Which method is best?

[ziggy925]

When we get my Yorkie and my girlfriend's Labradoodle together the fireworks begin. The Labradoodle lunges at the Yorkie and puts his mouth around his head, neck and other body parts. The Yorkie yaps, barks and often tries to climb up my leg into my arms. Keep in mind, no real biting ensues -- no blood is drawn and I'm not sure if they are playing or trying to establish an alpha position. They also do this at night -- in our bed.

A trainer told me neither dog should be the alpha. WE should be the alpha. I've tried to attach a leash to the Labradoodle and snap it when he goes for my Yorkie. This does help, but my girlfriend hates this method, takes off the leash and wants them to just "fight" it out.

Any thoughts on which method is better, or any new ideas? I hate watching Ruger's head in the mouth of my gf's Labradoodle and tend to approach it like a protective father.

[Lovetodream88]

You need to stop this behavior right away otherwise you could very well end up with a hurt or dead yorkie, all it takes is one small slip. Until this fixed they need to be kept separate.

[Rachael1983]

Is getting a trainer or behaviorist an option for you? This could help you.

I learned in my training class that when introducing dogs, you should have both on a leash, let them sniff butts and when the dogs do well, you reinforce with lots of praise and treats, any negative behavior, you walk them away, say no. Try again.

Keep doing this until the dogs give you the behavior you want. Limit these sessions to 1-2, 10 minute sessions a day. Dogs should be left to sleep in crates so there's no fighting in your bed. Both you and your gf should be on the same page so there's no doggie manipulation.

Hope this gives you a bit of a start but consistency is key and you have to be the alpha.

[Yorkiemom1]

Originally Posted by ziggy925

When we get my Yorkie and my girlfriend's Labradoodle together the fireworks begin. The Labradoodle lunges at the Yorkie and puts his mouth around his head, neck and other body parts. The Yorkie yaps, barks and often tries to climb up my leg into my arms. Keep in mind, no real biting ensues -- no blood is drawn and I'm not sure if they are playing or trying to establish an alpha position. They also do this at night -- in our bed.

A trainer told me neither dog should be the alpha. WE should be the alpha. I've tried to attach a leash to the Labradoodle and snap it when he goes for my Yorkie. This does help, but my girlfriend hates this method, takes off the leash and wants them to just "fight" it out.

Any thoughts on which method is better, or any new ideas? I hate watching Ruger's head in the mouth of my gf's Labradoodle and tend to approach it like a protective father.

Of course GF is OK with watching her labradoodle enclose little Rugers entire head in his mouth!..I am certain if it was the other way around, she wouldnt be so accommodating to her labradoodle and letting them "fight it out"!!! When you have "the winning team" on your side, fighting it out seems OK....but it could easily be disasterous for Ruger! EVEN if they are playing, this could easily end up with Ruger seriously injured or killed. You are doing great dad, protecting Ruger......you are his mouthpiece here, and are right to be concerned about how this "fight it out" event could end up!

Please, do not continue with GF's exercise in poor judgement! Keep these two separate until a qualified trainer comes here to guide you in a direction where Ruger will most assuredly survive the encounter!

[gemy]

Speaking as an owner/breeder of a large breed, I would never, and I mean NEVER allow my big dog to encompass my Yorkies head.


You do not allow a BIG DOG and a Small dog to *fight it out* Good grief! Your GF is very very incorrect in this.


My Yorkie sleeps in his crate at night in our bedroom. Only my senior male is allowed to sleep on the floor, our young female is also crated. Protect your Yorkie - crate him - or insist that the Labradoodle is crated.


You are going to have to work out some things with your GF. But in the meantime protect your Yorkie!! And no joint on the bedtime for these dogs.....


Go for walks - each dog is leashed. . That is the beginning of socialization. Your GF better learn how to control her labradoodle. I would suggest training classes for all of you.


I feel that I am coming across very strongly - but your Yorkies health and well-being depends upon you!


If there are ways I can help you, just post your question(s) I would be happy to answer.

[gemy]

Let me start off with the concept of *alpha*. There is no ifs ands or buts about it, humans always should be the dominant party in the household.


