Are all puppies THIS hyper?

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by CesarTheGreat

And I have met many that are exactly what I'm saying - and so have many others. It is clear that you cannot be reasoned with to even entertain the idea that the breed is what I say it is. I accept that your dog is what you say - you seem to be offended that I said that is not normal. You have not offered any argument to support your rebuttal. I posted a quote, and instead of attacking the argument, you attacked the site as if it were not credible. In critical thinking we call this the ad hominem fallacy. As if you can simply support your position by saying that the source of my argument is not sound.

As I said, it is well known that what I'm saying about their behavior is true. It sounds like you are in denial to me.

Here is a video with a cute breakdown of the Yorkie.
Dogs 101 Yorkshire Terrier - YouTube

Life experience to me is also proof. I think that saying yorkies are aggressive or something is wrong with them is like saying pit bulls should be attacking everything and everyone or something is wrong with them.

[CesarTheGreat]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

Life experience to me is also proof. I think that saying yorkies are aggressive or something is wrong with them is like saying pit bulls should be attacking everything and everyone or something is wrong with them.

No it is not, as Pit Bulls were bred to be family dogs - loyal to people. Strong and able to protect the family, but also loyal to where they do not turn on their owners, and for the ones that were bred to fight other dogs, also had to be pulled from another dog by the owner without the fear of the dog biting the owner.

Life experience does not quantify normalcy. Sorry I have to tell you that. We call those "Anecdotes." Anecdotes have no place on the debate table, which is unfortunate for you, because it seems to be what your entire stance depends on.

You want the yorkie to be something it is not and that is what I don't understand. I love yorkies exactly how they are and I have to admit it makes me smile when I read people describe their temperament, watch videos like above, and see other videos of other people's dogs that remind me of mine.

You on the other hand can't seem to come to terms with the facts about Yorkies and that doesn't even make sense.

You have a calm and mellow yorkie - which is awesome. However, I don't think you can provide much help in helping others train yorkies who have more stereotypical yorkies. Feisty, aggressive, highly energetic, etc. seems to be what most people deal with.

More people talking about yorkie behavior in this video here:

Meet the Breed - Yorkshire Terrier - YouTube

Notice the trend? Everybody seems to say the same thing as me. Funny, none of these videos or publications describe the behavior you describe.

[pstinard]

Originally Posted by BabieChloe

So, when I got my fur baby.. She didn't really want to look at me.. I wasn't sure if this was a bad sign or anything so I picked her out of the litter because she was super cute and had a little hop when she ran. I've had her for about a month and sometimes she gets extremely hyper, especially if different people are around, and she doesn't like to be held unless u massage her. She also likes to bite my hands and feet a lot, I can't walk around the house without socks and her bite has become like a death grip! I love my puppy but I ask this because I just wanted to know if all puppies behave this way or it's just her personality? When I was picking her out of the litter I admit there was another one that I chose as well.. And that little girl very happily looked at me and was very calm in my hands.. Which makes me wonder why my pup isn't this way? It's very hard also to wipe her face or to even try and put a hair clip in to get the hair out of her eyes. Does she just not see me as the boss yet or is she just acting naturally as a puppy?

It sounds like your puppy is a little on the extreme side of Yorkie puppy behavior with respect to biting and hyperactivity. We picked our Bella because she was attentive to us and curious. We got her at 8 weeks of age, which in retrospect was too young, so we had to teach her some things that her mother never got a chance to teach her, such as "bite inhibition," which sounds like something you are dealing with right now. Although Bella was not as aggressive a biter as your puppy, she did bite with full force on our fingers at the beginning. When she did that, we would say, "Ouch!" and "No" and pull our fingers away from her. Then we would give her a soft rubbery Nylabone to chew on instead. Within four weeks, her worst biting was over, and after she had all of her adult teeth in (around six months), she learned to grasp our fingers lightly and "gum" them rather than bite them. (Some of the hard biting might have been due to discomfort from her adult teeth coming in.) Now if she wants to bite hard or chew on something, she turns to her Nylabone and other toys.

