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[Mommy's Boy]

Hi I have created a monster .My 6 pound yorkie has fear aggression towards strange dogs when we walk .The ones he knows he is ok with .If we meet another dog he turns into pysco puppy .(13 months old) I have tried everything .Today I tried the touch training that Ceaser Millan suggests well he bit me . I held my ground and made him sit ,But I was standing there with blood pouring from my two fingers. Help what can I do to change this behaviour ? He is nutered Thanks

[Carrie]

What is the touch training that Cesar Milan suggests? If you want good training advice, don't follow Cesar Milan. He is good at TV showmanship, but as a canine behavior expert, he has no credentials and is light years behind the times. There is a good reason that they put that warning on his show....to not try this at home. The reason is that his methods usually involve force, threats or flooding a dog with the terrifying stimuli up close.... which causes the dog to shut down, (learned helplessness, in behavioral terms) supress behavior or react defensively, which can result in a bad bite. (sorry you got bitten) The trouble with Cesar Milan, imo, is that for one, he doesn't know what he's seeing. He mislabels body language and intentions of dogs. I've seen it on so many of his shows. He sees everything in terms of dominance or submission and that is just wrong. So the things he does in relation to what he thinks he's seeing, (which would be wrong anyhow, even if were seeing what he thinks he's seeing) lol....in turn, cause a lot of big problems in dogs. On his show, they appear to be "fixed" but they are often times merely supressing behavior, which will come out (and does) down the road. And often in a more explosive way. He stays on TV because National Geographic only cares about ratings and money. And he does bring in that.

I highly recommend you get the book, Click to Calm, by Emma Parsons. It may be that your little dog didn't get enough very early socialization and now she is over-reactive toward other dogs. This can be desensatized by utilizing a systematic "program" which will work at her pace, keeping her from getting in those situations where she reacts so strongly and working gradually to accept the other dogs. It is good that she likes some dogs and play time with those is a great idea. There is no quick fix with this but you could get some improvement.

Another little book which isn't very expensive at all and you can read it in one setting, is On Talking Terms with Dogs: Calming Signals, by Turid Rugaas. I think that is an excellent book.

[Ritz459]

Originally Posted by Carrie

What is the touch training that Cesar Milan suggests? If you want good training advice, don't follow Cesar Milan. He is good at TV showmanship, but as a canine behavior expert, he has no credentials and is light years behind the times. There is a good reason that they put that warning on his show....to not try this at home. The reason is that his methods usually involve force, threats or flooding a dog with the terrifying stimuli up close.... which causes the dog to shut down, (learned helplessness, in behavioral terms) supress behavior or react defensively, which can result in a bad bite. (sorry you got bitten) The trouble with Cesar Milan, imo, is that for one, he doesn't know what he's seeing. He mislabels body language and intentions of dogs. I've seen it on so many of his shows. He sees everything in terms of dominance or submission and that is just wrong. So the things he does in relation to what he thinks he's seeing, (which would be wrong anyhow, even if were seeing what he thinks he's seeing) lol....in turn, cause a lot of big problems in dogs. On his show, they appear to be "fixed" but they are often times merely supressing behavior, which will come out (and does) down the road. And often in a more explosive way. He stays on TV because National Geographic only cares about ratings and money. And he does bring in that.

I highly recommend you get the book, Click to Calm, by Emma Parsons. It may be that your little dog didn't get enough very early socialization and now she is over-reactive toward other dogs. This can be desensatized by utilizing a systematic "program" which will work at her pace, keeping her from getting in those situations where she reacts so strongly and working gradually to accept the other dogs. It is good that she likes some dogs and play time with those is a great idea. There is no quick fix with this but you could get some improvement.

Another little book which isn't very expensive at all and you can read it in one setting, is On Talking Terms with Dogs: Calming Signals, by Turid Rugaas. I think that is an excellent book.

I second Carrie's post. (And I may have to look in to those books, BTW. Need more fuel for dealing with Chloe!)

I have a reactive dog towards other dogs. She's not dog aggressive, just...reactive.

The best way I've found to dealing with Chloe is to use lots of treats. If a dog is going to be passing us in a store or on the sidewalk, I take her over to the side and do some simple obedience commands. Sit, down, shake, touch, high five, etc. By working with her and rewarding her with treats (she is uber food motivated), she completely ignores the other dog.

Take a look at this link: Victoria's Top 10 Most Difficult Dogs : Videos : Animal Planet

It is a movie clip of the show "It's Me or the Dog" showing the "top ten worst cases". A lot of the dogs shown have some kind of dog-dog issues, among others, that she works with and just the quick footage it shows may be enough to give you an idea of what you can try doing. I know it helped me get remotivated concerning my own problem child.

[Mommy's Boy]

Thankyou both for your responses ,We have a chapters book store that I found out carries the book and will be getting it .Aside from going bonkers when another dog comes near up outside .He is a sweet little boy . I guess a lot of it is my fault because when this started I would be embarressed and retreat instead of adressing the issue early on and I feel badly about that .He is a beautiful little boy and I think the world of him .
Again Thanks and I will keep you posted how it goes

[Joy van Veen]

I agree with Carrie also in the most part. Cesar Milan uses confrontational methods, which I strongly disagree with. There is a componant of pack structure involved in dog behaviors, but CM doesn't understand it and thinks the pack leader is the one who intimidates his way to the top. When it is more like a monarch, then a military dictator. Presence, is a defining characteristic of a pack leader.

Regardless; besides less than adequate socialization being to blame for your dogs behavior, inherited temperament usually plays a roll. You handle the results the same, so still follow Carrie's suggestions, but be aware that if his temperament is not the most solid; that no matter how good his behavior becomes, under stress he might temporarily revert.

It sometimes helps to understand where a dog's behavior is coming from. So remember that though a Yorkie is classed as a toy breed, he is still a terrier with terrier reactiveness. Terriers have higher incidences of dog aggression, but can become fine around other dogs with work.