I've bought a muzzle!!!

[browniesmom622]

brownies been doing well with grabing his muzzle im training austin the same way

[lilfoot]

I've tried grabbing the muzzle and saying NO in a very stern voice along with saying NO BARKING but unfortunately that has not worked....I will be returning the muzzles like I said I had not used them yet as I was very uncomfortable doing that and I think I will pick up the bitter apple spray....but where do I spray them with it? In the face? what about accidently getting it in their eyes? Maybe I will try the water bottle first.....thanks everyone for your input!

[browniesmom622]

how long did you try grabbing his muzzle and saying no ?

[livingdustmops]

Originally Posted by RLC12345678

Do you think it is safe to use a chocker collar on a yorkie? With the risks of collapsed tranchea and all?

ABSOLUTELY NOT!

[jbarile]

Originally Posted by RLC12345678

Do you think it is safe to use a chocker collar on a yorkie? With the risks of collapsed tranchea and all?

EXCELLENT advice, everyone. I have learned so much from this thread. I will definately be using some of these suggestions.

No Please!! do not use choker collars they do exactly what they are called! and it will cause collasped tranchea! In my opinion on choker collars and muzzels are down right cruel (my Opinion) so those who do use them please dont feel this a attack on you or your opinion.
muzzels were designed for bitting dogs, Dogs bark! when there are other dogs around they get territorial they may just feel threatened or intimidated and feel they are protecting you! besides these are yorkies toy babies.. you wouldn't muzzel a crying baby, and being a mother of five I would have liked to. but I just believe it to be inhumane, just pick up your dogs or maybe train with a clicker do anything other than choke & muzzel these little dogs..

[jbarile]

Originally Posted by lilfoot

I've tried grabbing the muzzle and saying NO in a very stern voice along with saying NO BARKING but unfortunately that has not worked....I will be returning the muzzles like I said I had not used them yet as I was very uncomfortable doing that and I think I will pick up the bitter apple spray....but where do I spray them with it? In the face? what about accidently getting it in their eyes? Maybe I will try the water bottle first.....thanks everyone for your input!

where do I spray them in "the face"
Im sorry But this question is very upsetting! Is this your first dog? Dogs bark and they can be trained to not to bark! not by spraying them with anything!
my god! it's a little dog.. ok I got to stop sorry Im outta this thread!

[2WILDNCRZYORKI]

I am SO happy mine are not the only ones. Sweet Pea is learning Sebastian's bad habits of becoming a barker at ANYTHING. But on our walks Sebastian will bark at dogs, bikes, skate boards. He will lick people to death and triick dogs he will be nice than flip out...

I did buy him a muzzle only because we travel a lot and sometimes I have to smuggle him into a hotel room so I put the muzzle on. He doesn't seem to mind to much I only leave it on until he calms down.

Also, my trainer encouraged me to use a spray bottle filled with only water. Sebastian loves barking at the TV so when he gets out of hand he get a squirt he has actually learned to catch the water in his mouth...LOL he's so silly. I have tried the water trick on walks and it helps.

Good Luck!!

[Lovemypups]

now i'm confused! I started using a muzzle on my pup a week or so ago, it seems to work but i'm afraid it may backfire if she becomes aggressive! When they start barking, i try to acknowledge what's going on I mean this is their way of communicating with me, so i want them to know i understand them so tell them something like "ok i hear that too" or "yes i know someone is at the door", etc. (just last night we "both" went to open the door for a friend she greeted her and was quiet) but if the barking goes on i tell them enough, no barking, quiet or whatever at this point if they are just being loud and out of control i put on the muzzle telling them no barking, unlike my schnauzer who's quiet at once, my yorkie is able (and loves) to slip a bark or two with that thing on! i walk away and moments later she is quiet and calm i then come back and tell her what a good girl she is and take it off as i tell her quiet, good girl etc. normally after they have worn it the next few times they start a barking episode i just have to show it to them as a reminder to keep it quiet. Another thing i do when there's still no need for the muzzle (this i read in a dog training book) is lower my voice and tell her in a very soft tone, "no barking Galy whisper",and she does control herself , so i give her a treat or pet her, but i have to catch her just before barking when she takes a breath to let the bark out, she makes noises and stuff but not that high pitch bark that drives my not-so-tolerant neighbor to call the animal control. Sorry, i digress I starting saying I was confused because although it seems to be working it may be to quick for me to actually know if it will actually give the wrong message to my dogs a 6 y/o schnauzer and 6 mos old yorkie.Help!

