Protective aggression!! - YorkieTalk.com Forums

sadesmom · 07-17-2011, 10:51 AM

I posted a reply to someone else's post about the same issue a while ago but I'm hoping someone will see this and be able to help.
Sadie my spayed yorkie is 2 and will growl and lick her chops before attacking my cats and sometimes other dog. My brothers dog attacks back and actually ended up biting her! In her defense he stole her treat but I do not think her behavior is acceptable what so ever. She won't let the cat in our room, if the car follows me to the bathroom she comes in and attacks! I was even brushing him and she tried to attack! I have started to get between then and say " NO" and point my finger which seems to work... For a minute at least. I need this to stop! I want to be able to sleep with her and the cat on my bed without her freaking out! Plus one day when I get another dog I don't want them fighting! I'm used to nice golden retrievers not this mean little girl. She is so sweet other wise! She has never shown aggression towards people but if does worry me for the future when we have children.
Pleassssseeee somebody help me out here!!

susan lynn · 07-17-2011, 11:00 AM

My Sassy is the youngest (10 months old) and the smallest of my 4 Yorkies. She bites at my oldest Yorkie (2 years old) but doesn't hurt her. I think she is just jealous. she loves our cat but gets all in his face so he can't move so she can lick him. She growls at the other 3 dogs and snaps at them especially if they approach me when she is in my lap. We started putting her in time out in the laundry room when she shows this behavior towards her. This seems to help and we make sure she knows she can't do that, it has helped but we are still working on it. She was spayed a month ago and we are hoping this will help. Hopefully you can get some more answers to help you.

sadesmom · 07-18-2011, 04:04 PM

I'm thinking that I might have to call bark busters. I've heard they are really good. Does anyone know if they work?

JoeyP · 07-22-2011, 11:53 AM

Ahh yes this is possession aggression and you my dear are the possession

Being this is coming down to a cat it's going to be hard to stop because going by my two guys .... They HATE cats

Hate is too strong a word ... They just like chasing them
If your goal is to have them both on your lap you need to make your pup see that it's in his or her best interest to have the cat around
Try this
Have the cat on your lap and then have your dog enter the room
If he barks.... Out of the room immediately
Once he's calm start dropping treats to him to get him used to the idea that ... Hey when the cats around I get treats
And slowly bring him clser and closer until you can get them both on your lap

That is .... If the CAT cooperates

Teresa Ford · 07-22-2011, 06:04 PM

Sometimes we just don't get what we want, and your doggies needs to learn this. Letting the dog sleep on your bed gives a dog an inflated idea of their rank in the family. Just like allowing her access to the sofa/ chair without being invited by you ,makes her feel in charge. You can put her on the floor immediately when she shows aggression, with a firm NO. I had to put Rubin in a crate a few nights (and listen to his whining !) to teach him it was my bed, not his. Rubin learned he could only get on my bed, with my permission. Read Cesar Millan's
book(s) Be the Pack Leader and Cesar's Rules

07-17-2011, 10:51 AM	#1
sadesmom Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 43	Protective aggression!! I posted a reply to someone else's post about the same issue a while ago but I'm hoping someone will see this and be able to help. Sadie my spayed yorkie is 2 and will growl and lick her chops before attacking my cats and sometimes other dog. My brothers dog attacks back and actually ended up biting her! In her defense he stole her treat but I do not think her behavior is acceptable what so ever. She won't let the cat in our room, if the car follows me to the bathroom she comes in and attacks! I was even brushing him and she tried to attack! I have started to get between then and say " NO" and point my finger which seems to work... For a minute at least. I need this to stop! I want to be able to sleep with her and the cat on my bed without her freaking out! Plus one day when I get another dog I don't want them fighting! I'm used to nice golden retrievers not this mean little girl. She is so sweet other wise! She has never shown aggression towards people but if does worry me for the future when we have children. Pleassssseeee somebody help me out here!!

07-17-2011, 11:00 AM	#2
susan lynn Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Georgia Posts: 3,262	My Sassy is the youngest (10 months old) and the smallest of my 4 Yorkies. She bites at my oldest Yorkie (2 years old) but doesn't hurt her. I think she is just jealous. she loves our cat but gets all in his face so he can't move so she can lick him. She growls at the other 3 dogs and snaps at them especially if they approach me when she is in my lap. We started putting her in time out in the laundry room when she shows this behavior towards her. This seems to help and we make sure she knows she can't do that, it has helped but we are still working on it. She was spayed a month ago and we are hoping this will help. Hopefully you can get some more answers to help you. __________________ SUSAN : TESSIE : HOBBES :CALVIN :SASSY There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face! ~ Ben Williams

07-22-2011, 11:53 AM	#4
JoeyP YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Miami, FL,USA Posts: 1,005	Ahh yes this is possession aggression and you my dear are the possession Being this is coming down to a cat it's going to be hard to stop because going by my two guys .... They HATE cats Hate is too strong a word ... They just like chasing them If your goal is to have them both on your lap you need to make your pup see that it's in his or her best interest to have the cat around Try this Have the cat on your lap and then have your dog enter the room If he barks.... Out of the room immediately Once he's calm start dropping treats to him to get him used to the idea that ... Hey when the cats around I get treats And slowly bring him clser and closer until you can get them both on your lap That is .... If the CAT cooperates __________________ Mike and Zach's Dadd

07-18-2011, 04:04 PM	#3
sadesmom Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 43	I'm thinking that I might have to call bark busters. I've heard they are really good. Does anyone know if they work?

07-22-2011, 06:04 PM	#5
Teresa Ford Therapy Yorkies Work Donating Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Central, Florida Posts: 3,863	Sometimes we just don't get what we want, and your doggies needs to learn this. Letting the dog sleep on *your bed* gives a dog an inflated idea of their rank in the family. Just like allowing her access to the sofa/ chair without being invited by you ,makes her feel in charge. You can put her on the floor immediately when she shows aggression, with a firm NO. I had to put Rubin in a crate a few nights (and listen to his whining !) to teach him it was my bed, not his. Rubin learned he could only get on my bed, with my permission. Read Cesar Millan's book(s) Be the Pack Leader and Cesar's Rules