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03-15-2015, 01:45 PM | #1 |
YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Hartfield, VA
Posts: 1
| Need insight into behavior with dog treats I just got a 3 year old male Yorkie. He took to my wife immediately. To me he was aggressive, and bit me ( not seriously ). I knew with time and patience, it would stop. It has. The only behavior which persists is his behavor with dog treats. If I go to take it he is very aggressive and attacks, this is most understandable. However, he often places them at the entrance of rooms, and then runs to protect them if anyone goes near them, and carries it off to a new location. Often he gets a cookie and then purposefully eats in front of me. He sometimes places them near me and then gets aggressive if I go near them ( ie > while watching tv he places a treat under the coffee table and when I stretch my legs, not knowing the treat is there, he will go for my foot , kind of striking like a snake would it, then take the treat and move it. c I am just curious as to what this behavior is and why. Sine he was 3 when I got him and he lived in a house with 2 other dogs, I surmise that maybe it has to do with having lived with 2 other dogs. The bahavior was to establish dominance , etc. He also elaborately places his treats around in a line or in a triangle or with his toys. (and of course hides them which I understand). Sometimes he barks at me and I follow him thinking he wants to go outside, instead he goes into another room and then eats a treat in front of me. What is this all about ?? Thanks !! |
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03-15-2015, 03:18 PM | #2 |
YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: NY
Posts: 6,582
| Does he act like this with his toys or just treats? Gracie only gets treats once or twice a day and only for a specific reason, like after being combed or when I ask her to sit or some other activity so I can give her a treat. Too many treats can lead to obesity and tooth decay. Maybe only give him a treat when he is going to eat it. He should not be saving them. Give him one chew toy that you can keep track of. Watch what he does his toys if he also guards them. Have you tried taking him for walks or playing fetch? Things like that can really help a dog bond with you. |
03-15-2015, 04:28 PM | #3 |
♥ Love My Tibbe! ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: D/FW, Texas
Posts: 22,140
| Sounds like a dominance thing, as long as he's not ill or in pain. He's likely anxious, uncertain, doesn't feel a strong leadership or he would never act aggressively toward you. Any dog who doesn't know his role as a follower in the little family pack will try to take over the leadership role and display himself before us as you describe. He's uncomfortable doing it, knowing he's not the smartest or the best leader of the two of you but he's trying his darndest to bring it off. If this were my dog, I would begin a multi-layered approach to win his trust, earn his respect and obedience, and in the process allow him to learn who his pack leader really is - and it's not him. Pack leaders are usually the wisest, bravest, largest and most stable of the group, not the most aggressive or hostile. Showing dogs a gentle, firm hand, setting boundaries they cannot cross without us getting up and walking into the dog's immediate space, backing them off and standing there staring into their eyes until the eyes softens, they give up and leave the area; as well as teaching them what we expect and making them really want and like to do it are keys to winning our dog's trust and respect. If this were my dog, I would begin to hand feed him all meals and withhold treats/toys for now until he's more respectful and earns them. All his food would come directly from my hand - so that he learns that I'm in total control of all his resources. He only gets a bite if he's soft and friendly when he approaches me and my hand; otherwise, withdraw your hand, turn away from him or get up and leave the room. He'll get the message that only a friendly approach gets a bite of food. I'd study several of the Nothing In Life Is Free programs on line and begin one of those. Every bite of food, every treat and toy he gets from now, every door he goes through to get outdoors, every couch he jumps up on or every time he comes for a cuddle on is done after he performs a command for you, such as sit or sit/stay. Keep it up for two solid weeks - you want to strongly imprint him with who controls the resources. Once he does the command, he gets his bite, his treat or his toy, cuddle, as long as his attitude is submissive. Dogs love and get right into the NILF program!!! They LOVE working for what they want - brings out the seeker/hunter instincts in them. Next I'd begin a home obedience training program - 2-3 times a day for 5 mins. per session - teaching him commands and rewarding when he gets it right. Make it fun and rewarding for him - encourage him to want to do the commands with a fun, upbeat voice, positive rewards when he does what you want and lots of smiles. He'll learn that doing what you ask gets him happy rewards and happy smiles and praises from you - good times. He'll begin to learn that a happy you makes for a happier life for him and want to keep pleasing you. If he misses a command, don't scold, just say a matter-of-fact "uh oh", immediately turn to the side, look away from him and no rewards or praise. He'll soon learn the difference and want the positive reinforcement. He'll grow addicted to the good feelings he gets from getting things right and pleasing you. It's a win-win for both of you. After a while, when you begin feeding him some from his bowl again, or toss a treat or toy on the floor, walk up and toss a piece of warm, freshly boiled chicken breast beside the bowl or where you tossed the treat/toy before he gets to it, so he'll learn that when you approach his food bowl or any of his resources, you mean only goooood things. He'll slurp up the chicken and after a few episodes of this, learn to want you near his resources more and more! He'll begin in time to associate your closeness to his resources to extra special treats and allow it with alacrity. Should he show a scowl or odd look, take a step back, distract him, take up his resource and return to hand-feeding for a while longer. Later, when he's better behaved, eating from his bowl again, eating a treat or playing with a toy, alternately toss in and reach down your hand and give him a piece of fresh chicken and keep your hand near his bowl/treat/toy, feeding him chicken with the other hand and then take up the bowl/treat/toy, give it back in a bit if he's soft, submissive. Stay cool, confident and matter of fact during all the training sessions - that keeps a dog feeling safe and calm. In time, this combination of steps should work together to give him a new attitude toward you and your resources that you share with him when his behavior is acceptable. Don't worry - he'll love it all if you do with with fun and gusto - make him want more than anything to properly comply for the good feelings and rewards his good behavior brings him and he won't turn into an automaton. He'll be an even happier, feistier, sweeter buddy to you and a lovely life's companion. Lastly, if you don't have it, buy Tamar Geller's The Loved Dog, a great read about humans and their dogs, pack mentality, training, negative feedback and how to achieve a gentle, kind, fun leadership role.
__________________ Jeanie and Tibbe One must do the best one can. You may get some marks for a very imperfect answer: you will certainly get none for leaving the question alone. C. S. Lewis |
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