Help with aggression!!
 

My normally very sweet lovable almost 3 year old, Yogi has become Cujo in bed in the middle of the night! He has slept with us always snuggled up to me. A few months ago he began growling and snapping at my husband if my husband so much as moves, even in his sleep. We tried not 'allowing' him by getting him a new bed which we put next to ours but the crying was to much so we gave up. I know this was not good but we are at our wits end!! Has anyone dealt with this and have any answers??? I also want to note that Yogi is not possesive of anything, no food or toy aggression at all.

I so wish I had advice, but I really think you may need an actual trainer to work with you...

new bed
 

maybe it's time to find your husband a new bed.

LMBO - perfect :D!

This is what I would do if Yogi were my dog:

Your husband needs to claim his bed from his little terrierist. Any unwanted behavior that occurs, such as a growl, show of teeth or hard stare at him, have your husband move into Yogi's space, walking on his knees in bed, if need be, instantly saying "uh oh"(during the training period, "no" once Yogi's learned and knows not to do it) the moment the behavior occurs, staring him down as a mother dog does when disciplining her pups and moving into his space, backing Yogi away and staying in place with his finger pointed at Yogi until Yogi gives up, submits and moves away.

If your husband takes control of the situation, acts calmly, confidently and responds immediately to enforce Yogi's boundaries of unwanted behavior, never scaring him, over the next two weeks, Yogi will begin to understand that he can't win and come to respect who has the real authority in the home - his parents! After that, any time Yogi tries to manipulate either of you with his aggressive behavior, immediately say "uh oh", point at him, stare him in the eyes, move into his space, back him off and stay there until he gives way, calms down and leaves the area. Keep him away until he resumes the attitude you want, at which time smiles and gentle pats, praises are warranted.

In time, he will get the message that his unwanted, aggressive behavior just ends poorly with him run off the bed and he will begin to police himself, learning that accepting daddy's right to move around in his bed is the best course for him. A dog with strong, firm, gentle, loving leadership will come to respect and want to obey that leader in order to curry his favor.

Read up on the Nothing In Life Is Free programs on Google and begin to work with him on that if he's aggressive or dominant in other areas of your life. Yogi will love participating in the program and working for his resources! In the process, beginning respect develops for his leader and teaches him to always defer to him. Canines belong to a hierarchical society and are happiest living with humans when they are kept as happy, loved followers with some distinct boundaries for their behavior.

Another tactic your husband can use is to just reach over and put Yogi down on the floor after any unwanted behavior. He'll soon get the message what behavior is allowed in the bed and what isn't.

I myself prefer the message they get during stand-offs as they gradually learn who is in control and learn how to give way gracefully over time and seem to learn respect faster that way as the stand-off's send their message.

Yorkislave- my husband has said that very thing!! Or to get a king size bed!

Yorkietalkjilly- that sound like a good plan, we'll try tonight and see what happens. Last night I was awake for this aggression and was able to scold him saying NO! And he backed down from me but I will have my hubby do it tonight. He is sweet as an angel with everyone else, strangers etc, all other dogs, loves everyone so this new behavior Is baffling! Thanks for the advice!

Oh, he's just not had strong leadership enough for his personality yet. Some dogs are calm, submissive by nature no matter that the owners don't set definite boundaries for them and just go along to get along their whole lives. Others detest a void at the top and begin to try to run the show, directing who does what when in their quest to assume the leadership they find they don't have. Strong leadership doesn't mean scary or anything - just firm, confident and "young man, you don't go any further with this" type guidance, always giving him time to rethink his position and give up, back off, realizing he's actually not in a position of true strength and gradually learn such is life.

Just tell you husband to stay in "teacher mode" and stay calm, confident and back your willful little guy down. Baby boy will keep flexing up over and over in the next couple of weeks as he tries to regain his foothold, but hubby always gets up, moves into Yogi's space, stays there, glaring, pointing and standing his ground, a "duel in the duvet", until the aggressor gives it up. Eventually the tiny tyrant will grow tired of the repeated stalemates, come to understand he's losing out to hubby's determination, glare and pointing and give way on his disagreeable attitude, deciding he likes the way daddy smiles when he's loving and happy to cuddle next to him in bed. Or, he just gets summarily put off the bed.

No immediately feeling sorry for him when he leaves the bed or room with his tiny back humped up, head and tail down either, eyes huge - this is a ploy for sentiment! It takes determination to turn away from that kind of drama! Just let him leave the area and don't allow him back until he's respectful and agreeable to one and all. Ultimately it will pay off in a much more agreeable little lad who shows respect, love and loyalty to the parents who provide him with everything he needs in life and all three of you will all be the happier for it.

Update
 

Hi, just wanted to update all who replied. We are training with the Nothing in Life is Free, it is going well, Yogi is so smart! He had still been aggressive towards Hubby in bed (but he always seemed so sorry after) so we tried one night gating him out of our bedroom. He went down to the couch and slept there all night without a peep! He has done this every night since. We are ok with this but I do feel a lot of guilt. I feel like a bad mom and hope one day soon he can sleep with us again. Does anyone NOT sleep with their pups?? Thanks again for the advice!

That's good news! And don't feel guilty... It's working out for everyone after all.

There are plenty that don't sleep with their furbutts for many reasons. Myself included. It doesn't mean we don't love them any less. :D As a matter of fact, my two prefers to sleep in their room. I can say this with confidence b/c there were couple times when I had them in my room to sleep. Each time, I had to get up in the middle of the night b/c none of us could sleep comfortably. When I got up, opened the door and said "lets go night night", they both RAN downstairs into their room and settled in their bed. LOL

We don't and do not feel guilty - you have a doggie bed and a comfy spot for him to sleep. We have a large guard and protect breed who are free in our home at night so Razzle is crated in our bedroom. Safe and secure.


We do let Razz up on the bed for before sleep cuddles in fact we let all our dogs up on our bed for cuddles - then Razz goes to his crate big guys off our bed and I turn out the light for sleep.

My little 2 yr old male has been doing this to my husband lately as well so I'm thankful for the previous advice. He is also doing it to my little 3 yr old female whenever she tries to jump on the bed for cuddles, but only in the middle of the night.... anyone have advice on how to deal with his aggression towards her?

You may have to ban them both from sleeping with you for a while. Thats what we have done and our Yogi has reverted to the happy perfect pup he always had been! He lays with me watching TV till about 11pm. We then say 'time to go downstairs' and give him a small treat once down there. He sleeps there till 6 am when the hubby gets up and lets him up with me. My guilt has lessoned and it's working for us. Good luck!