her when he gets home from work between 10 am and 12 noon, but he is away until tomorrow, so I rushed home after school to walk her because she was home alone for almost 10 hours. Well, she didn't want to go out with me, even though I know she must have had to potty. She barked and growled and backed away from me. I finally had to trick her by pretending I wanted to play. When she came to get her Wubba from me, I grabbed her. Then she refused to put her harness on. I actually had to wrestle with her like one would struggle with a small child who doesn't want to put on a jacket. It was crazy! We went out, she pottied quickly, and ran back to the house. When we got inside I didn't even take her harness off, because I am afraid I won't be able to get it on her again later! And then she had the nerve to go wait by the cabinet for a treat! What is going on here? Why is she giving me such a hard time all of a sudden? I've been her mommy for nearly 2 years, and this started about 3 weeks ago.
__________________ Roxie Last edited by Roxiesmama; 09-23-2011 at 11:38 AM. |
Welcome Guest! | |
09-23-2011, 12:02 PM | #2 |
Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: New York
Posts: 3,896
| Did something happen to Roxie a few weeks ago to scare her when she went outside? Another dog, cat, bees, loud noises, etc.? I don't know what to do except be patient and give her lots of praise when she goes out so she knows that going out is a good thing. Good luck!! |
09-23-2011, 12:25 PM | #3 |
Living In Paradise! Donating Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Ewa Beach on the island of Oahu
Posts: 3,588
| Just wondering if it could be because you are walking her and not your SO. Maybe she doesn't like the change and is confused to why you are doing it? She might miss her special time with him. Just a thought.
__________________ Aloha & Have a wonderful day! Roni~ Ahi Shibi Roxie Heart Alize & Prada |
09-23-2011, 01:04 PM | #4 |
Therapy Yorkies Work Donating Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Central, Florida
Posts: 3,863
| This is weird. Did you accidently pull her hair or pinch her skin ? Is the harness to tight, have a burr or something rubbing her ? Did something happen to make her feel afraid. I feel silly asking this because I am sure you checked everything out. BITING is Never acceptable. When you come in try to ignore her, don't rush her to go out. Go to the kitchen and get some of her favorite treats and a cookie, cracker, or pretzel for yourself. Pick up the harness and leash and take them with you to the sofa. Sit down and crunch your own treat loudly. About this time she will be wondering why you are doing this and probably will jump up to check it out. Give her a tiny treat and pet her. Tell her how good she is. Let her see her next treat.Put the harness on be very calm and praise and give her the treat. If she fights you just put her on the floor and ignore her. Pretend to eat the nummy treat yourself. Repeat until she gives in and COMES to you and lets you put her harness on. Do NOT let her bully you by nipping. Say NO firmly and put her on the floor. If she does bite do not jerk your hand back, but push it into her mouth and say firmly NO. Pushing into her mouth will surprize and put her off balance. Because she has her body set to play tug. That is what dogs do, bite and pull back. What ever you do act afraid. When she realizes you are the Pack Leader as much as your SO she will cut it out. Good Luck.
__________________ Teresa & Rubin, Gracie, Abba, Ginny Joy and Julia Rose Act like a dog, be kind, forgiving, and loyal. |
09-23-2011, 01:42 PM | #5 |
YT Addict Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Abbotsford, BC, Canada
Posts: 466
| I find that Ozzy doesn't like to go outside with anyone but me. If my SO or my daughter tries to take him out they have to chase him down. I just have to say "outside?" and he's running to me. Here's a trick to get your pup to love putting on the harness and going out for walks. TREATS. Get your dog to go through the harness on its own by holding it out and holding a treat on the other side, so he/she has to go into the harness to get the treat (or lead their head through with a treat in your hand). It's always better if they do something on their own, rather than you do something to them (they walk into the harness rather than you put it on them). I did this with Ozzy for a while and it worked wonders. Then, give a treat occasionally when outside. You don't have to do this forever, but it will help get your baby to really WANT to go out with you and WANT to put on the harness.
