Growling in Yorkshire Terriers

Question
I just rescued a two year old male Yorkie. He is perfect in everyway, loving and playful with me and small children; even potty trained. He does have a serious problem with males. He growls every time my 15 year old son, his friends or my husband enters a room. They can sit with him and pet him and he is fine, but if they get up and leave the room, then reenter, he starts the low growling again. He doesn't show his teeth or snap, just low growling, even if he hears a male voice on T.V.! Any suggestions? Its driving my husband crazy.

Answer
Becky -

He's being a major brat.

I strongly recommend that your son and husband be the only ones who feed him, walk him, play with him, give treats.  If you can't make it everything, at least do the food and treats part. He needs to get over this attitude right away.

The point is to make all good things come from the men in the family for at least the next month.

You have no idea what was done to him in the past and that's always the hardest part of a rescue dog.

If he does not come around in within a week, you are going to have to go to an even lower level and I would encourage you to leash him to your husband.  Please read through this training program called Nothing in Life is Free, and you will see how it works.

http://www.cairnrescue.com/docs/NILIF.pdf

Please keep me informed as to how this project goes !

-Beth