Aggressive Yorkie

Question
I have a 2 year old unneutered male yorkie and two female yorkies. I also have a 1 year old daughter. Lately, I am having a hard time with my male yorkie growling and showing his teeth at my little girl and the other day he jumped up on her and knocked her down.  All I can do to calm him down is to put him in the bedroom for a time out.  After a few minutes, I let him out and he is fine.  He has always acted this way towards my husband, but with my daughter it is a little confusing to me because he will lick her and love on her one minute and growl at her.  Do you think it is my females that he is trying to protect?  Can you tell me what I should do, I don't want to get rid of him, he is like my child, but I am afraid he may hurt her. She loves to play with him, but it scares her too when get growls and barks.
Thanks,
Lindsey

Answer
He sounds like he needs training, and needs to be put on a regimen of "Nothing in Life is Free" http://k9deb.com/nilif.htm And I would also get him some really good training with an in-person professional. Frequently when dogs are growling and showing teeth at the humans of the household its because their lives lack proper rules and boundaries. If the dogs don't see leadership from the humans (the adult humans) they will step in and try to make their own rules. This tends to make dogs anxious because they don't know what to expect and making rules is a lot of responsibility. Knowing that they are not powerful enough to enforce their rules, these dogs tend to over-react.
Neutering him may also be helpful and take away that extra testosterone edge, and while it won't take the place of training, it may make training go more smoothly. If you are keeping him intact to breed with the females, I'd point out that this is not typical or desirable behavior for Yorkies, and behavior can be at least partially genetic. I would also keep him separated from your daughter until you see if you can get the behavior under control. Even a small dog can do a fair amount of damage to a toddler. And toddlers can do things which the dog finds scary or unpleasant without meaning to. If these things do not help, you need to consider whether or not his temperament is sound enough to rehome in a home with a single woman where there will not be children in the home. But none of this can be solved over the internet. You need a good trainer or behaviorist to work with you. Sandy Case MEd CPDT www.positivelycanine.com