[stingrhea]

Originally Posted by tpaxton23

I would highly encourage you to try to train them not to bark while they are out on their walks. My little 8 year old yorkie was killed by a black lab while I was out walking him in my neighborhood one day and I think it was my Kramer's barking that spurred the dog to attack. We were on the opposite side of the street from them and Kramer was barking because he loved to greet other dogs. I would even take him over to the other dog if the owner said the dog was nice. I could tell by the way the owner was holding her black lab that he was not friendly and before I knew it the lab had broke loose from the owner and ran accross the street and grabbed poor little Kramer. I was in the process of picking him and my little chihuahua up when he grabbed him.

I still wonder, if I would have told Kramer to be quiet, if the dog wouldn't have attacked him. I am still devastated that this happened and even if I couldn't protect my own yorkie I would feel better if I thought I was helping to protect someone elses.

Please try to discourage their barking.

Do any of you watch the Dog Whisperer? He has solutions to these kinds of situations. I have yet to try his methods, as I don't have my baby yet, but I think his ideas really work. They seem to anyway. The Dog Whisperer is on the National Geographic channel Fridays at 8:00 pm. And also during the week at 2:00pm. It is horrible that your baby got killed by that dog. But you are right the barking of one dog makes the other dog upset and some will attack. It is a horrible situation to be in where we have our little ones around bigger dogs that can kill them. My girl yorkie years ago was the same way. I wish I had the Dog Whisperer back then!
I wish you all good luck with your babies,
~Melody

[abbie's mom]

Well, I have the opposite problem. Abigail is fine when we're out away from the neighborhood/house. She never says the first "peep". But, just let those paws turn onto her street, and, she is ON. She is so territorial. No one is supposed to be on HER street.

Originally Posted by tpaxton23

My little 8 year old yorkie was killed by a black lab while I was out walking him in my neighborhood one day and I think it was my Kramer's barking that spurred the dog to attack.

Oh my...how very tragic. I am so sorry for the loss of your friend, especially in such a violent way.

[abbie's mom]

Originally Posted by 2WILDNCRZYORKI

Also, my trainer encouraged me to use a spray bottle filled with only water. ... he has actually learned to catch the water in his mouth...LOL he's so silly.

LOL...I tried the spray bottle as an earlier training tool on Abigail. Didn't work. She LOVES it!

[SarahandElisha]

You said that they are fine if other dogs come into your yard.

Do you have any friends with dogs? Maybe you could arrange with some dog-owners in the neighbourhood for them to bring their dogs into your yard, allow the dogs to play for a moment, and then leave for a walk all together.

If you do this with several different dogs, yours might get more accustomed to associated dogs in the street with friends in the yard.

[chattiesmom]

One thing that you might try is some basic obedience..... Sit, Stay, Come, Down, Heel.... Once your dog learns to listen and obey basic commands you will have better control. I have tried walking my little sweet monsters the Ceasar way, with their harnesses. I walk in front and the furkids walk where I ask them to. I always start walks with the kids either in the heeling position or behind me. We walk at my speed which is geared at giving the Yorkie Kids a good challenging workout sprinkled with time to sniff and explore. As our walks progress and when the kids are behaving I allow them some time to explore.

When they bark I speed up, slow down, stop, give them a sit command, we reverse directions, in other words I keep them very busy focusing on me and what the crazy lady is doing. This might sound lame to some of you, but it has helped tremendously in gaining the respect of my kids.

Believe me, we aren't perfect yet, but our walks are becoming more pleasant -- well at least they were before I broke my leg.... there has probably been some regression, only time will tell.