I've bought a muzzle!!!
 

We go for walks everyday which Zoe and Lizzy absolutely LOVE. But they drive me crazy when we meet another dog. They bark and bark....its really embarrassing. The other day we were walking and another lady was walking her black lab...i'm pretty sure it was a pup yet....and my dogs starting barking like they always do and she ask if she could bring her dog over to my side to meet the darling little ones (Yah right....really darling with all the racket they were making) and I said sure thinking that maybe once they were face to face and the sniffing was done they would quiet down....well how stupid was I...they went nuts...zoe was actually growling and snap at the lab....the lab was really scared of the "little darlings". I don't know what to do about the walks....I actually bought them muzzles but haven't used them yet. Now if a dog came into our yard they would not bark but run up to it and want to play....what's up with the walks and how can I get them to stop barking at other dogs???

I should add the Zoe is a non barker and only barks on walks....However Lizzy is a barker and looks at her mom for reinforcement when they are barking at the other dogs...and I swear they HIgh Five each other when we leave the dog they are barking at.

My dogs do the exact same thing. I wouldn't use the muzzles. They will hate the muzzles. What I do is when I see someone approaching with another dog, I pick up my yorkie and go to the other size of the street and continue to hold her until the other person is out of sight. I would not let anyone with a dog come over near you so their dog can "play" with your dogs. Barking is just an instinct that yorkies have that we must learn to live with. They cannot help it...it is their instinct. I know it is very inconvenient at times, but at least they aren't the shy, wimpy dogs that many people make them out to be!! I honestly think that yorkies feel like they are protecting you when they become so defensive when others approach.

I am always searching for quick remedies for this problem. I only have one who does the same thing.
My husband was walking ahia when I was driving home from work just a couple nights ago. I stopped the car short of home to talk to a couple of yorkies that were being walked. (they were new to the neighborhood). My husband was walking down the street toward us and stopped also. Ahia has always been friendly with other dogs, sniffy but playful. she sniffed and actually tried to bite the other yorkie. this other yorkie was about her size but pregnant. maybe the pregnancy had something to do with it, I don't know. She has never acted this way before.
I will be watching for any posting you get on the subject. I have no buisness giving advice on this subject. LOL. I am in the same boat with one of mine.
good luck.

I always pick up my two when we see other dogs coming our way and cross to the other side but they go crazy trying to get out of my arms. as for the muzzles I though maybe after the barking started I would put it on them and yes I know they will hate it but isn't that the point....maybe if they associate the barking with the unpleasantness of the muzzle they will stop?? I don't know what else to do. But with the muzzle I am afraid it will hurt their jaws...what does everyone think about that?

The first time I took Remmy to training class with other dogs he would not shut up. It was quite embarassing the just kept at it. the instructor came over and sprayed some bitter apple in this mouth and he shut right up. From then on I kept some at home for times when he got out of control. It really helped him. Maybe you could take some one your walk and when he got out of control give him a spray and say that is enough. The trainer also said use that command because you don't want them not to bark but to teach them when enough is enough.

I used to have that problem with Maddie. At home I'd use the coins in a can thing and it worked at home, so one day I took the can with me and shook it when she'd bark. It only took that one time and now even if dogs bark at her, she doesn't bark back. She does bark if I'm with my daughter and her 2 dogs and her dogs start barking. If it's just Maddie and I, she conducts herself very well now.

Barking Dogs
 

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.

muzzles will make it worse

mine use to do it so i put coins in a small bottle and shake that when they bark, it worked and now they stop barking as soon as i say bottle lol or you could put some water in a spray bottle and when they wont stop barking spray them with it. :)

tpaxton23....let me say how very sorry over what happened to Kramer....what a horrible thing to go through......

Thank you everyone for your input and suggestions....I will try the bitter apple and the coins in a can...

Browniesmom....why do you think muzzles will make it worse? Just curious.

because your dog will just get more mad and act more crazy i tryed the muzzle with brownie not only did it slip right off since his nose was small but he seemed to just make him more agressive he is agressive tho not just barking
and he will think walks are bad cause he gets the muzzle on you need to scold him when he does it hold his muzzle(mouth) gentle and tell him no it will take a while to get him to stop

all of the suggestions I read are great - let me tell you my situation. I have 3 and when we used to walk, they would bark and I mean BARK at people, dogs, bunnies, it didn't matter. I watched the dog whisperer one day on National Geographic and the show was about walking an unruly dog and I decided to take his advice. I have the retractable leashes normally, but I went out and bought the choker leashes for this. I put each dog on a choker chain/leash for about two weeks - each time we went out and walked, if they would go nuts, I would gently pull the choker leash, bend now, say NO sternly and also I had my spray bottle of water and would spritz water in their face. I NEVER ONCE PICKED THEM UP. Believe it or not IT WORKED ON ALL THREE!! It took a couple of weeks but I now can walk all of them on the retractable leashes now and yes, they still tense up but if they look like they are gonna bark, I just show them the spray bottle.

Ceasar, the dog whisperer on National Geographic said NEVER EVER pick your dog up when they are being agressive with barking. He said that you are rewarding your dog for his behavior by picking them up which is what I used to do and now I know why they kept up the barking. I'd pick them up and tell them no but I was loving on them at the same time trying to calm them down, so they looked at it like barking crazy was an okay thing to do.

This is just my experience.

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.

Oh no dont use choker collars with yorkies!!! They are highly suseptable to collapsed tracheas. I do the same as Browniesmom I grab them by the muzzle and say no. It only takes a couple times of doing that and they think twice before barking

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

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!

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

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. :rolleyes: 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..

where do I spray them in "the face" :eek:
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!

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!!

oh oh
 

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!
:confused:

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

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

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

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.

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.