Yorkie Behavior Problem

Question
Hello,  I have a Yorkie who is 9 months old.  She has started chasing our feet and pantlegs when we walk in the house.  She bites at our feet and pantlegs.  We have firmly tell her no and she barks back and continues to do it.  Any suggestions?

Answer
Hello,

    It sounds like your yorkie is in her "teenager" stage :). This behavior is fairly common in puppies, and can typically be corrected fairly easily if you are consistent with her training. From what you've described, it sounds like she is seeking play/attention. Even when you say "no", she is getting reinforcement for the behavior because she gets acknowledgement (and possibly interaction) from you. To stop this behavior, you must make sure she does not get rewarded for engaging in the behavior. Then, you must teach her an appropriate way to seek your attention. Since she is wanting to play and interact with you, the best "punishment" you can use when she starts nipping at pant legs or chasing feet is to completely remove yourself from the room or block her access to you. You can also spray a product called Bitter Apple (or any bitter spray at a local pet store) on your pant legs that will discourage her nipping at them because it tastes bitter. To teach her how to appropriately ask for your attention, only give her attention when she is not displaying any of these problem behaviors. This will show her that calm behavior gains your attention.
    If removing yourself from the room is not an option (or just too inconvenient for you to do every few minutes) you can also leave a leash on her IF she is supervised (attach it to a regular collar or harness, no choke chains or corrective collars). When she nips, chases, or barks, grab the end of the leash and tether her somewhere safe where she is out of your reach. This can be done by tying the leash to a nearby sturdy object, like the leg of a couch or coffee table. Ignore her barking or whining, don't look at her or tell her no, just simply pretend she does not exist. Once she is calm, release her from the tether. You can give her attention now if she is still behaving appropriately. If she starts getting rough again, put her back on the tether until she calms herself.
    A kong stuff-able toy is also a good thing to have handy. You can fill them with treats or peanut butter and the dog has to work chewing on it to get the goodies out. This is both mentally and physically stimulating to the dog, and helps then release that extra pent up energy. Ask your local pet store about these toys, they typically cost about $7 and last for years. I would probably fill it and give it to her daily. I hope I was able to help, be consistent and she should come around fairly quickly.