Aggression towards 1 person/son

[telili]

Hi, I've lurked the boards for 5 years but this is my first post. I have 2 yorkies. My girl (Gigi) is 6 years (got her at 10 months). Last month we got a 9 month old boy (Marleau) who was very scared and skiddish. The people we got him from (rehoming) said that when company would come over he would hide. They had his parents and never even named him so I have a feeling that he was never socialized.

It took him 2 day's to warm up to me and my husband, about 2 weeks to stop growling at my 17 year old but he from day 2-3, he is very aggressive towards my 13 year old. Growling, lunging and biting. If my son walks into a room where Marleau is at, Marleau is in attack mode, and usually gets my son's jeans, but has been bit 4 times in 1 month.

Marleau loves to play fetch and he'll play fetch with my son (as long as my son doesn't move (walk around). He's even layed down next to him a couple times and gone to sleep.

On walks he freezes and growls at people who walk past us.

We have an appointment at the end of March to have him neutered.

I would love advise on what would be the best type of classes for him? I can't have him constantly attacking my son and I don't want him to bite someone that we come across on a walk or when we are out and about.

[matese]

Welcome to YT, so glad you have decided to become a member. Socializing a dog must start at a very young age, obviously this was not done with Marleau. Seems like Marleau wants to love and bond with your 13 yo if he lays next to him. Marleau is still in the trust and bond stage with your 13 yo. Have you son enter the room where Marleau is in slowly, maybe your son walking at "his" normal pace is to fast and scares Marleau, reason for the attack mode. Have your son offer Marleau treats when he enters the room, Marleau will associate your son with good things. Have your son not make sudden movements around Marleau as this seems to scare him. I believe something happened when he was with prev. owners. A 9 month old puppy should not be that skiddish around ppl, kids yes if Marleau is not use to teenages. Growling at ppl on his walks. I would have a friend, neighbor or a relative come for visits, someone that Marleau is not familiar with. Give them a treat to offer Marleau. Let them enter your home but ignore Marleau, have them sit, still ignoring the dog. Eventually Marleau will come over to sniff the stranger, have this person then slowly offer Marleau the treat. This should be done with a variety of strangers so Marleau gets use to all types of ppl, their voices, their action their scent. Marleau freezes and growls out of fear, he is still a puppy and can be reprogrammed to trust ppl. This will fall on you to train this out of him. For now I would not bring him to any pet stores, to many strangers would be to overwhelming to him as he is now. I believe a dog behaviorist would be the best solution if you do not want to try working this out on your own. Lets see what other members suggest / advise.

[telili]

Thank you Matese,

We've been trying your suggestions with my son coming into the room. Haven't found trees he likes yet. Going for car rides with my son holding him in the car. I think he just gets scared when my son walks into the room.

[Britster]

Aw I'm sorry that's tough to deal with! Your poor son too.

Have you tried to have your son walk into the room without making eye contact, just walking in and maybe dropping a few treats by the dog, and then he walks and sits somewhere else. See if you could get your son to do something like that a few times just so Marleau can see that son entering a room = good things happening.

^ I was typing this when I saw the post above where you got great advice.

Here is a good youtube channel and here is a specific video on shy dogs:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOjIFYvItAY

[yorkietalkjilly]

Just excellent advice from Joan and Brit. The way to a dog's soul is through trust and food, and whichever comes first is your way in. Your new baby seems eager for friends to play with but no doubt is scared silly & his growls & teeth are all that stand between him & sudden death as far as he knows so he's going to rely on those tools until he learns how to trust new people in his life.

If you or your son or any readers are beginners dealing with very scared, possibly psychologically scarred dogs, the best way to engender trust with a dog is through gaining their trust and then food, of course, but they might not take food treats if they are too scared so you need to know how to approach a dog w/out confrontation by understanding how they 'read' others. They assess others by body scent and body language, then the desire for food kicks in.

If a dog smells or senses fear or uncertainty in one, he likely try to take advantage and possibly growl, show teeth, nip/bite or run away.

