Plays like shes killing something - YorkieTalk.com Forums

angel_girl6968 · 01-22-2009, 09:27 PM

My 7 month old yorkie has been more increasingly more aggressive...when she plays, it looks like she's killing something. She will also act like shes hunting it.

She really loves people and other animals, but she plays with her toys sooo ruff.

I was just wondering if this is something that I should keep an eye on because I don't want her to become aggressive beyond playing and Im not sure that maybe when she gets older that she won't become aggressive to people and other animals.

newproudmom · 01-22-2009, 09:34 PM

my puppy is 4months and becoming aggressive and stubborn by the day. He is also starting to bite. I don't know what to do with him too.

chloesMama · 01-22-2009, 09:40 PM

My older dog, Sydney , has always acted that way ! That's why her name is Syd Vicious

From the time she was a tiny pup she had a fierce growl and hunting /stalking behaviour. In fact I was freaked out by it and actually asked her vet if she was going to grow up mean and crazy ( It was our first dog and I was a little freaked out) The vet told me all terriers have a good growl when they want and she wouldn't be crazy or mean

Her favorite toys are still "dead" rabbit/ fox/ squirrel type toys. She will play for hours acting like she hunted it

But she is never aggressive towards any of us and will let us just walk up and take it from her. I think she just enjoys it. She has never once acted that way towards anything other than her toy, Well except when she see's a rabbit in our yard . BUT when she does chase them ( and believe me she can catch them if she wanted ) she backs off and lets them keep running with her chasing , so I think it's just pure fun for her.

Thats my experence with it anyway

jlafred · 01-22-2009, 09:47 PM

Sounds like my Sassy ....as long as it is only when she plays with her toys I think its ok but not sure either. I will be following this post to see what everybody else thinks. Sassy is close to Sydney's age too at 9 months old.

PrincessDiana · 01-22-2009, 09:49 PM

That is how dog's play!

Franklin shakes toys to "break their neck" and he lloovvesss the squaky toys because it sounds like an animal dying. This is what I've read numerous places - online and in dog books. It should be fine as long as he isn't excessively aggressive with people or other things.

angel_girl6968 · 01-22-2009, 09:50 PM

Well Im happy to hear that it doesnt mean that she will be aggressive! She does act like shes hunting them too, she will go crazy trying to kill it and then jump away, then she would star at it and walk toward it like a big cat going after meat. Then she will try to kill it again. She also used to chase alot (mostly the other animals in the house) but she has calmed that down.

But right now her favorite game is fetch, and then kill, then fetch again and so on lol

Will she always play like that? or will she grow out of it?

jlafred · 01-22-2009, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newproudmom

my puppy is 4months and becoming aggressive and stubborn by the day. He is also starting to bite. I don't know what to do with him too.

This may sound silly but it worked for me to stop the biting. Every time Sassy bit me it was only in play BUT I would growl at her and she would stop. Eventually she stopped biting altogether. Sometimes when the pup is taken away from the Mom too soon (like mine was) they lost the chance for Mom to teach them their "social skills". So I figured I would handle it like the Mom would and it worked great!

AvyQuinn · 01-22-2009, 09:52 PM

If Hiro is getting too rough with his toys (barking excessively, biting, nipping, and just being too crazy) when I am playing with him, I take them away and ignore him until he can play nice. When I go back to continue play with him I go slowly so he understands what kind of play is ok! It seems to have worked for me... but my husband is his partner in crime and is straight up rotten when they play together.

LilMissy · 01-22-2009, 10:00 PM

Quote:

This may sound silly but it worked for me to stop the biting. Every time Sassy bit me it was only in play BUT I would growl at her and she would stop. Eventually she stopped biting altogether. Sometimes when the pup is taken away from the Mom too soon (like mine was) they lost the chance for Mom to teach them their "social skills". So I figured I would handle it like the Mom would and it worked great!

Same here!

KimberlySRN · 01-22-2009, 10:37 PM

Suri is the sweetest pup ever...but when she is bored she will hunt and stalk her toys, throw them in the air, catch them and shake them until they are dead. I think it is okay as long as it is not directed at living things.

Lesley Carol · 01-23-2009, 02:40 AM

Lucy's the same - hunts, stalks and kills all her toys. You should see how far she can fling bunny, doggie, little elephant, etc - amazing! A friend has ben having trouble with rats because they're doing major excavation / tunnel work near her home - Lucy would have a field day (but of course, I don't want her to come into contact with real live rats).

