what does it mean?

[chinalee61]

Every time I let my little girl out the door, whether it be a room, or backyard, she growls and trys to nip at my older dogs face. My sons other dogs also get this from her. She is the smallest and acts like the alpha of the pack. Not to mention the youngest one too. I don't get it! So needless to say, no one will you out with her to potty or play because she acts this way. Any clue?

[Amazing Yorkies]

It is an alpha thing. There are some really good trainers on here, they should be able to help.

[Maximo]

Could be excitement, protection, or bossiness. When my boys get excited (worked up) over an approaching barking trigger, they will sometimes growl and air snap at each other. I correct them and make them sit.

[Mdyorkies1]

I would take them out for a walk to get them to bond

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by Maximo

Could be excitement, protection, or bossiness. When my boys get excited (worked up) over an approaching barking trigger, they will sometimes growl and air snap at each other. I correct them and make them sit.

Agree. Here are some thoughts to consider. She could also feel nervous - and the little insecure dog such as your girl, who thinks she's got to fend for herself in the big world, is so often the bully - telling one and all to "back off" in order to try to protect herself, using nips and growls to make a statement. I would teach her the "Leave it!" game so that when she starts to nip their faces, you can tell her to "leave it!" and hand her a treat for backing off from the other dogs. In time she will want to refrain from nipping to get her reward! Also, let her out first for just a split second and see if that will give her a feeling of security and take away her need to try to put the other guys in line. She'll see you are taking some control at the door and start to feel less need to scold more than likely if you keep the other dogs back while she goes out first.

The very best way of all is to teach these dogs impulse control and to sit and wait when the door is opened and then proceed out the door per your choosing - you decide who goes first and who next etc. An orderly exit out the door will take all the wild free-for-all excitement out of it and rob her of the need to get a nip in to assert herself. If they sit and then proceed out that door one at a time, she won't be so insecure or bossy or whatever by virtue of seeing that you, the pack leader, is totally controlling the pack at the door and she doesn't need to take any measures in her own "paws".

Make a fun game out of teaching one at a time to sit and wait, using treat rewards and smiles, praises when they do, the word "uh oh" when they don't and no treat for failure and teaching for 3-5 minutes only 3 times daily for a total of 15 mins for the day. Then move the whole teaching session to the immediate door area and teach them to refrain from going out that door and sitting there waiting until you release them before exiting to go potty for their nice treat. In time, you can teach them to group sit and then move that group teaching to the area of the door so that they sit there as a group when the door is opened, wait to be released to go out and then get their treat when they do wait. I'll bet this will stop her need to nip.