If he 'reads' your son as pushy, he'll likely either try to run or show aggression. I'd start out by short, unemotional sessions by having your son walk part way into the room and not stand fully head-on facing little Marleau, which could suggest confrontation, but stand sideways, avert his eyes as dogs see direct eye contact as potentially confrontational and toss treats on the floor, stand there another moment or two looking out of the sides of his eyes and walk out. The sooner Marleau comes for the tidbits, the better. A few times of that type 'introduction', then your son can sit down on the floor, ignoring Marleau, and toss treat tidbits about him on the floor, wait a bit to see what Marleau does and if he comes out to scarf them up, all the good, but then have him get up and leave Marleau wanting more until a real trust has been formed. No looking, touching until and if little Marleau instigates it, which he will sooner or later. Then, slowly and surely, allow Marleau to sniff your son up close, make what advances Marleau will and sooner or later allow your son to scratch his chest but not put his hand on his head or back, as dogs can also take that as an attempt to dominate them until they accept/trust you as a real friend. Then a few sessions sitting there handfeeding him tidbits should help start the trusting big time. Once a true bond has been formed, then feed/play as tolerated.

At 9 mos. old, your little baby is old enough to have emotional scars but maybe he doesn't. I'd assume he does just to be safe. Have son take it slow and sure and if Marleau ever shows any aggression, dial it back using the same process above until Marleau re-instigates by coming up to your son and asking for his touch.

Next, socialize as directed above and the very best way to have a wonderful pet is by giving little Marleau upbeat, fun, positively-reinforced obedience training. Fun obedience training engenders trust, teaches your dog to do what you ask w/out thinking about it and creates the most wonderful, lasting, lifetime bond ever.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by telili

Thank you Matese,

We've been trying your suggestions with my son coming into the room. Haven't found trees he likes yet. Going for car rides with my son holding him in the car. I think he just gets scared when my son walks into the room.

I just use my Tibbe's dry kibble for treats. Also Tibbe tolerates those tiny Milk Bone Mini Flavored Snacks for adult dogs broken in half. Whatever your dog likes that doesn't upset his tummy will suffice - bits of his own dog food, or, as long as he can manage some human food, bits of chicken breast/weiner/carrot/green bean tidbits might tempt him. Otherwise, might have him toss out an old sock, squeaky toy or whatever your little guy like to play with might work to break the ice and start the trust process, which takes time to establish.

[matese]

Originally Posted by telili

Thank you Matese,

We've been trying your suggestions with my son coming into the room. Haven't found trees he likes yet. Going for car rides with my son holding him in the car. I think he just gets scared when my son walks into the room.

Have you tried Cheerios? most dogs LOVE them. Just one tiny cheerio. Many ppl use this for training rewards.

[Britster]

My Jackson would never take something like kibble or Cheerios from a person he doesn't particularly like lol. You need something GOOD -- real food... chicken, or little bits of cheese. Dog treats I purchase freeze-dried treats or Bare Bites (he goes nutso for these!) or anything meaty/soft & chewy. I think you need a high value reward in this case.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by Britster

My Jackson would never take something like kibble or Cheerios from a person he doesn't particularly like lol. You need something GOOD -- real food... chicken, or little bits of cheese. Dog treats I purchase freeze-dried treats or Bare Bites (he goes nutso for these!) or anything meaty/soft & chewy. I think you need a high value reward in this case.

Hehe. My Tibbe would - he'll eat anything he can get - just can't tolerate all that good stuff so he's ecstatic over his kibble, occasional 1/2 Milk Bone Mini and would DIE for some Cheerios!

Good idea on the tidbits, high value if he tolerates the good stuff always appeals straighter to your doggie's heart than plain kibble so go with whatever he'll tolerate, if you have the option. Hopefully there'll be lots of trust bought sooner rather than later with son! I've got a huge picture of Jackson turning up his very handsome nose at 1/2 of a Flavored Snack Mini as Tibbe begs for it on his poor widdle knees!!!

[Britster]

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

Hehe. My Tibbe would - he'll eat anything he can get - just can't tolerate all that good stuff so he's ecstatic over his kibble, occasional 1/2 Milk Bone Mini and would DIE for some Cheerios!

Good idea on the tidbits, high value if he tolerates the good stuff always appeals straighter to your doggie's heart than plain kibble so go with whatever he'll tolerate, if you have the option. Hopefully there'll be lots of trust bought sooner rather than later with son! I've got a huge picture of Jackson turning up his very handsome nose at 1/2 of a Flavored Snack Mini as Tibbe begs for it on his poor widdle knees!!!

LOL!! So funny. Jax is a snob. He will eat it as a bed time snack (occasionally I'll give him a milk bone or something similar to go up to bed etc) but yeah as a motivation for doing anything, he will snub me like "really? That's all you've got?"