Some humans just kind of naturally understand this and portray this to their animals. Some humans need to learn how to be this.


It is in my opinion when owning a large breed dog, essential that the human owner, trains the dog, and understands their dog owner responsibility.


Your trainer said - you and your GF should be Alpha, did he not show you how to do and be this?


Okay let me start with some exercises that might seem silly or small, but are important.


1. Insist on descending or ascending the stairs first. You make this labradoodle and in fact the Yorkie Sit/Stay until you are finished. Then you issue the Release command.


2. When walking around the kitchen or living room insist the dog moves out of your way. If the large dog doesn't Correct him. If the dog is standing - use the Command MOVE - say it firmly and mean it from the bottom of your heart - as you say MOVE - begin to walk slowly towards the dog - if the dog does not MOVE - walk Through the dog. By that I mean using your knee/thigh - push the dog Out of your way. Without aggression in your action or heart. It quite simply is your right as Alopha to move unimpeded through your home


With the Yorkie similar things - and actually very important as Yorkies should not get stepped upon. Move slowly and *gently* push your one foot against his torso until he Moves...


3. No dogs are up on furniture or beds etc. Unless invited to do so. And until both dog behaviour is corrected and on the right track, I would highly recommend that your dogs are NOT allowed to sleeo with you. This is a priviledge not a right!


4. Hand feed that Labroodle - and make him earn every piece of kibble. That means he does some sort of obedience command for it. Do this for a full week.


5. Entering and Exiting the home. You go first - the dog must wait in a Sit Stay until you release them.


So remember this is not a democracy - you are the boss first last and always!

[Harrysmum]

Originally Posted by gemy

Speaking as an owner/breeder of a large breed, I would never, and I mean NEVER allow my big dog to encompass my Yorkies head.


You do not allow a BIG DOG and a Small dog to *fight it out* Good grief! Your GF is very very incorrect in this.


My Yorkie sleeps in his crate at night in our bedroom. Only my senior male is allowed to sleep on the floor, our young female is also crated. Protect your Yorkie - crate him - or insist that the Labradoodle is crated.


You are going to have to work out some things with your GF. But in the meantime protect your Yorkie!! And no joint on the bedtime for these dogs.....


Go for walks - each dog is leashed. . That is the beginning of socialization. Your GF better learn how to control her labradoodle. I would suggest training classes for all of you.


I feel that I am coming across very strongly - but your Yorkies health and well-being depends upon you!


If there are ways I can help you, just post your question(s) I would be happy to answer.

Absolutely....

'Fight it out'?!!!? Wrong, wrong, wrong.

Okay, my daughter has a Labradoodle - and we have our Harry. We have never, ever had this issue - and neither would we.

Head in mouth? Even in play - that can never be allowed to happen. I don't think your girlfriend can know how quickly - like a split-second - situations like this can turn into disaster.

Totally agree with Gail - your 2 dogs need to be walked together, on leashes, totally controlled. In the meantime, PLEASE keep them separate, and good luck.

[gemy]

These rules have kept my Yorkie safe over more than a few large breed puppies


1. Never Allow and Always correct Bad behaviour on either dogs part. That means the Yorkie is not allowed to jump up into big dogs faces, and Big dogs do not get to Mouth any part of a Yorkie.


2. Never Allow a large dog and a small dog to *play* together. Not in the house, not outside. That means they do not chase toys together, they do not play tug of war together. They do not get to run freely together!


3. Nighttime - either the Yorkie is crated or the big dog is. When one is sleeping one can't supervise their interactions. And lots things can happen in the night. An unfamiliar sound and all of sudden their is mad barking and a rush to the door or the window what-ever. And the Yorkie gets trampled


4. Always supervise their interactions until they have earned the priviledge to be together. And btw that might never happen. If you have a dog with a high prey drive it is deadly easy for them to slip into it. Despite all your training of this dog it can happen in a flash.


5. Walk your large dog separately to your small dog. Or with your GF she has her labradoodle you have the Yorkie. And if trouble comes, immediately create a distance between the dogs. You go one way with your Yorkie, and leave the larger dog and owner to deal with the threat.