We never had a severe problem with inattentiveness or hyperactivity, but to get her to learn her name and pay attention, we purchased low calorie treats (Pet Botanics mini training rewards, beef flavor), and rewarded her and praised her when she responded to her name or performed any other good behavior such as pottying in the right location. Some people use Cheerios or frozen green beans as rewards. Bella also responds to partially thawed frozen green peas.

Best of luck to you!

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by CesarTheGreat

No it is not, as Pit Bulls were bred to be family dogs - loyal to people. Strong and able to protect the family, but also loyal to where they do not turn on their owners, and for the ones that were bred to fight other dogs, also had to be pulled from another dog by the owner without the fear of the dog biting the owner.

Life experience does not quantify normalcy. Sorry I have to tell you that. We call those "Anecdotes." Anecdotes have no place on the debate table, which is unfortunate for you, because it seems to be what your entire stance depends on.

You want the yorkie to be something it is not and that is what I don't understand. I love yorkies exactly how they are and I have to admit it makes me smile when I read people describe their temperament, watch videos like above, and see other videos of other people's dogs that remind me of mine.

You on the other hand can't seem to come to terms with the facts about Yorkies and that doesn't even make sense.

You have a calm and mellow yorkie - which is awesome. However, I don't think you can provide much help in helping others train yorkies who have more stereotypical yorkies. Feisty, aggressive, highly energetic, etc. seems to be what most people deal with.

More people talking about yorkie behavior in this video here:
Meet the Breed - Yorkshire Terrier - YouTube

Notice the trend? Everybody seems to say the same thing as me. Funny, none of these videos or publications describe the behavior you describe.

I have done research on yorkies and never once have I seen they are aggressive. Maybe you need to check again...... But then again aren't you the person who said it was ok to hit your dog or something like that.....

[pstinard]

Originally Posted by CesarTheGreat

And I have met many that are exactly what I'm saying - and so have many others. It is clear that you cannot be reasoned with to even entertain the idea that the breed is what I say it is. I accept that your dog is what you say - you seem to be offended that I said that is not normal. You have not offered any argument to support your rebuttal. I posted a quote, and instead of attacking the argument, you attacked the site as if it were not credible. In critical thinking we call this the ad hominem fallacy. As if you can simply support your position by saying that the source of my argument is not sound.

As I said, it is well known that what I'm saying about their behavior is true. It sounds like you are in denial to me.

Here is a video with a cute breakdown of the Yorkie.
Dogs 101 Yorkshire Terrier - YouTube

This conversation is going downhill quickly. Although Yorkshire Terriers were originally bred to be ratters, they are not being bred to be "killers" any more, and they were never bred to attack humans or other dogs. Rather, they are now being bred for appearance and obedience. Although my Bella is only one data point, my experience with her is more similar to Lovetodream88's experience. I say this only to point out that the behavior of the OP's dog is on the extreme side, and there is hope to correct the bad behavior.

[Maximo]

Yorkie puppies are generally high energy. Tips for making life more enjoyable for both of you:

1. Establish a daily routine of activities at about the same time each day: waking up, meals, brief training and playtime sessions, going to bed and so on. This has a calming effect and your pup will start to fall into the rhythm of when to expect things.

2. Talk to your pup while you are doing your daily activities. You will be surprised how much language they can learn, and they will often follow along with you like they are involved.

3. Brief training sessions throughout the day: if you haven't already, start working on basic commands like sit, down, shake and so on. Puppies are eager to learn and love performing. I use kibble for rewards.

4. For grooming, be patient but somewhat assertive. Give lots of praise for good behavior. Always make it fun and never show frustration. I started with Max by holding him on my lap and massaging him. He would pretend to be asleep while I gently combed and continued to massage. We graduated to the countertop, and he knew he had to put his topknot in if he wanted to go for a walk.

5. Biting: the teething stage can be hard. Try to give her appropriate things to chew on. If she nips you, you can yelp like a puppy. If she is nipping your hands, cross your arms over your chest, taking your hands away and yelp.

Max liked to bite my feet first thing in the morning. He thought it was playful. If he wouldn't listen to my command "no bite", I put him back in the xpen while I brushed my teeth. He quickly learned if he wanted his freedom, he couldn't bite my feet.

