Aggressive Yorkie
Discussion
I have two Yorkies, one is a 6 year old b
h, the other a 2 year old dog. The dog has a gentle temperament. The bh on the other hand is insane! Always has been very hyper, sensitive to any movements or noises, and slightly aggressive, no biting, just bearing of teeth and growling, not to the other dog, just me mainly, the one who feeds, walks baths and generally takes care of her. When I try to put her to her bed for the night, they sleep together in one warm room, she becomes very aggressive and snaps at me, then head down submissive, 'a sorry I just can't help it'.
It's getting worse, I've tried altering the routine, but she is very intelligent and I swear she can read my mind and a clock.
Tried kindness and a stern voice.
I've always had Yorkies and know they are highly strung, but at times this one takes the p#ss.
Any ideas please.
h, the other a 2 year old dog. The dog has a gentle temperament. The bh on the other hand is insane! Always has been very hyper, sensitive to any movements or noises, and slightly aggressive, no biting, just bearing of teeth and growling, not to the other dog, just me mainly, the one who feeds, walks baths and generally takes care of her. When I try to put her to her bed for the night, they sleep together in one warm room, she becomes very aggressive and snaps at me, then head down submissive, 'a sorry I just can't help it'.It's getting worse, I've tried altering the routine, but she is very intelligent and I swear she can read my mind and a clock.
Tried kindness and a stern voice.
I've always had Yorkies and know they are highly strung, but at times this one takes the p#ss.
Any ideas please.
Is she as aggressive towards you when they are separated ?
Sounds like she might be possessive ??
Carla ( our 3 yr old female ) is like this towards Monty when she is on the sofa or lap..
If he comes near, she snaps at him. However, when they are not near one of us, they snuggle up together..
Try separating them for a while and putting them in different places to sleep .... Just a thought
Sounds like she might be possessive ??
Carla ( our 3 yr old female ) is like this towards Monty when she is on the sofa or lap..
If he comes near, she snaps at him. However, when they are not near one of us, they snuggle up together..
Try separating them for a while and putting them in different places to sleep .... Just a thought
Thank you for the reply. Sometimes they both have that trait, but usually they are both on my lap, there isn't much room for me on a chair! She is very hyper though.
My main concern is this snapping and growling when I try to get her to her bed, she assumes she should be sleeping in my bed, which she has never been allowed to do.
I have spied on them and they settle down together ok.
Yes she is quite possessive of me though, she won't go for a walk with any other family member unless I am with them too.
My main concern is this snapping and growling when I try to get her to her bed, she assumes she should be sleeping in my bed, which she has never been allowed to do.
I have spied on them and they settle down together ok.
Yes she is quite possessive of me though, she won't go for a walk with any other family member unless I am with them too.
oilandwater said:
Thank you for the reply. Sometimes they both have that trait, but usually they are both on my lap, there isn't much room for me on a chair! She is very hyper though.
My main concern is this snapping and growling when I try to get her to her bed, she assumes she should be sleeping in my bed, which she has never been allowed to do.
I have spied on them and they settle down together ok.
Yes she is quite possessive of me though, she won't go for a walk with any other family member unless I am with them too.
When she is growling just don't leave the room - stay there until she stops and then when she is demonstrating the right behaviour just give her a small treat?My main concern is this snapping and growling when I try to get her to her bed, she assumes she should be sleeping in my bed, which she has never been allowed to do.
I have spied on them and they settle down together ok.
Yes she is quite possessive of me though, she won't go for a walk with any other family member unless I am with them too.
Jasandjules said:
How do you "put her to bed"?
Sometimes I switch the lights off first, then try and encourage her to move towards the kitchen, when she won't move she does surrender, legs in the air on her back, then when I move in to collect her and pick her up, that's when all he'll lets loose. I can pick her up at any other time, so I'm not hurting her. I've tried the rewards when she has not been quite as aggressive, but.....no change.
steve singh said:
Surprised some of the self-appointed dog whisperers on here haven't bothered to respond to your post? 