As a man that might go against your natural protective instinct for your GF. Then my suggestion is you walk the larger dog - she the Yorkie - so both can get out of harms way.


6. Feeding - Separate bowls and separate locations in the kitchen. Again never left un-attended until dinner is done!


7. Toys - for many reasons I do not leave toys out. Toys come out for a play session with me. Or if a chew toy, they have it when I give them it and they go into their crates to happily chew.


8. A famous Yorkie one - the Yorkie is in your lap and he growls at either the big dog or a human walking by. Immediately correct this behaviour. A firm No. and he is placed on the floor. He is resource guarding you! Not to be allowed and it is Not cute.


So these are my rules - they have worked for me.

[ziggy925]

Thank you all for the great suggestions. FYI, her other dog, which recently passed away, used to let Ruger climb all over him. Ruger was never aggressive but seemed to enjoy sitting on her Westie's head. When she got the Labradoodle we introduced them in the park (neutral territory) and all was good. Her Labradoodle displays this new behavior now whether we are at her house or mine or just walking. Both dogs sleep in our beds so I'm not surprised they both want to sleep with us. Good or bad, I think this is a choice most dog owners make and I do understand why this is not a good idea.

"Our" trainer showed us how to use leash control to control our dogs and it's worked very well for me. My decision now is to not bring the dogs together if my gf will not leash her dog, or at least let me leash her dog when we are in the house so I can control his behavior. I believe her dog will get it in time, but if she will not cooperate there's not much I can do. Fortunately, Ruger is very well behaved when I leave him at home by himself. Yes, I know I should crate him, but again, this is my decision.

Thanks again for all the help, and thanks for reinforcing my original intuitions. I can now see where an accident could easily happen and I'd never be able to forgive myself if it did.

[gemy]

I am very glad to hear this. Good luck let us know how its working outl

[ziggy925]

While I still plan on keeping the dogs apart for now, I should add that Ruger is 12 pounds, so we're not talking about a "tiny" dog here.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by ziggy925

While I still plan on keeping the dogs apart for now, I should add that Ruger is 12 pounds, so we're not talking about a "tiny" dog here.

That still is pretty small and able to be injured with one wrong bite or move.

[matese]

Originally Posted by ziggy925

While I still plan on keeping the dogs apart for now, I should add that Ruger is 12 pounds, so we're not talking about a "tiny" dog here.

I have a 12 LB boy, I wouldn't want his head engulfed in a pup bigger then him, and if things got rough 12 Lbs is still small enough to get seriously hurt. Good luck

[ziggy925]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

That still is pretty small and able to be injured with one wrong bite or move.

Agreed, but he does get along with bigger dogs at the park and I don't want to overprotect him. If I see any signs of aggression from him or other dogs I scoop him up, but that's pretty rare. IMHO socializing is important for a dog, and I've never seen a "small dogs only" park. Virtually every dog we run into is bigger than Ruger, and I can't see picking him up every minute or carrying him all the time.

I drive a car, and if someone else makes "one wrong move" I could be dead, but I still choose to drive.

Thanks again.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by ziggy925

Agreed, but he does get along with bigger dogs at the park and I don't want to overprotect him. If I see any signs of aggression from him or other dogs I scoop him up, but that's pretty rare. IMHO socializing is important for a dog, and I've never seen a "small dogs only" park. Virtually every dog we run into is bigger than Ruger, and I can't see picking him up every minute or carrying him all the time.

I drive a car, and if someone else makes "one wrong move" I could be dead, but I still choose to drive.

Thanks again.

I'm just talking about in the situation you described I'm not saying all big dog contact is bad just that kind. Mine seems to prefer larger dogs too and even at 17 pounds there are certain situations I remove her from and there are a few type of dogs that make me tense and I just don't let her play with them but I know dog body language pretty well so I just pay attention to her. Here we have no mixed dog parks all of them have small dog side and big dog side guess we are lucky. I get you want your dog to still be a dog and I'm not saying not to but when another dog is playing aggressively it can go bad quick. My dog still goes outside and rolls in the freshly cut grass or digs in the mud. She goes to pet expos and socializes with dogs and humans.