Hello if someone can please help me! I have a 1 year old male yorkie. We got him as a baby for my daughter. For the last couple months he only growls at me, and tries to bite when my husband is home. For example, If I tell him NO to stop biting one of my daughters toys he will listen and stop, but when my husband comes home and I tell him NO to something he will growl, and try to bite me. I do everything for him also.. I don't understand. I'm always home with my dog and he follows me everywhere, and is such a good boy.. but once my husband is home he ignores me and follows him, which I don't mind but then if I tell him something he growls at me. If anyone can help please do! Thank you in advance!

Your husband has asserted himself as the pack leader. Once the pack leader is home he no longer listens to his litter mates, and you're one of his litter mates. He's equal to you in his mind, but he respects your husband.

Is he neutered?

No he is not neutered. Thank you for responding.. do you have any suggestions that I can do?

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Originally Posted by Alty

Your husband has asserted himself as the pack leader. Once the pack leader is home he no longer listens to his litter mates, and you're one of his litter mates. He's equal to you in his mind, but he respects your husband.

Is he neutered?

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No he is not neutered. Thank you for responding.. do you have any suggestions that I can do?

First and foremost I'd get him neutered. An un-neutered male is more aggressive than one that isn't. Unless he's breed quality and you're planning to breed him, there's no reason not to neuter him, and it will make your life, and his, a lot easier.

Second is to assert your dominance. Not in a harsh way, but in a way he understands. Pack leaders are followed, not standing next to the rest of the pack. When you're walking him he should be by your side but slightly behind, not right beside you. When you walk through a door together you go first, because you're the leader, he goes second. He should constantly be watching your every move to determine how to behave.

It sounds like you're at home with him all day, so you have the perfect opportunity to train him to respect you. I'd leash him to you, put a leash on him, tie it around your waist, and then pretend that leash and him aren't there. Don't step over him or around him when you're moving around, he has to learn to watch you and he has to get out of the way if you move in his direction. A pack leader doesn't worry about where his pack is, the pack worries about where the leader is, and follows. If it means stepping on him a few times, so be it. He has to learn to get out of your way, not the other way around.

Do the same when you're walking him. If he gets ahead of you quickly turn around and run the other way. He'll learn that if he doesn't stay slightly behind you, he can't determine what you'll do next, or where you'll go, so he better be watching you to make sure his leash isn't pulled tight because he's going ahead when he shouldn't.

When you feed him make him work for it. First, never feed him first. Eat your meal first, in front of him. The pack leader always eats first, the rest of the pack gets fed second. This includes your husband and kids, they should all eat first, to assert their place in the pack.

When it's his turn to eat he has to work for it. Make him sit, make him lay down, make him wait for his food. When you put down the food and he dives in, take it away. He has to wait for your signal to eat, you're the leader.

None of this should be done with anger. You have to be confident that you are the leader. If you burst out in anger or frustration he'll sense it, and you'll lose his respect.

It's not easy. I'd really suggest some training classes, that will help a lot. Learning how to sit and stay, to watch your movements, to wait for your command, will go a long way in you asserting your role as pack leader. :)

Hope this helps a bit, and good luck. Keep me posted.

Thank you so much for taking the time to help me. I truly appreciate it. I will be teaching him and doing the techniques you have suggested, and will keep you posted. Thank you again!

Oh yeah, dog toys help a lot. They especially kept mine from wanting to chew on things

Please don't ever hit your pets.

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Originally Posted by apadilla90

Thank you so much for taking the time to help me. I truly appreciate it. I will be teaching him and doing the techniques you have suggested, and will keep you posted. Thank you again!

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You're very welcome.

I don't charge for my advice, but when it comes to giving pet advice I do have a fee. Pictures! Can we see the little spitfire please? :)