Originally Posted by ForeverPiper
(Post 1005838)
Welcome to YT. I think there are two things you need to address here. First both dogs need positive socialization with children, and secondly, having a firm talk with the neighbors and their child.
Do you have any friends with young children that would be willing to help you socialize Rylee Jo and Lexie Lou? The way to do this is by being in total control of the situation. Preferably work with each dog individually while the other is contained out of the room. Have each dog on their leash controlled by you. Ask the parent of the child to sit down with the child and let the child talk to you and the dog in a very low and calm voice. Do this with the child sitting away from the pup. If your dog's behaviour is favorable, praise the heck out of him/her. If he is tense or growling at the child, tell him "no" in a sharp voice, and give a tug on his lead. Keep doing this till the pup is more comfortable. Remember consistancy and POSITIVE reinforcement is the key.
Eventually, as the pup gets more comfortable around the child you can let the child hold a treat or toy in his hand. With the dog still on the leash move closer and if the dog is inquisitive toward the child let him sniff near him. Explain to the child helping you that he needs to be still and not make sudden moves. Let the dog move toward him if it is calm and you should always be ready to pull him back if he acts badly. If this goes well, sit on the floor with your dog in your lap and allow the parent and their child to sit near you. If the pup is handling this ok, allow the child to gently throw the treat or toy to your dog. Hopefully by now, the pup will be thinking "hey, this kid might not be so bad afterall, and he justs wants to play with me".
Gradually build up the time and closeness you allow your pup to interact with the child. But, untill you are very sure of your pet, YOU, be in control. It may not happen overnight. You may have to stop after the first few moments if your dog is on edge and aggressive. And working with a kid who is a bit older and can understand that you are working in stages is important. With patience you should be able to get both dogs comfortable around children. Something important to remember is that you should show that you feel comfortable with the child to your pet. Don't be tense, try to relax! Pets feed off of our feelings.
Next, I would ask the neighbors for a convenient time to talk with them and their son, and then explain that Yorkies while normally very friendly and inquisitive, can be put off and scared by sudden and loud stimuli. It is their defense system to bark and snap at what scares them. It's the "I'm just a little guy, so I'll scare you first" syndrome. They can be tenacious in this feeling.
Explain to the parents and their little one that there are rules when approaching anyone's pet. They should always wait and ask permission to say hello. This is hard for a young child to comprehend, but, if you are firm about it, in time you will be doing him and other pet owners a world of goodness. Firmly tell the young offender that it is NOT ok to be hanging over the fence trying to reach the puppies. Explain that there are appropriate times for him to say hello to your pets, and that he cannot invade their territory.
Of course, his good behavior should be rewarded by being able to interact with your pups when they are ready to do so safely and happily. The advantages to doing the work needed to get through this problem are obvious. First, you and your pups will be happier. No one wants a pet that is scared and unfriendly. Secondly, you are legally responsible if your pet/s hurts someone. You don't need that headache. And thirdly, wouldn't it be neat to be the neighbor that the kids in the neighborhood thinks is cool with her sweet little Yorkies?
Good luck and post some pics of your furkids when you have the chance. We'd love to meet them both!
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