I'm popping out now, but if you get no responses i'm happy to share my view based on in-depth reading i've done once i'm back
I guess you will become on of your self appointed dog whisperers in that case, Remind me again how many dogs have you had in your life or do you work everyday with them?I'm popping out now, but if you get no responses i'm happy to share my view based on in-depth reading i've done once i'm back
To the OP personally I don't like to offer too much advice over the internet on cases like these, This is a long established issue so would be better to try and find a good dog behaviourist (maybe via your vet) to help, they will meet your dog often in its home and get a clearer picture of issues occurring.
It's not that advice/opinion given here will be wrong, there are a lot of knowledgeable dog owners here (me included) it's just that you nay get conflicting advice which actually can make matters worse not better,.
Hope you can get to the bottom of her 'issues'
It is still a pack animal, you and any humans have to be the alpha. I would never tolorate a aggressive dog, you have to assert you dominance on it, it will then be a cracking little dog and show you respect and a live time of devotion, just now it see's you as its no pun intended the "underdog"
My father used to train gun dogs and do dog obedience on the side, a week with some one who knows dogs would give you back a different animal. ( I would suggest this )
The dog is what you have made it and I would never let it near children....
Sounds harsh but I have seen it hundreds of times in my youth being brought up around this type of thing.
You have to get it of the chairs and on the floor and off your lap. Its a dog not a person that is my first reaction to reading this the way you treat it, hard to say much more with out seeing it.
I am not professing to be any kind of dog whisper my fathers methods are harsh and work, most people could not bring themselfs to do them hence I will not go in to detail, but not cruel as we all love dogs
My father used to train gun dogs and do dog obedience on the side, a week with some one who knows dogs would give you back a different animal. ( I would suggest this )
The dog is what you have made it and I would never let it near children....
Sounds harsh but I have seen it hundreds of times in my youth being brought up around this type of thing.
You have to get it of the chairs and on the floor and off your lap. Its a dog not a person that is my first reaction to reading this the way you treat it, hard to say much more with out seeing it.
I am not professing to be any kind of dog whisper
my fathers methods are harsh and work, most people could not bring themselfs to do them hence I will not go in to detail, but not cruel as we all love dogs Edited by scotty_d on Wednesday 8th January 09:52
scotty_d said:
It is still a pack animal, you and any humans have to be the alpha. I would never tolorate a aggressive dog, you have to assert you dominance on it, it will then be a cracking little dog and show you respect and a live time of devotion, just now it see's you as its no pun intended the "underdog"
My father used to train gun dogs and do dog obedience on the side, a week with some one who knows dogs would give you back a different animal. ( I would suggest this )
The dog is what you have made it and I would never let it near children....
Sounds harsh but I have seen it hundreds of times in my youth being brought up around this type of thing.
You have to get it of the chairs and on the floor and off your lap. Its a dog not a person that is my first reaction to reading this the way you treat it, hard to say much more with out seeing it.
I am not professing to be any kind of dog whisper my fathers methods are harsh and work, most people could not bring themselfs to do them hence I will not go in to detail, but not cruel as we all love dogs
I'm sure you are right. I will have to be more assertive with this dog, my other dog is very docile. The one I'm having trouble with is mad, and yes completely barking! My father used to train gun dogs and do dog obedience on the side, a week with some one who knows dogs would give you back a different animal. ( I would suggest this )
The dog is what you have made it and I would never let it near children....
Sounds harsh but I have seen it hundreds of times in my youth being brought up around this type of thing.
You have to get it of the chairs and on the floor and off your lap. Its a dog not a person that is my first reaction to reading this the way you treat it, hard to say much more with out seeing it.
I am not professing to be any kind of dog whisper
my fathers methods are harsh and work, most people could not bring themselfs to do them hence I will not go in to detail, but not cruel as we all love dogs Edited by scotty_d on Wednesday 8th January 09:52
You see this us where advice can be so wrong. How do we know that this isn't fear based aggression. Start showing dominance (which could be a dangerous game to start playing) on a fear aggressive dog will only make things a lot lot worse.