If the biting persists, then you can try getting up and walking away. Yorkies hate to be ignored. We have gates where our dogs can't follow. When my boys get too riled up and if they don't listen to me, I simply cross the gate and go do something else. That settles them down immediately.

6. Aside from these corrections, I highly recommend positive reinforcement training methods. I have found them to be far more productive than getting frustrated or angry -- which tends to crank up the dog even more. Dogs tend to mirror their humans and feed off of their energy. If you put out a confident and in-control vibe, your puppy will pick up on it.

Hang in there. The first year is a challenge, and then you will find yourself missing some of the puppy antics. Yorkies tend to remain fairly energetic all of their lives, but there is nothing like that first year.

[Buster Brown]

I think that just like any being there is a range of behavior from mellow to manic. Each puppy will have it's own personality. Buster is on the mellow side but his friend Roxy is hyper. Puppies like kids will push boundaries and need to be trained early to stop bad behaviors. By training I mean by positive reward training. I have seen many a post on YT dealing with aggressive Yorkies that nip and attack. Maybe these YT threads on aggressive Yorkies will help the OP find ways to help her new puppy.
https://www.google.com/search?q=aggr...w=1016&bih=562

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by Buster Brown

I think that just like any being there is a range of behavior from mellow to manic. Each puppy will have it's own personality. Buster is on the mellow side but his friend Roxy is hyper. Puppies like kids will push boundaries and need to be trained early to stop bad behaviors. By training I mean by positive reward training. I have seen many a post on YT dealing with aggressive Yorkies that nip and attack. Maybe these YT threads on aggressive Yorkies will help the OP find ways to help her new puppy.
https://www.google.com/search?q=aggr...w=1016&bih=562

My neighbor's little girl Yorkie is what I would classify as hyper, bouncing off the furniture and walls. My boys are high energy, need lots of activity, but now that they are adults, they nap a lot too.

[kjc]

Try putting a T shirt or PJs on her... she may not settle if she's chilly. A shirt will make her warm.... and sleepy!

[Britster]

I think the word 'aggressive' is being used wrong. Terriers are... feisty, often times, to say the least. But 'aggressive' is not in the Yorkie breed standard.

As far CesarTheGreat and your pack dog theories. lol. This way of thinking is (now) so funny to me.

Not to mention, the beliefs that dominance trainers hold. Comparing anything that WE do with our dogs to how dogs react to other dogs is like comparing apples and oranges. We are humans. Dogs know this. We as humans can act like we're dogs, but we're not. We don't fool them. And just as humans are not dogs, dogs are NOT wolves. Dogs are highly domesticated, very intelligent, and purposely bred to work side-by-side with humans.


The actual pack leader/dominance theory phenomenon was disproved by the VERY people who created it. They now deeply regret their 'research'. (In a 2002 book, when countless dogs had been subjected to the stress of the alpha roll, the Monks of New Skete said that they regretted giving the advice to a bunch of dog owners with no idea how to use it.) http://books.google.com/books?id=6OB...0alpha&f=false

I suggest these reads:
De-Bunking the "Alpha Dog" Theory - Whole Dog Journal Article
http://avsabonline.org/uploads/posit..._statement.pdf
TIME Magazine article on debunking Dominance/Alpha myth | Ruff Customers Dog Training & Behavior Consulting | Ruff Customers Dog Training & Behavior Consulting

[Britster]

Originally Posted by CesarTheGreat

That's true, as long as your sources are cited. You can't just put nonsense on there. For the most part, Wikipedia is an accurate source of information. If you don't want to use the wiki page, then go to the bottom and follow the link to the source - it is usually a journal or other reputable publication.

It isn't like anybody can just put whatever they want on there.

Either way, I don't see why you would even want to argue the quote I put above when it is well known what kind of temperament Yorkies have. If you think that calm/mellow/submissive behavior is "normal" then I simply disagree with you. It isn't in their nature. They were bred to be fast, aggressive, and kill as many rats as possible in the shortest amount of time. When you breed that into a dogs DNA, you don't get a calm and mellow lapdog.

You are correct that Yorkies are not "supposed" to be docile, lap dogs, etc. Sometimes it happens though.

The AKC breed standard states: "Yorkshire Terriers, affectionately known as "Yorkies," offer big personalities in a small package. Though members of the Toy Group, they are terriers by nature and are brave, determined, investigative and energetic."

