Help with Aggression - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Cha Cha · 12-03-2008, 06:56 AM

What do you do when your yorkie shows aggression? Mine has started to show aggression more and more towards my older handicapped Min Pin. All the Min Pin has to do is look at her wrong and the fight is on. It is always when I am in the room, so I think it is over me. She is otherwise a very sensitive, submissive dog. They usually just do this growling ritual with no actual biting, but last night there was biting and it was vicious. When I scolded my Yorkie, she went off and pouted in another room. HELP! I don't want to make her more sensitive than she already is, but this cannot go on. My min pin has a bum leg from a very old injury, if anything happens to that leg, her life is over. So, what do you do when your dogs show agression? My yorkie is one and a half and this is just now starting, but she has attached herself to me in a big way. I do all sorts of things to let them know that "I" am top dog in our house.

jamiel · 12-03-2008, 07:41 AM

I hope someone can help you with this. I noticed mine doing that also. I just got her about a month ago and she is 16 months. When she is on the floor is okay with my other dog but when she is in my lap its a totally different story. I just keep on her. So I am also waiting to see what people have to say to this....

Cha Cha · 12-03-2008, 08:35 AM

I have always prided myself with being good with dogs. I am no amature, really. But aggression is not something I have ever experienced and to complicate the problem she is otherwise very sensitive and gets her feelings hurt easily. It is the Yorkie with the problem, not the Min Pin. The Yorkie picks the fight but the Min Pin will fight back or protect herself making the fight worse. Anyone?

QuickSilver · 12-03-2008, 09:14 PM

I don't have much experience with aggression either, but here are some ideas....

It will probably help to understand what's causing the fighting. It sounds like your yorkie is resource-guarding, in this case, you. I would say this is possibly a bid to be alpha dog, except that you say your yorkie is "sensitive", which I'm guessing means that she is not confident. Are there ways to improve her confidence? That might make her calmer about sharing you.

Also, I would say that you should not be afraid to give your yorkie a correction for bad behavior. As long as you are correcting, not punishing, you won't hurt your dog's feelings. Which makes me wonder, perhaps you are coddling your yorkie and inadvertantly feeding into her insecurity? I wonder because you seem concerned that your yorkie was pouting for an hour, while at the same time saying she is the instigator.

Think about if it was a child. Say your child is bullying other kids, but if you step in to correct her, she bursts into tears. Would you say, "well my child is very sensitive, so I guess I'll have to let her do whatever she wants"? No.

Just a guess. Good luck!

littlelady · 12-03-2008, 10:05 PM

I think she meant the expression on the Yorkies face was one of pouting. when we correct my 2yr old for aggression she looks at you as if saying I really didn't mean it but I didn't like the ...... and then I let them know it.
My girl is not giving any kind of warning before she goes after someone.
I am at a loss also.
I was going to try to get a hold of the dog whisperer, I read some reviews and found a view by Dr. Nicholas Dodman and I am thinking of using there petfax option for $250 which is good for 6 months. I don't want to pay for something if we are just going to be guessing and they aren't near me. who knows how to get a hold of this, other then separating and scheduling time in and out of a crate?

Cha Cha · 12-04-2008, 06:35 AM

QuickSilver, what you say does make a lot of sense. Let me explain a little more. This little dog follows me everywhere! If I get up from my chair and leave the room, she gets up and follows me. ALWAYS. If I take a shower, she will patiently lay in my bed (off my bathroom) and wait. Sometimes, it is a pain, but mostly I like her loyalty. But, you make me wonder if I am her security blanket. She gets seperation anxiety, but not to the point that she is ever distructive. When someone else is holding/playing with her, her attention is on me and what I am doing. When I leave the house, she will attach to whoever else is home, and I believe also the Min Pin when no one is there, and if we are going to be more than about an hour, she is in her kennel. I take her in my car and have left her for very short periods with no problems whatsoever. She seems to love that.

Now, she is what I call very submissive. When I walk up to her she immediately rolls over and shows her belly, and it is not for a scratch. She is very playful and I often get on the floor and we play tug o war and such. When "I" am tired, she gets in my face (comes along and rubs me) then plops over and shows her belly in front of my face. (I am laying on my belly on the floor). Is this what you mean by lack of confidence? Because I can see that now that you say it.

Also, when I scold her I raise my voice and am very stern. This seems to scare her and she then hides. She walks close to walls and furniture and hold her tail in tight like she is looking for an escape. This is what I call sensitive. She tries and wants to please. She was one of the easiest dogs ever to house break. I don't want her to be afraid of me. She sort of acts like a dog that has been abused, but I can assure you, we've had her from a young puppy, and she is not abused. Compared to the Min Pin, when she is scolded she takes it with a grain of salt and goes on with life. The problem is, my min pin is becoming a prisioner to the underside of the sofa and I have to figure out a way for her to realize that she doesn't have to compete for me.

Last evening, I spent a lot of time holding the Min Pin, and petting the yorkie. She wanted to snap, but held her composure pretty well. When she started to show aggression, (she has an if looks could kill glare) I raised my voice a little and said no. When she stopped, I pet her again.

Sorry for the book, but I cannot let her rip up on my Min Pin, and I don't want the Min Pin to live a life under the sofa. The nerve damage already in her bum leg won't be repairable if anything happens to it.

