My 1 1/2 year old is snapping and trying to bite

[Duke's mom]

Hi:

I recently adopted a one and a half year old male, Duke, who is the love my life, but he sometimes snaps and tries to bite us when we try to pick him up.

Could it be that he is still acclimating to his new environment? Any suggestions on how I can stop this behavior?

[bld2751]

Congrats on the new adoption and welcome to yorkie talk! Be sure to post pictures as soon as you can!

As for the biting, do you know his history, did he have a bad experience with being picked up or something maybe? I really don't know. I have a 5 1/2 month old and he's bitey, but it's a playful thing and because he's teething. So I'm not really sure what to tell you.

Good luck and welcome again!

[Duke's mom]

Thanks for the warm welcome!

The only information I have about Duke's background, is that animal control took him to a local shelter and then the rescue organization picked him up when his owners did not claim him.

The rescue people seem to think that the original owners had children that rough housed with the little guy, and that he is snapping in order to protect himself.

I'm hoping that as soon as he gets comfortable in his new surroundings and with us, he will stop this behavior.

I'll keep you posted and I will certainly post a photo of Duke very soon.

Thanks again!

[Junebug]

Maybe he's in pain. I know one dog that would snap because he had arthritis and just didn't want to be touched.

[bld2751]

If he was with young children that didn't know any better, I bet the kids played too rough with him. They might have even picked him and accidently dropped him. Hopefully in time he'll come around. I think he will. In the mean time, if you want him to be able to get up on the couch, maybe build a little set of stairs or find something like a stool that he might be able to jump on to get up.

Does he bite when you go towards him or put your hands/arms near him?? Or is it only when he starts to be moved?

Well thank goodness Duke has you now!

By the way, I like his name. I love the "big" names for the little guys. There's a Maximus that just joined and that's cute too!

[Babbie]

i had a chihuahua who we got from animal control. As far as we know (and we spoke to the previous owner) he was not mistreated or anything like that...but he had an agressive behaviour. With time, pacience and after getting neutered he became calmer, more friendly and got along better with other animals. He is still agressive toward strangers...but i think some parts of the "personality" will never change, but you can teach him to control it...with time he will know you better and how to react better...i think at the moment he realizes you only give him love and care he will trust you more. So have pacience and start "training" him...you will see it pays off!

[Duke's mom]

Thank you so much for your sound advice! I knew that with patience and lots of love, Duke would most likely overcome this behavior.

He was just neutered on Friday, so I am hoping that once he is completely healed and feeling like himself, he will realize that he is surrounded with new loving parents, and his snappiness will stop.

I just want to hold and snuggle him so much, and thankfully, most of the time he will allow me to pick him up. It's just sometimes when he is not in the mood to be held, I guess, that he snaps.

Thanks again, for your advice and I will let you know how everything turns out.

[Maddie-Rudy-Mom]

Congratulation on adopting Duke. He will come around with all the loving. Maybe just try and pick him up from the front, where he can see you. I have also heard if you get down on there level, they don't feel so intimidated by you. Once Duke knows all is good, you won't be able to sit down with out him in your lap. I take my hat of to you for saving him. Love to see pic of Duke..................Cindy

[bettyeanne]

Welcome, Duke's Mom & Duke!! There's no telling what bad memories this baby may have ... patience will be key. We made a rule for our grandchildren before we brought Toto home ... noone who wasn't a teenager or older could hold her! The little ones could play with her on the floor but could not pick her up ... if she chose to climb on them or get in their lap it was OK but if she chose not to, that was the end of the discussion!! She loved playing with them except for two of our young grandsons who were five & six. She was just terrified of them and wouldn't have anything to do with them! They were very loud and wouldn't stay out of her face! I felt like running and hiding sometime when they came in the door!! It took about a year for her to warm up to them! Perhaps you should simply approach Duke in a "hands off" manor ... sit on the floor and encourage him to play and maybe he will warm up on his own and decide that sitting on laps can be a "good thing"!! Good luck!

[Babbie]

just say NO when you don;t approve his behaviour. Also, praise him a lot when you pick him up and doesn;t snap, praise him a lot and give him treats...put him up and down...all the time, so he can understand it is a good thing and you won;t hurt him.

My chihuahua would never let me lay him with his belly up (that's how dogs show that they are submissive). he would snap, growl...anything to get away, a few months ago i could finally give him belly rubs (and it has been almost a year we had him)

So be pacient and give him time, you will see it is worth it and he will make you proud!!

[aimee]

My Sandy is also a rescue and when she first came home she had a couple of issues with nipping, but now is fine. I enrolled in an obedience class with her and I really believe that helped further establish a relationship between her and the family.

My children aren't allowed to pick up any dog (I'm a strict Mommy) -- but some of their friends' parents would let them get right up in Sandy's face if I didn't come between them. Sandy isn't okay with other peoples' children so I have to keep her with me AT ALL TIMES when other kids are around. She came from a home with big dogs (she was bit) and there were also small children around. Although I was never told of any incidents with the smaller children, I can't help but think there was one because of her behavior.

Give some time for Duke to bond to you and realize he will not be mistreated and will ALWAYS be fed He will come around, I'm sure! Hope this helps a little.

[YorkieRose]

Welcome
It is obivious Duke was not loved or wanted before he was lucky to find you and your family. His family didn't claim him, so that tells it all. He probably had to bite to defend himself against being hurt, then scolded for snapping and finally let go because he snapped..or whatever.
It will take much patience and time..sometimes a biter will never change, so always be careful with children and warn people. It is not hopeless..he needs lots of time to learn trust...no sudden moves towards him and try not to reach down and pick him up suddenly...let him come to you. I would talk to a trainer for inout...Duke is a lucky boy to have found a good home.

[Duke's mom]

I would like to thank all of you for your wonderful advice. I knew that other Yorkie lovers would be able to help me and put me at ease.

Duke is already showing signs of coming around. He actually ran up to me when he saw me this morning and licked my hands, and it brought tears to my eyes!

I can only imagine the horrible things that this adorable little guy must have gone through before I rescued him, but that is all behind him now because we have nothing but love, hugs and kisses for him.

Duke allowed me to dress him in a sweater that I crocheted for him, and he seems to like the matching blanket that I made for him as well. I have never seen a little one so excited to have a crate either. When he is ready to take a nap, he goes straight to his crate and snuggles in his blankets and goes right to sleep. As soon as he wakes up and is ready, he runs out and looks for me or a sunny spot on the carpet to lay on.

In case you couldn't tell, I don't have any children, so Duke is my "baby". Please forgive me for running on and on about him, but I am thrilled to have Duke in my life!

Thanks again everyone, and I will post photos of Duke so that you can all meet him very soon!

[bld2751]

So glad to hear Duke is warming up to you! That's great news!

No need to ask for forgiveness for talking about your baby so much because you love him so much... I think we are all guilty of that!!

[kp&nala]

my first dog a lhasa has joint problems, pain etc. and if you don't pick her up a certain way she will bite you and hard but it's only b/c it hurts her. me and my mom are the only ones that know how to do it the "right way" my sister and dad have to put this fold out chair at the edge of the bed for her to use