Help with Yorkie's territorial/possessive issues

[Twin]

Can anyone help with our yorkie and yorkie-poo's aggression around us? The two are are not aggressive unless we are around. At the vets, at the kennel; they will eat you up if you approach us. When we are not around such as at the kennels and the vet's back office they are cuddly, non-aggressive and get along fine with others. If we are around they sometimes cool off after they get to know you but someone or an animal walks by our camper, our yard or such, they will get possessive and we are afraid of what might happen. Walking them is stressful for the the yorkie has pulled out of the collar and I don't want to hurt his neck by the collars being too tight and I haven't found a harness that does not get tangled with his hair. They spend 3 months at a campground with us and after a couple of years of this; we are ready to give up and stay home. Anyone have any solutions, please **help**. Thanks for your thoughts/advice. twin

[newbear]

From what I have analyse from your situation, your dogs are very protective of your family and are very territorial. Try this method to see it helps if your dogs loves food. Take one of your dog on leash and put a food bowl which is filled up in front of your dog. Do this exercise when your dog is hungry. Do not let your dog eat from the food bowl yet. Get a stranger or a friend to stand outside your camper or yard where your dog is territorial of the place. Let your dog eat the food from the food bowl. While your dog is eating, ask your friend or the stranger to walk past your camper or your yard. If your dog saw the stranger or your friend walk past your yard or camper but continue to eat, that's good. If your dog reacts by barking or being aggressive, calmly drop a few of his favourite treats into his food bowl to lure your dog to continue eating from his food bowl. Repeat this exercise everyday when it is time to feed your dog his meals. Do this exercise separately for your two dogs. Repeat this exercise until your dog could completely ignore the person who is walking past your camper or your yard and eat peacefully from his food bowl. Try this exercise with two of your dogs until they can completely ignore the person who is walking past your camper or your yard and eat peacefully from their food bowls. Take one of your dogs on leash again like the first exercise you did but do not place a food bowl in front of your dog. Instead, have some of your dog's favourite treats in your hand and let your dog know that you have the treats. Once a person or an animal past by your camper or yard, drop the treats you have in hand continuously to the ground and let your dog eat them. Repeat this exercise everyday. After a week or two, do the same exercise but do not drop the treats continuously, drop a few treats and wait for your dog to finish them up. Your dog will then look at you for more treats. Drop a few treats on the ground for him to eat again when he look at you. Repeat this exercise every day and gradually increase the time he look at you before you give him the treats. Do this exercise until your dog could wait until the person or an animal to walk past your camper or yard until person or an animal walks out of sight before you give him some treats. Try this exercise with both of your dogs together. Then finally, choose an action that you would like your dogs to do instead of being aggressive. Example: Play with his treat ball instead of being aggressive. Whenever a person or an animal walk past your camper or yard, ask your dog to go and play with his treat ball which should be filled with treats. You do not need to give your dog a treat for playing with his treat ball as the treats in the treat ball will be a substitute for the treats you gave him. Repeat this exercise everyday until your dog could play with his treat ball every time a person or an animal walk past your yard or campus without you asking him to do so or when you are not with him. Try this with two of your dogs together. Congratulations! You have successfully taught your dogs not to be territorial. Try this method and tell me if it works. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me, I will gladly try my best and help you.

[COLOR="rgb(0, 255, 255)"]Tip: If you don't have a treat ball, here is a video to teach you how to make your own : YouTube - How to make an interactive dog toy. If your dogs don't like food, you can substitute the treats with things that your dogs likes (example: a praise, a massage, play with him a toy, etc)[/COLOR]

[MaryAnn]

Outstanding "newbear". Remember "twin"... always start training something new with one dog at a time.

PRACTICE and CONSISTENCY is the key to success.

[Resch1982]

I have problem with my male yorkie with wanting to pee everywhere. When take him to other people house or even to the pet store he haves to pee there. He has pee in other people house and in the store. He don't pee in my house at all. How do I stop him from peeing in other peoples house and in the store.

[MaryAnn]

Issue a verbal correction immediately as he gets ready to pee. I believe he is just "marking", and doesn't really have to go. The verbal correction should startle him and he'll stop.

If you are at a friend's home or the pet store and he does this.... after you issue the verbal correction...immediately take him out to pee, showing him the correct place to pee.

I'm curious...you said he doesn't pee in your home...what do you do differently at home????

[newbear]

Outstanding "newbear". Remember "twin"... always start training something new with one dog at a time.

PRACTICE and CONSISTENCY is the key to success.

Yup.......I agree with you, training dogs is all about practice and consistency.

[Resch1982]

I do nothing differant at home. When he has to use the restroom he let's me know, an I put him out side. He jump on me over and over until I put him out. At other places he don't do that. He would just lift his leg up and go. It almost like he has to mark his territroy everywhere he goes. I've had him places where there has not been a dog in the house and he still lifts his leg up and pees on something. I have stop him many times but he still does it. He has never done here at home. Just the stores and other people houses is the only time. He is a reall good dog. That's the only problem I have with him.

[MaryAnn]

Sounds like he is definitely "marking". I would ever so lightly pull him away and keep moving....don't allow him to even stop. You are the pack leader and you decide when and where to stop. I assume he is on leash when you are out, correct?

[Resch1982]

Most of the time yes. But when he isn't he is alway marking everything. Doesn't matter how many times I keep pulling he just don't get the hint. I won't even let him stop but once he has the chance he do it or try. When do walk him without a leash he dose good. Yeah he stop to mark all the time, but he still stays next to me. Even when people or dogs are around he don't bother with them. This is the only problem I have with him.

[MaryAnn]

WOW!!! The verbal correction has always worked that I have seen. What are you saying when you "catch him raising his leg"? Are you using the same words or making the same sound, and/or using the same tone in your voice each time? It has to be the same each time and every time as not to confuse your dog.

Also...you may just want to keep him on leash until this problem is rectified. If he wants to be off leash all the time...he just may soon realize that if he marks - he's leashed.

Keep at it!!!!! Have you also discussed this with your vet? He/she may have some suggestions to try.