Wicked Yorkie help please

[shamrockin]

Hi, my first post and I would like to ask for a little advice please.
I have a 4 year old Yorkshire Terrier. Over the last 6 months she has got progressively more, I don't know, I suppose the only name for it is aggressive.
She is very barky, nothing dare move outside but she barks at it. I got a tip to fill a pop bottle with gravel and shake it when she barks. That worked for a few weeks, but now she just looks at it with disdain and barks on.

My real problem with her now is biting. She bites children.
I have three dc of my own, and while she has nipped at them at times, she has gotten worse with other kids.

I warn and warn children not to touch her, as her reaction can be so unpredictable. Two different children have lifted her and she has nipped them.

The latest incident was totally unprovoked, she had approached the child, lay beside her to get her tummy rubbed and a minute later nipped the child's wrist.

She this, I think that she owns the house, she is totally spoiled and I will be the first to admit that that is all my fault.

Does anyone know if there is any way she can be trained out of this behaviour or is it to late?

Many thanks

OK, you will need to get outside help for this one. Firstly, she's not "wicked", she's just found a behaviour that works for her. Obviously it's not a behaviour we want, so we need to address it - that means finding out why she's doing it so we can teach her different behaviours instead.

www.apbc.org.uk Look for a local behaviourist on this website. Your vet will need to refer you, because it's really important to rule out medical causes of problem behaviour first.

In the meantime you must prevent her biting. This means keeping her away from children by using a crate, stair gate, or keeping her in a separate locked room when children are present. Apart from the risk to the children, the more times she is allowed to deal with situations by showing aggression, the more she will view it as a successful way of behaving.

You will get lots of advice in situations like this, mostly from people with no real credentials, limited experience, or a poor understanding of dog behaviour (eg use a bottle of gravel - this doesn't work and often makes it worse!). That's why it's important to see a properly trained behaviourist who can visit and assess the situation fully.

Agree with poached. My dog has dog aggression issues, and the most important thing I have learned is to make sure he can't practice the behaviour. So that means keeping your dog away from situations where she may bite, and do contact a behaviourist.

As this is reasonably sudden onset, have you taken her to the vet for a check over?

She's not biting because she's wicked, she's scared of children, understandably so if they've been manhandling her.

A dog rolling over for a belly rub and a dog giving off massive submissive signals are easy to confuse if you don't know what you're looking at and one of the the reasons lots of owners think a bite came out of the blue when in reality the poor dog has been giving massive I'm scared and uncomfortable here body language which has been ignored.

Keep her away from children and get an expert in.

As poachedeggs had said you need a behaviourist until the problem is resolved she must not be with children. Without wishing to scare you you are aware of this problem and if you don't prevent her having access to children you are being negligent.

Hi all, many thanks for the replies.
I'm aware that wicked was the wrong word to describe her as I know it is not all her fault.
I have contracts two different recommended behavior specialists, one comes to assess the dog in her own environment and give set training exercises and the other is a residential training course. Any opinion on which is best?

Also, can I ask, is the presenting the tummy always a submissive or nervous thing? As it appears to be something she does with us all here at home without any unpleasant reaction?
Actually I think maybe it is only a nervous reaction to other children, whom she is not sure of, not mine?

She is getting groomed this week, I'm wondering I'd that might help to as she is bound to be too warm and maybe a bit out of sorts.

Believe it or not, she is my second Yorki, the first had no aggression like this even though my dc were younger, though as they were younger they didn't have as many friends over.

Anyway, I'm rambling, am going to sort out the loan of a cage or a baby gate!
I
I think too a big part of my problem is that she is just too cute and has been babied and doesn't realize she is the dog and not human!

'Also, can I ask, is the presenting the tummy always a submissive or nervous thing?'

No, not by itself, sometimes it does just mean they'd like their belly rubbed - but the body language that goes with it can be a bit subtle if it's not something you're used to, especially for children...they know immediately that growling is a problem, they're not so good at picking up on things like hand licking and lip smacking.

I'd think in her environment would be better, I don't see any point in dealing with issues elsewhere when they're happening at home and it's something that you're probably all going to need to work on with her.

I ha ve a dog a bit like this, mine has nipped quite a few people. We went to an accredited behaviourist and have been given tips for managing the behaviour.

It is working, dog is already a lot better with everyone.....apart from dh who he still goes for several times a day. But we'll get there.

Meant to say - so yes it can be sorted. Hard work, good luck.

I agree, most behaviour counsellors will wish to see her at home and I think this would be most beneficial for her. Make sure whoever you see is credible - any mention of pack leaders, wolves or alpha-anything should have you running for the hills. It would be best to see someone with the letters CCAB if there are any local to you.

Again in the home is best as it really assesses what the problem is. Residential is much less successful IME.

Sorry to hijack, but viva, did the breeder ever respond to any of your emails? If not can you on plain to the kennel club?

No she didn't ever respond.

And it looks like she's already been booted off the KC reputable breeders list which explains why my dog wasn't KC registered. Even though her website insinuated he would be and after I'd driven for three hours to get him I wasn't going to not get him because of a lack of KC registration.

The breeder had previously been taken to court by a previous buyer as the breeder had falsified a contract and signature saying the new owner agreed never to breed from the puppy she bought. Breeder actually did this with two different dogs and families.

I thought I was getting a dog from the best breeder of them in the country as she was the woman who introduced the breed to the UK, got them recognised as a KC breed, etc. now I just think she's dodgy.......and the dogs still going for dh!

Thanks again for all the input.
I've been in contact with a dog behaviorist who is apbc registered, as mentioned by poachedeggs. As she can only work from a vet referral, an appointment has been made for the vet for after she has been groomed so I will push for a referral.

We've started to tackle the barking issue with positive reinforcement, which she has been reacting really positively to so far, so we are feeling more confident that we can do something with her, as she is a lovely wee pet of a dog really.

Thanks again!