__________________ David & Denise ... proud parents of Ozzy |
09-23-2011, 02:02 PM | #6 |
Action Jackson ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Maryland
Posts: 17,814
| She's obviously scared about something. We don't always know what sets off things in their little doggy minds, but I highly doubt she is trying to be the pack leader. Something in her mind is suddenly telling her that harness = bad and scary. Jackson went through a phase like this once, but I had pinched him once while snapping the harness shut so I think that's what triggered it. All the sudden he started running away every time I got out the harness/leash, even if he knew had to go potty. It took me a few weeks of de-sensitizing him to the harness again. I would put it on the ground and throw treats on top of it. I would slowly start putting it over his head but not fully putting it on yet. Now, in the meantime, I had to "force" him to wear it simply because he HAD to to be let outside, but after a few weeks he stopped running from it completely after some de-sensitizing. I think anything that will make the harness a negative experience will just reinforce the behavior and make it worse, such as dominating her, or being aggressive back. Doesn't usually help in situations like this.
__________________ ~ Brit & Lights! Camera! Jackson! CGC ETD TKP ~ Follow Jackson on Instagram: https://instagram.com/jacksontheterrier |
09-23-2011, 02:09 PM | #7 |
LoveMy2 Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: East Tennessee
Posts: 4,060
| The barking, backing away, and biting makes me think she is scared of something and acting out of fear. It can be funny how they get used to routines. It is hard for my DH to take Maddie out because she is used to me doing. With a baby on the way, he has started trying to do it more so she will can get used to going out with him in case I can't at the moment she needs to. However, she will sit and bark at me with him calling her at the door to "Go Out". |
09-24-2011, 03:23 AM | #8 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: NY
Posts: 849
| But it's weird, she willingly lets me take her out sometimes. It's like she knows that sometimes mommy has to take her out, but she just doesn't want me to take her out *all the time*. Last night after dinner she scratched at the door and had no problem letting me take her out. This morning, she had to be bribed with a treat (which doesn't always work either). It's frustrating. I don't want to have to give her a treat every time she has to go out.
__________________ Roxie |
09-24-2011, 07:45 AM | #9 |
Therapy Yorkies Work Donating Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Central, Florida
Posts: 3,863
| LOL I just checked back to see if you updated anything and realized in previous post I said 'what ever you do, act afraid" I meant do Not act afraid. Be confident, calm and loving. By Pack Leader I mean the Provider, Parent, Teacher, Adult in charge ect. Not some drill sergeant shouting orders. You lead by example. With dogs you can not be all nervous, frightened, angry or in a hurry. When you are calm, gentle and patient, they will be calmer and more receptive to what you are teaching.
__________________ Teresa & Rubin, Gracie, Abba, Ginny Joy and Julia Rose Act like a dog, be kind, forgiving, and loyal. |
11-26-2011, 06:37 AM | #10 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: NY
Posts: 849
| Update: This situation has NOT improved. Roxie is still selective about when she will let me take her out. She seems to go through stages where it is much worse than other times. This past week has been rough. This morning I tried to take her out several times and she did the backing away and barking at me. Then, when I wasn't looking, she peed all over the front hallway carpet! This is the first time she has done that and I am pretty upset. I shouldn't have to bribe her to go out with me. This is now beyond frustrating!
__________________ Roxie |
11-26-2011, 08:03 AM | #11 |
YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: NY
Posts: 6,582
| Something is going on that you are unaware of. I would observe the others who take her out. Don't say anything just have them take her out when you are there and see how she reacts to them. It could be something has gone on while you were not there that has been very traumatic to her. I would be very concerned about this. I have a feeling that whatever it is it was not just a one time event. |
11-26-2011, 08:18 AM | #12 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: NY
Posts: 849
| The only other person who lives here and walks her is my fiance. She has absolutely NO PROBLEM going out with him. She has never resisted him taking her out. Sometimes when I try to get her to go out, she will look up the stairs as if she is waiting for him to come down and take her out. Now, after this morning's incident, she let me take her out twice with no issues.
