QuestionQUESTION: I have a 12 week old Yorkie puppy. We got him from the breeder when he was a few days over 7 weeks old. He has been great up until recently. Recently when I find items he shouldn't have in his mouth (something from outside or a tissue that missed the trash or something someone staying at my house has left laying where he can get to it) when you try to take it he growls, tried to bite and won't drop it. I have tried telling him no and that doesn't work. My vet said to tap his nose with my finger well tat doesn't work. Another vet said to pick him up by the back of his neck I won't does this because he sounds like he is in pain and I don't know how to do it properly. After the mishap tonight where I ended up with 2 bites and 3 spots where I was bleeding I figure I need to get some help. I just don't know what to do and want to take care of this soon so I don't have an aggressive dog that I can't control. He doesn't seem to bite anyone else like this but my boyfriend is away at training camp so he doesn't spend all day with him. I think he sense that I am scared when he bites be because honestly I am a little he goes from me sweet little cute puppy to a aggressive snappy little guy in seconds. What should I do? Could this be because the breeder sold him to me young. I have been told by lots of people I should not have gotten him until he was 12 weeks? Is this true?
ANSWER: Tina,
I will answer your last questions first. He was not to young when you got him and the standard time to sell them is 8 weeks not 12. Once the puppies are weaned they can usually be sold.
I am concerned about the aggressive behavior your yorkie is showing at such a young age. There could be several things that are causing this and I will try to cover them as well as I can.
1.) If a puppy is aggressive it can be caused by genetics. Inbreeding can cause a puppy to be aggressive and that is why the American Kennel Club does not allow you to breed back more than once. Some breeders who have more than one male on the premises will breed mother to son, father to daughter etc. and on the papers they put down that the other male in the household was the one that sired the puppies. The more inbreeding that occurs the more aggressive the breed becomes.
2.) Are all of his shots up to date? If not he could have distemper or something else that is causing the behavior.
3.) Last but not least the behavior could be caused by being spoiled. I could be wrong but I suspect that is the cause of his behavior. You will need to take strong measures now or you will have a dog that is aggressive and anti-social as an adult. The vets gave you good advise on how to stop the behavior but I think what is missing is consistency. When a puppy is small they learn by consistency. This applies to all areas including potty training. My question would be how long did you practice tapping him on the nose before you gave up? I realize that you do not want to hurt the puppy and there are ways to discipline without hurting him. I would try a rolled up piece of newspaper or a fly swatter before you have to go with more aggressive ways to train. You will need to swat him on the butt every time he growls and say NO in a very loud manner. When I say every time I mean EVERY TIME! Do not get your hands where he can bite them. You can swat him with the newspaper or fly swatter very hard and long without actually hurting them. But it teaches them that until they obey you are going to keep swatting them. If after a week of consistently doing this you see no changes at all then you may have to resort to using a reward system. Most pet stores have training treats and you could offer him a treat if he drops the item you don't want him to have. I only recommend this as a last resort because you are basically awarding him for bad behavior. Another thing you could try is taking your hand and placing it over his snout and forcing his lips (for lack of a better word) to fold under his teeth. If you do this and apply pressure he will not be able to bite you and the pain of having his skin pushed against his top teeth will make him drop the item.
I know you do not want to hurt him but you must realize that you have to do whatever is necessary to stop this behavior for his sake. Think of him as a child that has gone undisciplined because the parents didn't believe in spanking. What you get is a brat that no one wants to be around. Of course you could use the "time out" method that people use by scolding him when he is bad and then putting him in his crate for ten or fifteen minutes but I think the fly swatter or newspaper will be more effective and take less time.
Remember, consistency, consistency, consistency.
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QUESTION: His shots are all up to date he will be getting another set on 01/17. He came AKC registered by a known breeder in the area that we got him. She said they don't inbreed and all her dogs are registered as well as all litters she has but I really don't know if they didn't inbreed.
I think it might be him being to spoiled like you said. My vet doesn't believe in spanking with paper so that is why he said to tap him on the nose, but I found that he would twist and grab my finger right as I was pulling away and ended up with a few little scratches. We started the time out last night when he bite me really bad like I mentioned in my first question. This has only happens a few time a week not every day. I enrolled him in a puppy class at a local place recommend to me but quite a few people she says she can help me with this problem but classes don't start for 3 more weeks and I need something now. I just want to make sure the newspaper isn't cruel to him, I have never had a puppy just kittens and I don't want people to think I am abusing my dog. There is only one vet within 30 minutes since I live in the middle of nowhere. Should I consider a new vet, I can look into towns that are about an hour away and see if I can find some body but everyone I have meet as swore this is the best vet in the area but he doesn't see to be to helpful with the biting and growling.
Also do you know anything about their ears standing up, I was told by the breeder we are suppose to have the vet tape them if they don't stand up. My vet doesn't believe in doing that but I was also told they can get ear infections easier if they are down. Is that true, nothing I have read as said that but the breeder told me that.
Thank you so much for your help so far I really appreciate it. I can't even begin to tell you how much.
AnswerTina,
If you are stuck with the vet you have then I guess there is nothing you can do about that but that doesn't mean you can't use common sense and when necessary ignore your vet. As long as you don't beat your yorkie a few swats to scare him will not hurt him but it will give him the idea that you do not approve of his behavior. Technically you are not supposed to swat them with your hand especially on their face because then when you reach for them they will flinch because they think you are going to hit them. So I would say your vet may not always know what is right.
As far as the ears they are meant to be standing up. You do not have to take him to the vet you can tape the ears yourself. Most of the time their ears will stand up on their own but if they don't you can take scotch tape and pinch the ear together ( kind of like folding it ) and tape it. The tape will come off but just keep putting it back on and after a week you should not have to tape them anymore. As far as the dog training classes it is hit or miss. Sometimes they help and sometimes they don't. I would have to say that in the next three weeks you should try to unspoil her as much as possible so that when you take her to the classes you will not have to deal with unspoiling her while training. Remember, when she is bad you must take immediate and swift action and be consistent.