Lee B · 01-23-2009, 04:22 AM

The dogs are Yorkshire TERRIERS - and terriers are hunters. They aren't out there in the coal mines huntin' up rats, so they exercise their genetic imperatives "killing" squeeky toys. It's what they do, built into their DNA, and they usually know the difference between play and people. Once mine got past the real puppy stage (4-6 months), there was no "teething" on fingers.

I think it's a real hoot watching them shake the stuffing out of toys (sometimes literally

). They stalk, pounce and "kill" their intended prey. Toys are much better than the REAL thing

Ivy Lucille · 01-23-2009, 04:27 AM

It is so cute to watch! My two both play like that-Mo imparticular. Mayzie is more of a fetch kinda gal. I think the funniest thing to watch is when they have a toy and "throw" it up and then go after it. Let's face it, just about anything these guys do is tooooooo cute!

bettyeanne · 01-23-2009, 04:49 AM

I love this thread! Toto is also a "killer"! It's the funniest thing I have ever seen ... she chases and shakes a toy, beats it on the floor and holds it up in the air shaking it so hard, sometimes I worry she will hurt her neck!!

The funniest thing is when she is shaking it so hard she loses her grip on it and it flies up in the air ... she just looks so puzzled, standing there looking like, "where did it go?"!

I find toys in the oddest places ... table, kitchen counter, etc. I really watch her if she happens to be killing something in the kitchen ... don't want a gorilla cooked in our food!!

BTW ... she only "kills" her stuff and isn't agressive to humans or other animals.

desaree · 01-23-2009, 05:29 AM

This is a really good thread; I've been wondering the same thing for a while. Daisy goes crazy with her toys. She loves to play fetch, but when she brings the ball/toy back to me it turns into a tug of war game for a few. The sounds that come out of her are unbelievable. She will be 4 months on the 1st and sometimes I also worry she'll be aggressive when she gets older. She's in the stage where she likes to bite EVERYTHING. I tried to put a stop to her biting people, but she still slips up. But, if you say ouch or no she'll start licking you. It’s so cute. She waits for me to come home, and once im in the door she's right there with her ball or one of her thousands of toys waiting to play. I love it

01-22-2009, 09:27 PM	#1
angel_girl6968 YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Posts: 6	Plays like shes killing something My 7 month old yorkie has been more increasingly more aggressive...when she plays, it looks like she's killing something. She will also act like shes hunting it. She really loves people and other animals, but she plays with her toys sooo ruff. I was just wondering if this is something that I should keep an eye on because I don't want her to become aggressive beyond playing and Im not sure that maybe when she gets older that she won't become aggressive to people and other animals.

01-22-2009, 09:40 PM	#3
chloesMama YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: here :) Posts: 1,182	My older dog, Sydney , has always acted that way ! That's why her name is Syd Vicious From the time she was a tiny pup she had a fierce growl and hunting /stalking behaviour. In fact I was freaked out by it and actually asked her vet if she was going to grow up mean and crazy ( It was our first dog and I was a little freaked out) The vet told me all terriers have a good growl when they want and she wouldn't be crazy or mean Her favorite toys are still "dead" rabbit/ fox/ squirrel type toys. She will play for hours acting like she hunted it But she is never aggressive towards any of us and will let us just walk up and take it from her. I think she just enjoys it. She has never once acted that way towards anything other than her toy, Well except when she see's a rabbit in our yard . BUT when she does chase them ( and believe me she can catch them if she wanted ) she backs off and lets them keep running with her chasing , so I think it's just pure fun for her. Thats my experence with it anyway __________________ *Chloe & Sydney* Last edited by chloesMama; 01-22-2009 at 09:42 PM.

01-22-2009, 09:47 PM	#4
jlafred YT Addict Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Seaford,Delaware Posts: 402	Sounds like my Sassy ....as long as it is only when she plays with her toys I think its ok but not sure either. I will be following this post to see what everybody else thinks. Sassy is close to Sydney's age too at 9 months old. __________________ Luv my Sassy girl Last edited by jlafred; 01-22-2009 at 09:48 PM. Reason: spelling error

01-22-2009, 09:49 PM	#5
PrincessDiana I ♥ Franklin & Maggie Donating Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 2,068	That is how dog's play! Franklin shakes toys to "break their neck" and he lloovvesss the squaky toys because it sounds like an animal dying. This is what I've read numerous places - online and in dog books. It should be fine as long as he isn't excessively aggressive with people or other things. __________________ Diana , Mommy to Franklin, Maggie, Oliver, and Millie - RIP Piper

01-22-2009, 09:52 PM	#8
AvyQuinn YT Addict Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Kentucky - but I'm Canadian and proud of it! Posts: 327	If Hiro is getting too rough with his toys (barking excessively, biting, nipping, and just being too crazy) when I am playing with him, I take them away and ignore him until he can play nice. When I go back to continue play with him I go slowly so he understands what kind of play is ok! It seems to have worked for me... but my husband is his partner in crime and is straight up rotten when they play together. __________________ May the peace of the faeries be forever in your heart. I have two boys in my house and I'm in love with them both!