I'm not saying it isn't dominance but truth is we can't know and it should be pointed out that dominance aggression is far less common than fear aggression.
How are you going to be assertive, by shouting for example?
I do agree with getting the dog off the furniture, your lap etc. I used to let Jimmy on the sofa etc but if I wanted him to get off he did no qualms. If there was he wouldn't have been allowed on them in the first place.
Get a dog bed in use or maybe start using a crate.
I'm not saying it isn't dominance but truth is we can't know and it should be pointed out that dominance aggression is far less common than fear aggression.
How are you going to be assertive, by shouting for example?
I do agree with getting the dog off the furniture, your lap etc. I used to let Jimmy on the sofa etc but if I wanted him to get off he did no qualms. If there was he wouldn't have been allowed on them in the first place.
Get a dog bed in use or maybe start using a crate.
Edited by bexVN on Wednesday 8th January 13:25
Where do the dogs sleep? Can you move their beds to the kitchen / utility room on a route to a back door?
I only say, so that when you let them out for their pre bed toilet break they come straight in to where their bed is, no access to the rest of the house. Treat and you can go to bed, the dog is already in the correct room, no ifs and buts, growling etc.
I only say, so that when you let them out for their pre bed toilet break they come straight in to where their bed is, no access to the rest of the house. Treat and you can go to bed, the dog is already in the correct room, no ifs and buts, growling etc.
I don't do shouting at her, it's a waste of time and makes us both feel bad, likewise I don't tap her either. In a stern voice I do say bad dog and this works on either dog for any other occasion. I also say good dog when they are. This message is understood and acted upon, head down or waggy tails and licks.
They do sleep in the kitchen, she is crafty though, if I let her out just before bed time she sits outside and refuses to come back in. I call her, it ends in a chase around the garden, 10-15 mins later she is chased in. She then makes it difficult for me to get through the other door. At this point I pick her up, no growling here, switch the light off and launch her into the kitchen quickly closing the door.
She is mad, but crafty.
I've had other Yorkies, other dogs too, but not quite like this one.
My last two Yorkies both lived until they were 21 in human years.
They do sleep in the kitchen, she is crafty though, if I let her out just before bed time she sits outside and refuses to come back in. I call her, it ends in a chase around the garden, 10-15 mins later she is chased in. She then makes it difficult for me to get through the other door. At this point I pick her up, no growling here, switch the light off and launch her into the kitchen quickly closing the door.
She is mad, but crafty.
I've had other Yorkies, other dogs too, but not quite like this one.
My last two Yorkies both lived until they were 21 in human years.
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My JRT went through an aggressive stage with me, bed time was the worst, he used to growl/snarl/nip at me, and then one day I thought 'sod this' and just picked him up. He stooped doing it.
I know that we should not let a dog on our lap/sofa/bed, or feed them from the table, but, the way I look at it is a dog is part of the family, when I was growing up we always had dogs, and my mum and dad would always say 'don't feed the dog from the table/don't let the dog on your bed etcetc', none of us took any notice!
My dog is my mate, and my mate can sit on the sofa with me if he wants, he can have a nap on my bed if he wants, and he can some of my dinner if he wants.
Whilst i'm writing this i'm having a tea and some toast and marmalade, and so is my dog.
I know that we should not let a dog on our lap/sofa/bed, or feed them from the table, but, the way I look at it is a dog is part of the family, when I was growing up we always had dogs, and my mum and dad would always say 'don't feed the dog from the table/don't let the dog on your bed etcetc', none of us took any notice!
My dog is my mate, and my mate can sit on the sofa with me if he wants, he can have a nap on my bed if he wants, and he can some of my dinner if he wants.
Whilst i'm writing this i'm having a tea and some toast and marmalade, and so is my dog.
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