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-   -   Please help sudden aggression (https://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/general-yorkshire-terrier-discussion/239697-please-help-sudden-aggression.html)

davidson6 01-05-2012 07:45 PM

Please help sudden aggression
 
We adopted a Yorkie from a one couple family 3 weeks ago. He is 5 years old. They gave him up because he was not getting enough attention and wanted him to go to a family who had children and were home most of the day. Bear officially belongs to our youngest Emilee who is 9. He seems to give her the most attention but at least 5 times he has viciously bitten her for absolutely no found reason. Tonight he was lounging on the couch and she and I were taking turns scratching and rubbing his neck on top. He was loving every minute of it. All of a sudden he viciously bit onto her arm and growled. It was a strong bite and once she broke loose he continued to go after her and bit her twice more. We had to smack his mouth to get him to break free and then immediately put him in the crate covered with a towel for between 5 and 10 minutes. He has never showed aggression before the previous owners say and he has never bit anyone else in our house and there are 6 of us. She loves him but is terrified of him more and more and just as she lets her guard down he attacks her again. We would WHOLEHEARTEDLY welcome ANY HELP!!!!!!!!!!

Maximo 01-05-2012 08:03 PM

Welcome to YorkieTalk.

Did Bear have any experience with children before joining your family? A yorkie that does not have that experience may not be good with children. The quick, unpredictable movements and sounds of children can upset some dogs. My 2 yorkies do not trust younger people because the kids often taunt them in various ways. Dogs don't know what to make of the taunts and consider them threatening.

The not letting go when he was biting is concerning. That is unusual for a Yorkie. I would recommend a vet exam first to rule out a health problem.

Maximo 01-05-2012 08:08 PM

Also, I strongly advise against smacking the dog. I understand your first priority is protecting your daughter. How big is Bear? Get a hold of his body and restrain him rather than hitting him.

Make it clear to your daughter that hitting is not acceptable because she may use this tact when Bear is not behaving in a desirable way (I don't mean biting or attacking). Then you will have an unfixable and dangerous situation.

Taryn0405 01-05-2012 08:12 PM

Also, do not put the dog in the crate as a form of punishment. The crate is supposed to be a safe place for the dog to go when he or she feels overwhelmed.

But I agree, do not hit the dog. It's very ineffective with Yorkies, well most dogs for that matter and can actually spur the anger and defensive biting.

It seems that he's either frightened or may be in pain somewhere. Did you take him to the vet when you got him just to get a clean bill of health??

davidson6 01-05-2012 08:28 PM

Help sudden aggression
 
You are right he is not use to children but my daughter is VERY calm and timid. My other children are in their teens. At first we thought it might be over stimulation and tried to give him appropriate rest time but tonight just really shocked me. He was really enjoining it and we were all quiet and calm. My daughter has never hit him and we have never before but this time he would not stop going after her and then tried to bite my son and husband who was trying to pick him up and remove him. The whole time we were sternly, in a deep voice saying "no bear" and "stop bear" and my daughter was certainly shrill in her screaming and crying. Tonight he will sleep in his crate but he usually picks her bed to sleep in. She is too afraid right now.

No, we did not take him to the vet because he actually had been turned over to a Yorkie Rescue House with all his papers ect. and they had just taken him to the vet and gotten him all squared away. He was only there a few days at the most. They did not have any kids but they had at least 25 Yorkies with free range in their home so it was loud!!!!!

We so do not want to give him up. He is perfect in every other way and again he really seems to favor her but she still has a bad bruise from a bite a few days after we got him.

If you can't put him in "time-out" in the crate what do you do to discipline?

Thanks for your help!

givemecouture 01-05-2012 08:43 PM

I don't think she was hitting the dog, sounds like she was trying to break his put-bull like hold. That is very rare for a yorkie, even one that bites, to old like that. I would grab one of Ceasar Milans books ASAP.

Taryn0405 01-05-2012 08:46 PM

It never came to mind that she was hitting or smacking the dog for any other purpose then trying to get the dog off her daughter. Not to punish or hurt the dog. But as I said above, even in that case it can still cause a negative reaction from the dog that'll only cause them to grip on, or come after her daughter again out of fear and defensiveness...

Another recommendation I could give it geting a personal trianer to work with you and your family one-on-one.

gemy 01-05-2012 08:50 PM

Biting
 
That must have been scarey for all involved!. Was the skin broken? Was there any warning for the bite when you were both on the couch; tail up and rigid, body tensed,no warning growl?

In the interim until this behaviour is fixed, no unsupervised time with Emilee. No sleeping in the bed with Emilee; he gets crated at night.

Has Emilee had dogs before? Does she know how to treat an animal?

You can with a Yorkie - pinch nostrils shut - the dog will let go.

I do crate dogs for bad behaviour particularly adult dogs.

BTW is Emilee your youngest child?

I am going to suggest that you speak with your vet; bring your dog in to be sure there is nothing around the neck area that could be hurting him. Explain the situation, and ask your vet to recommend a good trainer that can come to the house.

In the meantime, have Emilee feed the dog. Under adult supervision. The dog must do some obedience command for each piece of kibble. Sit, stay, stand, come, etc. If there is any misbehaving, the food is put away, the dog is crated. Emilee can walk the dog on lead with supervision.

Let us know what the vet says.

ladyjane 01-05-2012 08:52 PM

Funny, I just watched a video tonight on Animal Planet and it mentioned that yorkies are not known to be good with children. I know a lot of people who have them and also have children....so please, don't yell at me. I know that it can work, but I also know that they are terriers and can be annoyed by children.

Here is a link to the video: Top 100 Dogs : Videos : Animal Planet

If this pup came from an adult only home, your home may not be the right one for him.
You definitely should have a vet check him out to see if there is anything physically wrong. And, yes, hitting is not what you need to do. I can see removing him from the room where all of you are when he bites, but not as punishment...just a short time out to let him know that his behavior is unacceptable.

gemy 01-05-2012 09:06 PM

See this thread on aggressive biting
 
http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/gen...le-yorkie.html

Here is a link to a thread about aggressive biting. See post # 5 for a particularly through answer.

givemecouture 01-05-2012 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taryn0405 (Post 3779508)
It never came to mind that she was hitting or smacking the dog for any other purpose then trying to get the dog off her daughter. Not to punish or hurt the dog. But as I said above, even in that case it can still cause a negative reaction from the dog that'll only cause them to grip on, or come after her daughter again out of fear and defensiveness...

Another recommendation I could give it geting a personal trianer to work with you and your family one-on-one.


Yes you're absolutely right. I don't think she meant to hurt the dog, just acting instinctually, but the act could spark even more aggression. Fighting fire with fire is never good.

Gemy and ladyjane also had some great tips, really good to know steps. Definitely bookmarking this thread just in case anyone I know ever needs it.

ladyjane 01-05-2012 09:15 PM

I have a fear biter in my home and he does fine with my grandson, BUT my grandson does not try to hold him or mess with him. This yorkie may never be a cuddly dog...that may be part of the problem. Too much stimulation. He apparently did not have attention before and perhaps he is better off being left alone more often than not.

Children want to hold and cuddle with them and often the pups hate that!

gemy 01-05-2012 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ladyjane (Post 3779525)
I have a fear biter in my home and he does fine with my grandson, BUT my grandson does not try to hold him or mess with him. This yorkie may never be a cuddly dog...that may be part of the problem. Too much stimulation. He apparently did not have attention before and perhaps he is better off being left alone more often than not.

Children want to hold and cuddle with them and often the pups hate that!

And he is a re-home only in house for three weeks.


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