*Not* aggressive. That is a completely different thing.

All this puppy needs (the OP's) is training and exercise. I highly recommend checking out these YouTube channels for great training advice:

Zak George's Dog Training rEvolution - YouTube
kikopup - YouTube

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by Britster

I think the word 'aggressive' is being used wrong. Terriers are... feisty, often times, to say the least. But 'aggressive' is not in the Yorkie breed standard.

As far CesarTheGreat and your pack dog theories. lol. This way of thinking is (now) so funny to me.

Not to mention, the beliefs that dominance trainers hold. Comparing anything that WE do with our dogs to how dogs react to other dogs is like comparing apples and oranges. We are humans. Dogs know this. We as humans can act like we're dogs, but we're not. We don't fool them. And just as humans are not dogs, dogs are NOT wolves. Dogs are highly domesticated, very intelligent, and purposely bred to work side-by-side with humans.


The actual pack leader/dominance theory phenomenon was disproved by the VERY people who created it. They now deeply regret their 'research'. (In a 2002 book, when countless dogs had been subjected to the stress of the alpha roll, the Monks of New Skete said that they regretted giving the advice to a bunch of dog owners with no idea how to use it.) Part Wild: One Woman's Journey with a Creature Caught Between the Worlds of ... - Ceiridwen Terrill - Google Books

I suggest these reads:
De-Bunking the "Alpha Dog" Theory - Whole Dog Journal Article
http://avsabonline.org/uploads/posit..._statement.pdf
TIME Magazine article on debunking Dominance/Alpha myth | Ruff Customers Dog Training & Behavior Consulting | Ruff Customers Dog Training & Behavior Consulting

They are very feisty that's one of the reasons I love the breed

[lynzy420]

Originally Posted by Britster

I think the word 'aggressive' is being used wrong. Terriers are... feisty, often times, to say the least. But 'aggressive' is not in the Yorkie breed standard.

As far CesarTheGreat and your pack dog theories. lol. This way of thinking is (now) so funny to me.

Not to mention, the beliefs that dominance trainers hold. Comparing anything that WE do with our dogs to how dogs react to other dogs is like comparing apples and oranges. We are humans. Dogs know this. We as humans can act like we're dogs, but we're not. We don't fool them. And just as humans are not dogs, dogs are NOT wolves. Dogs are highly domesticated, very intelligent, and purposely bred to work side-by-side with humans.


The actual pack leader/dominance theory phenomenon was disproved by the VERY people who created it. They now deeply regret their 'research'. (In a 2002 book, when countless dogs had been subjected to the stress of the alpha roll, the Monks of New Skete said that they regretted giving the advice to a bunch of dog owners with no idea how to use it.) Part Wild: One Woman's Journey with a Creature Caught Between the Worlds of ... - Ceiridwen Terrill - Google Books

I suggest these reads:
De-Bunking the "Alpha Dog" Theory - Whole Dog Journal Article
http://avsabonline.org/uploads/posit..._statement.pdf
TIME Magazine article on debunking Dominance/Alpha myth | Ruff Customers Dog Training & Behavior Consulting | Ruff Customers Dog Training & Behavior Consulting

I'm with you, the "killer yorkie" actually cracked me up for the first time in months I'm laughing out loud at my computer at 5:10 a.m. omg.....


Taylor don't take it personal, there will always be booksmart and experienced Yorkie owners....however, Vinnie did kill his stuffed whale this morning...perhaps...omg lmao!

[ColesMommy01]

Sounds like normal puppy behavior with the nipping not yorkie specific . Btw my yorkie is feisty all the time (except when getting groomed then he's a wet mop) he is aggressive with strange ppl/animals but has never bitten my husband, son, or myself.

[BabieChloe]

Thank you for the advice everyone.. Except that little argument that transpired here.. Lol. I'm going to ignore her and leave to another room when she bites, even though I don't like doing that because she's just too cute.. But she'll have to learn! As for my yorkie being a killer.. I don't know, she's 1.5lbs so she doesn't look like a killer to me butttt.. She does look like a feisty little fur baby who needs to learn some manners