Oh, absolutely. Where the dog is isn't the big problem - it's how the dog perceives you and whether or not they respect your authority. If you don't project authority, only the most naturally calm, submissive dog will behave for you and all the rest will think they are running the show and begin to act possessive, resource guard anything they consider theirs, "allow" you in certain places or not, nip, bite, bark at everything, pee/poop anywhere they choose in the home and generally misbehave. I long ago learned that dogs that generally misbehave around their owners tend to act destructively as adults when left alone, too. Sure does pay off to have an obedient pet since living with them is so easy. No pee/poop everywhere - they only "go" outside and you never come home to chewed furniture and shredded books, shredded toilet paper, torn up reading glasses or clothing or messy dog pens or crates to clean up. The dog can live out free in the home and remain calm and rest while you are gone and has no desire or thought to chew or bark crazily. It's the only way to have a pet and fully enjoy him!

Maybe this type of problem presents more in terriers because of their inborn instinct to have a take charge personality. I know Gracie came to me as a puppy with an attitude! It took an extra effort to show her she was not running the show although I sometimes think that she is just letting me think I run the show.

I think the job that terriers were bred to do, which is hunt vermin down and kill it mercilessly in all types of places and conditions, could be part of the problem with their "attitude" of sass and backtalk and terminable cute. They were created to do a tough job and it takes a tough little critter to do it so they have to have an awful lot of self-confidence and take-charge ability from the moment their feet hit the floor! I would expect a lot of challenge from such a little dude! They just love trouble! Terriers are my favorite kind of dog!

I think it is great that you've realized something needs to change with his training and are taking the steps to help him improve. It will be hard and frustrating I am sure but soooo worth it in the end. I'm so proud of you for stepping in and making changes, I wish more would do this.:thumbup::thumbup:

I agree with Jeanie. Mine our allowed on the couch and bed but we do have rules and boundaries and they are expected to follow them. They are still spoiled rotten but are not allowed to misbehave like resource guarding or snapping for any reason. It is hard to look past that adorable face but it is for their own good and they will be more confident and better because of it.

The most frustrating and sad part about working with my fellow workers at the vet is that most hate working with small dogs because they have the small dog syndrome. They hear yorkie or chihuahua and automatically think yappy and nippy. This is the owners fault, not the dogs if they end up this way. Toy dogs get away with a lot from their owners because they are so cute and the owners cave in. In addition the owners think since they are so cute and little they can't do much harm right? Wrong, a bad behavior is wrong whether the dog is small or large.
I always get compliments when I take my yorkies into the vets because they can't believe how calm and sweet they are because they are yorkies, when in reality they should all be this way.
Dogs, even the cute and little ones need boundaries and rules.

Alright I'm done with my rant, lol. Sorry but I just hate how yorkies and chihuahuas have such bad reputations as being yappy or nippy because a properly trained one is not like this at all.

Oh so true!

Thanks, I agree:)
I'm so glad I'm nipping this in the bud.
Before I got Joel I told myself I would never let him get like those bad little dogs, it just crept up on me:(

He is doing SO good with the training just in the two days I\'ve been doing it. He no longer cares when someone comes up to me and now we\'re working on the jumping up whenever someone comes in the room, which he pretty much stopped doing it today.
He gets treats and praise whenever someone even moves and he stays, lol. Not sure how to correct him when he jumps up from his sleep though but hopefully that will stop with the other stuff, anyway he is doing sooooo much better:p