__________________ Roxie |
11-26-2011, 08:50 AM | #13 |
Therapy Yorkies Work Donating Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Central, Florida
Posts: 3,863
| Sorry you are still having problems. Retraining may be your best option. Because I can not see and hear what your dog is doing. I am thinking from what you said she thinks she is the pack leader. She wants to do things on her terms and if you don't let her, she corrects you with growling and bites. Read and start practicing Nothing In Life Is Free Nothing in Life is Free When you are home keep her on a leash until this problem is resolved. You can let her drag the leash or hook the leash to you. By hooking her to you, she has to go where you go, period. She will have to follow a leader. Just say your cue words, Let's Go when you start walking and go. She may protest, bite the leash, lay down etc.. ignore that, just keep walking. Of course you know Yorkies should never have a leash hooked to their collar, only a harness. Roxie needs to relearn who makes the decisions for her pack (family). That is not her job. But yours. You know what is best for her to eat, when she needs her nails trimmed, a visit to the vet, where to potty, when play time is over, which medications are the right one and everything else too. Roxie is like a forever two year old. If she is allowed to be the leader everyone will be unhappy. She needs to see you as the PLP (Protector, Leader, Provider). Do not ask her if she has to go out. Just walk her to the door and go out side. Keep her on the leash. I hope she is crate trained, because she should not have the run of the house right now, she being retrained. Freedom has to be earned. She should not be sleeping on your bed right now either. Sleeping on your bed is a huge privilege, not a given. Is she agressive with toys, food, being disturbed ? Does she move out of your way, or do you have to step around her ? I hope this advice helps. It is not the same as an in home visit.If things don't start to improve you may need a trainer/behaviorist to work with you. Let me know how it goes.
__________________ Teresa & Rubin, Gracie, Abba, Ginny Joy and Julia Rose Act like a dog, be kind, forgiving, and loyal. |
11-26-2011, 08:33 PM | #14 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: JONES,AL U.S.
Posts: 113
| Pay close attention.... to how she acts once outside. We as humans sometimes don't recognise problems that arise with our babies. Penny is around 10 or 11 years old and not too long ago while sitting on the sofa with her, I noticed she raised up from under her quilt, looked at me and laid her ears back. Her eyes widened and she started to shiver, ran to me and jumped in my lap. I didn't know what was going on, but I held and comforted her. About 30 mins later, she had stopped shivering and was ok! I couldn't for the life of me figure out what had happened, but just went on like normal. The very next day, she did the same thing! I thought for a minute and then it hit me!!!! IT HAD STARTED TO THUNDER AND LIGHTENING!!!! We had severe thunderstorms for a couple days (ALABAMA TORNADOES IN APRIL) and this was freaking her out! She had never in the 8 years I've had her, been afraid of any kind of storm, but this phobia is real for her! Now when I know they r coming, I grab a bag of treats and a fav toy and I play and treat her through the storms. I associate the storms with good things! She's gotten better, but still gets a little nervous when she hears lightening. I also began to notice that when our smoke detector beeps for a battery change, she has reactions as well. Also, when the TV gets blipped off by a power surge! All this has to do with the storms as our detectors are electric run until power is out and they bleep sometimes for need of a new battery if the power goes out. The TV goes and stays out on its own when a power surge occurs. I guess the tenseness of those bad days ( my son and grand daughter lives in Tuscaloosa where the worst tornado hit and I was worried as we could not get thru to them on the phones for 24) and the bad weather with winds and hail the size of golfballs and small oranges really got to her! I now make sure all batteries are fresh,etc. The TV I have no control over, but again I give her a treat when it pops off. It's hard because they can't tell us what the problem is, but sounds like she's having one. Also, you might want to talk with your SO and ask exactly what they do when they take her out and follow that same procedure to a T. She will also pick up on ur emotions, so if your worried about something, she might be worried about it for ya. Hope it all works out great for you both. |
11-27-2011, 07:50 AM | #15 |
Action Jackson ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Maryland
Posts: 17,814
| Have you been doing anything in regards to training with her? Any de-sensitizing like I sort of explained in my last post? It is going to take a lot of time, energy and effort it sounds like to get her to enjoy the process of you leashing her up and taking her outside.
__________________ ~ Brit & Lights! Camera! Jackson! CGC ETD TKP ~ Follow Jackson on Instagram: https://instagram.com/jacksontheterrier |
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