Well I’ve been putting up with my 2 year old male yorkie, and I do NOT know how I’ve been putting up with him for so long, about a year and a half.
I’ve gotten him neutered recently, even though we wanted to breed, because my vet said his behaviour WOULD change dramatically if we did so, but it didn’t change a thing. I guess he just wanted our money -_-
Anyways, I swear my dog is the devil in disguise. He barks whenever he hears the doorbell,
gets ferocious when we get near his food, bites our hands when were trying to play with him, pulls on the leash, and goes potty inside when were not home. He also tries to escape the house often by trying to get out the door whenever we open it and he attacks our guests. He also barks at everyone and everything when we’re on walks.
When he knows he’s in trouble, like when we get mad at him for potty-ing inside, he gets extremely ferocious, like he is trying to defend himself.
One of my friends told me he’s so stubborn like that because Yorkshire Terriers are not pack dogs, or something, so they are not used to having leaders.
I’ve been living at a house in the past when we first got him so he didnt bother anyone else that much, but now we have moved into an apartment , and I swear my neighbours hate us.
I was thinking of giving him away, because I cannot keep up with this anymore. I DO try to train him the best I can, but it seems like everything i teach him just goes in one ear and out the other.
Its summer now, so I wont be busy with school, so I’ll have more time to train him and spend more time with him. I’ve been thinking of participating in obedience classes , and hopefully, by september he’ll be more obedient and a better dog overall.
I’m only 14, but he is MY dog, as I did ask my mom to get him for me, so I’m determined to correct his bad behaviour , as he is my responsibility.
My question is what is the best obedience classes? Like, should I go to BarkBusters or a similar in-home companies? Or should I send him to places like Pet Smart? Please tell me what you think, and some suggestions (please specify company names AND PRICE etc.) would be nice!!
We live in Toronto , Ontario.
PLEASE! I love my dog and I really do not want to give him away!!
Typically, I’d say you training your dog yourself is best, but obviously that’s not an option at this stage. What you need to find is somebody who will take your dog AND YOU, at the SAME TIME, and work with you both. Your dog sounds like he’s got some pretty well developed dominance issues. You need as much work as he does.
In the mean time, remember: if your dog tells you to back off, and you do, then he is quite literally telling you what to do, and you are quite literally following his orders. That’s no good. Whomever you find, their program needs to involve working with the both of you at once.
7 Responses
2010 Jul 08
BarkBusters. Their initial visit is about 2 hours. They go everything with you, suggest different techniques to use etc etc. This visit is FREE. That is when you will find out what it costs.
The also guarantee their training for the life of the dog.
References :
2010 Jul 08
For your situation, I would hire an actual trainer to come to your home and work with your dog. He’s needs some very basic and very individualized work to learn his place in your pack. Group classes are very good for socializing with other people and dogs. If he’s not good with others, when you get him more under control, then a PetSmart class might be worth looking into, although dog parks could be good as well.
I don’t know about dog trainer prices. I’ve never checked one out. I would guess $50 – $75 an hour, depending on where you live. You can ask your vet if he recommends anyone, or even call up several veterinary clinics for recommendations. Also, neutering does generally affect behavior, so I don’t think your vet was just after the money. He had founded reasons to expect behavior to change.
It’s a tough situation, but if you can find someone qualified, they will teach you how to get your dog under control and assist you in training him. Good luck.
References :
2010 Jul 09
many group obedience classes only work on basic commands. many trainers do not know how to solve difficult problems. Look for a problem solving specialists. Usually group classes are cheaper in price as long as the trainer knows your issue and recommend the group, it should be fine, if not, do a private training. In home is fine, but the dog needs to be socialized as well, eventually group situation would be encouraged.
References :
k9 trainer for 40 years
2010 Jul 09
I think in your situation you should really look into private in-home lessons with a trainer that will be willing to involve you in the training process. Lots of the behavior issues you have stated are very specific and wont necessarily be fixed with a group class that teaches "sit" "Stay" "down" etc. Private lessons are generally more expensive, but WORTH IT. I live in Texas, so I can’t recommend anyone for you.
References :
2010 Jul 09
I would have a trainer come to your house. That way they can specifically address your issues and show you what you need to do in your own home. Also, they can talk to your whole family. Places like Pet Smart tend to focus on basic obedience (sit, down, come, stay, etc). I would give you some suggestions but I don’t know of anywhere in Toronto, Ontario.
One big problem is it seems like he thinks he is the top dog (alpha) in your house, and you need to show him that you and your family are the ones in charge. I see this problem a lot with small dog breeds because people tend to treat them like they are babies and not dogs. They often even think it is cute when a small dog does something that a larger dog would get in trouble for. I am glad to see that you are trying to stop this behavior.
References :
2010 Jul 09
Typically, I’d say you training your dog yourself is best, but obviously that’s not an option at this stage. What you need to find is somebody who will take your dog AND YOU, at the SAME TIME, and work with you both. Your dog sounds like he’s got some pretty well developed dominance issues. You need as much work as he does.
In the mean time, remember: if your dog tells you to back off, and you do, then he is quite literally telling you what to do, and you are quite literally following his orders. That’s no good. Whomever you find, their program needs to involve working with the both of you at once.
References :
2010 Jul 09
It sounds like your dog needs a lot more exercise then he gets presently, and it is easier and better I think to watch a few how to videos, and dog shows and then implement the training techniques they use on my own at home. As for Yorkies not being "pack dogs" that is ludicrous! He is still a dog and still has the same pack instincts as any other dog. Albeit he is a more annoying breed of dog, they are still pack animals. Chances are he isn’t used to having a leader because he is the leader, but that is normal for most any terrier. They want to be the leader and will take over if you let them…which it sounds like you have. Just read a lot and do a lot of research and if you work hard enough I bet you can get him set straight.
References :