12-03-2008, 06:56 AM	#1
Cha Cha Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Where the deer and the antelope play Posts: 7,069	Help with Aggression What do you do when your yorkie shows aggression? Mine has started to show aggression more and more towards my older handicapped Min Pin. All the Min Pin has to do is look at her wrong and the fight is on. It is always when I am in the room, so I think it is over me. She is otherwise a very sensitive, submissive dog. They usually just do this growling ritual with no actual biting, but last night there was biting and it was vicious. When I scolded my Yorkie, she went off and pouted in another room. HELP! I don't want to make her more sensitive than she already is, but this cannot go on. My min pin has a bum leg from a very old injury, if anything happens to that leg, her life is over. So, what do you do when your dogs show agression? My yorkie is one and a half and this is just now starting, but she has attached herself to me in a big way. I do all sorts of things to let them know that "I" am top dog in our house.

12-03-2008, 07:41 AM	#2
jamiel Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: College Station,TX Posts: 79	I hope someone can help you with this. I noticed mine doing that also. I just got her about a month ago and she is 16 months. When she is on the floor is okay with my other dog but when she is in my lap its a totally different story. I just keep on her. So I am also waiting to see what people have to say to this.... __________________ With God ALL things are possible! Maija's Mommy! RIP Obi1Kanobi...you will always be remembered!

12-03-2008, 08:35 AM	#3
Cha Cha Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Where the deer and the antelope play Posts: 7,069	I have always prided myself with being good with dogs. I am no amature, really. But aggression is not something I have ever experienced and to complicate the problem she is otherwise very sensitive and gets her feelings hurt easily. It is the Yorkie with the problem, not the Min Pin. The Yorkie picks the fight but the Min Pin will fight back or protect herself making the fight worse. Anyone?

12-03-2008, 09:14 PM	#4
QuickSilver Thor's Human Donating Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 5,929 Blog Entries: 31	I don't have much experience with aggression either, but here are some ideas.... It will probably help to understand what's causing the fighting. It sounds like your yorkie is resource-guarding, in this case, you. I would say this is possibly a bid to be alpha dog, except that you say your yorkie is "sensitive", which I'm guessing means that she is not confident. Are there ways to improve her confidence? That might make her calmer about sharing you. Also, I would say that you should not be afraid to give your yorkie a correction for bad behavior. As long as you are correcting, not punishing, you won't hurt your dog's feelings. Which makes me wonder, perhaps you are coddling your yorkie and inadvertantly feeding into her insecurity? I wonder because you seem concerned that your yorkie was pouting for an hour, while at the same time saying she is the instigator. Think about if it was a child. Say your child is bullying other kids, but if you step in to correct her, she bursts into tears. Would you say, "well my child is very sensitive, so I guess I'll have to let her do whatever she wants"? No. Just a guess. Good luck!

12-03-2008, 10:05 PM	#5
littlelady Currently Suspended! Join Date: May 2008 Location: indiana Posts: 380	I think she meant the expression on the Yorkies face was one of pouting. when we correct my 2yr old for aggression she looks at you as if saying I really didn't mean it but I didn't like the ...... and then I let them know it. My girl is not giving any kind of warning before she goes after someone. I am at a loss also. I was going to try to get a hold of the dog whisperer, I read some reviews and found a view by Dr. Nicholas Dodman and I am thinking of using there petfax option for $250 which is good for 6 months. I don't want to pay for something if we are just going to be guessing and they aren't near me. who knows how to get a hold of this, other then separating and scheduling time in and out of a crate?

12-04-2008, 06:35 AM	#6
Cha Cha Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Where the deer and the antelope play Posts: 7,069	QuickSilver, what you say does make a lot of sense. Let me explain a little more. This little dog follows me everywhere! If I get up from my chair and leave the room, she gets up and follows me. ALWAYS. If I take a shower, she will patiently lay in my bed (off my bathroom) and wait. Sometimes, it is a pain, but mostly I like her loyalty. But, you make me wonder if I am her security blanket. She gets seperation anxiety, but not to the point that she is ever distructive. When someone else is holding/playing with her, her attention is on me and what I am doing. When I leave the house, she will attach to whoever else is home, and I believe also the Min Pin when no one is there, and if we are going to be more than about an hour, she is in her kennel. I take her in my car and have left her for very short periods with no problems whatsoever. She seems to love that. Now, she is what I call very submissive. When I walk up to her she immediately rolls over and shows her belly, and it is not for a scratch. She is very playful and I often get on the floor and we play tug o war and such. When "I" am tired, she gets in my face (comes along and rubs me) then plops over and shows her belly in front of my face. (I am laying on my belly on the floor). Is this what you mean by lack of confidence? Because I can see that now that you say it. Also, when I scold her I raise my voice and am very stern. This seems to scare her and she then hides. She walks close to walls and furniture and hold her tail in tight like she is looking for an escape. This is what I call sensitive. She tries and wants to please. She was one of the easiest dogs ever to house break. I don't want her to be afraid of me. She sort of acts like a dog that has been abused, but I can assure you, we've had her from a young puppy, and she is not abused. Compared to the Min Pin, when she is scolded she takes it with a grain of salt and goes on with life. The problem is, my min pin is becoming a prisioner to the underside of the sofa and I have to figure out a way for her to realize that she doesn't have to compete for me. Last evening, I spent a lot of time holding the Min Pin, and petting the yorkie. She wanted to snap, but held her composure pretty well. When she started to show aggression, (she has an if looks could kill glare) I raised my voice a little and said no. When she stopped, I pet her again. Sorry for the book, but I cannot let her rip up on my Min Pin, and I don't want the Min Pin to live a life under the sofa. The nerve damage already in her bum leg won't be repairable if anything happens to it.