01-22-2009, 09:34 PM	#2
newproudmom YT Addict Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: banning, ca Posts: 435	my puppy is 4months and becoming aggressive and stubborn by the day. He is also starting to bite. I don't know what to do with him too.

01-22-2009, 09:50 PM	#6
angel_girl6968 YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Posts: 6	Well Im happy to hear that it doesnt mean that she will be aggressive! She does act like shes hunting them too, she will go crazy trying to kill it and then jump away, then she would star at it and walk toward it like a big cat going after meat. Then she will try to kill it again. She also used to chase alot (mostly the other animals in the house) but she has calmed that down. But right now her favorite game is fetch, and then kill, then fetch again and so on lol Will she always play like that? or will she grow out of it?

01-22-2009, 10:37 PM	#10
KimberlySRN Twins=double the fun! Donating Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: California Posts: 2,981	Suri is the sweetest pup ever...but when she is bored she will hunt and stalk her toys, throw them in the air, catch them and shake them until they are dead. I think it is okay as long as it is not directed at living things. __________________ Kim Anakin Bella

01-23-2009, 02:40 AM	#11
Lesley Carol Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Tyne & Wear, UK Posts: 219	Lucy's the same - hunts, stalks and kills all her toys. You should see how far she can fling bunny, doggie, little elephant, etc - amazing! A friend has ben having trouble with rats because they're doing major excavation / tunnel work near her home - Lucy would have a field day (but of course, I don't want her to come into contact with real live rats). __________________ Lucy's Mum Age & treachery will always overcome youth & skill

01-23-2009, 04:22 AM	#12
Lee B YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Land O' Lakes, FL Posts: 735	The dogs are Yorkshire TERRIERS - and terriers are hunters. They aren't out there in the coal mines huntin' up rats, so they exercise their genetic imperatives "killing" squeeky toys. It's what they do, built into their DNA, and they usually know the difference between play and people. Once mine got past the real puppy stage (4-6 months), there was no "teething" on fingers. I think it's a real hoot watching them shake the stuffing out of toys (sometimes literally ). They stalk, pounce and "kill" their intended prey. Toys are much better than the REAL thing

01-23-2009, 04:27 AM	#13
Ivy Lucille ♥♥beats @ my feet! Donating Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: PA Posts: 4,814	It is so cute to watch! My two both play like that-Mo imparticular. Mayzie is more of a fetch kinda gal. I think the funniest thing to watch is when they have a toy and "throw" it up and then go after it. Let's face it, just about anything these guys do is tooooooo cute! __________________ Jamie, Mom to Mayzie and Mozes

01-23-2009, 04:49 AM	#14
bettyeanne Donating YT 7000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Alabama, etc. Posts: 9,031	I love this thread! Toto is also a "killer"! It's the funniest thing I have ever seen ... she chases and shakes a toy, beats it on the floor and holds it up in the air shaking it so hard, sometimes I worry she will hurt her neck!! The funniest thing is when she is shaking it so hard she loses her grip on it and it flies up in the air ... she just looks so puzzled, standing there looking like, "where did it go?"! I find toys in the oddest places ... table, kitchen counter, etc. I really watch her if she happens to be killing something in the kitchen ... don't want a gorilla cooked in our food!! BTW ... she only "kills" her stuff and isn't agressive to humans or other animals. __________________ Toto's Mom - http://www.dogster.com/?206581 Yorkie Rescue Colorado - http://www.yorkierescuecolorado.com/ "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has limits." -- Albert Einstein

01-23-2009, 05:29 AM	#15
desaree Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: PA Posts: 130	This is a really good thread; I've been wondering the same thing for a while. Daisy goes crazy with her toys. She loves to play fetch, but when she brings the ball/toy back to me it turns into a tug of war game for a few. The sounds that come out of her are unbelievable. She will be 4 months on the 1st and sometimes I also worry she'll be aggressive when she gets older. She's in the stage where she likes to bite EVERYTHING. I tried to put a stop to her biting people, but she still slips up. But, if you say ouch or no she'll start licking you. It’s so cute. She waits for me to come home, and once im in the door she's right there with her ball or one of her thousands of toys waiting to play. I love it