Very Agressive/Territorial Yorkie
 

Help! We have a Yorkie that we got shortly after Christmas. She was a wonderful puppy but in the last month or so she has gotten very aggressive - or territorial? If she is sitting with me on the couth and my husband or the other dog, or one of the kids, comes walking by, she stands up and starts growling. If they reach for her, I believe she may even bite. She has also done it to me, so it is not just because she is by me. She is like this by the food dish too when our other dog (he is not a Yorkie) goes out by her. I have started laying her down on her side as soon as she does it. She has improved, but it seems like we are at a stand still now with improvement. I really want this behavior to totally stop. This behavior seems to start around 8:00 p.m. at night. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks!!

Oh my! That must be so scary! I have never dealt with this issue...maybe you could search for results on aggressive or territorial yorkies...or you could browse through the training section.

Since this behavior starts around 8pm, I have to ask: does she get picked up and put to bed away from everyone in the evenings?

Does she guard her position on the couch at other times of the day?

Diesel gets like this to a degree at night. If he is sleeping he does not want to be messed with.He won't get after or growl at us he just gets after our shepherd if he comes over smelling him. He won't hesitate to snap. LOL Shep just turns around and walks away. He his very protective of me. So when my husband and I start rough housing he goes crazy. He is all bark tho. he has never bitten.

When she growls and barks when someone walks by you should grab her and tell her no. Stop it right then. Also some may not agree but I would flip her over and lay her on her back and hold her there and tell her no as well. You need to let her know that she isn't the boss. Good Luck.

No, she is not like this during the day except when she is eating (which I can understand to some extent). We do not put her to bed away from everyone - she usually sleeps with me.

I have been laying her down on her side and holding her down until she relaxes. That has helped alot. But she continues to do it - some nights are worse than others - but it is always in the evenings.

Hmmm... That's very puzzling. If she did it all the time, you could easily say that she was location- or position-guarding. If she was put to bed at night, you could say it was that.

As it is, I can only surmise that she doesn't react well to the extra excitement of having everyone at home. How to improve that, I don't know. But, I do wish you the best of luck!

I know what you are talking about. I have experienced this with Buddy.
He started with protecting toys, usually at night:confused: I did some research and
found that's exactally what he was doing for whatever reason. It all started around 1yr old. I worked on this for a couple of months and we worked through it. I would walk past him and talk very gently and at times
drop a treat. Then I would get on the floor and talk in a baby voice and encourage him to bring the toy to me. He would but walk around me a growl all the while. I found it strange behavior him wanting to be alpha because it's only he and I. We resolved that issue then went on to food aggression. I went to pick up him bowl and he went after me, chased me accross the kitchen. I was livid and went after him at which time he backed down. I read up on this and I begain making him sit before feeding him and giving him the ok to eat. I stopped feeding him while I was preparing his food and made him wait, showing him I was in charged. Now
all is ok but then the went to guarding my bed! He slept with me but one night in the dark when I touched him he went nuts. If it weren't for the pillow I would have been bitten. The next night I put his bed on the floor
and put a step in harness on him and his leash, tied him to the leg of the dresser and let him sleep on the floor. After two weeks I untied him and he
slept in his bed. This went on for two months until one night he jumped up next to me and I ignored him. After reading up on this problem it stated
never let the dog in bed before you. He needs to know it's your bed not his. I guess that's true because it's been several months and all is fine.
I do keep the bedroom door closed now during the day so he can't get
on the bed. He thinks he is sneeking up there at night while I am sleeping. No more aggression. He is a wonderful loving smart Yorkie and these things
really through me for a loop. The key is to show them that are just a dog and we are incharge. I thought it was bull but thank heavens for this advice because it saved us. Good luck and it is important not to let her
get away with anything! Be there to reprimand her. Some you can baby
other's you have to sit on. I have the later and it seems you do to.
Once they know who's in charge it nothing but peace and fun and puppy kisses.