Assertive terrier

[joannafay]

Hi
I have a yorkshire terrier cross, a jack russel and a bichon frise. The yorkie has become quite agressive towards the bichon and will not allow her on the sofa or the dogs pillow or on my bed. if she does try to get up on to the bed or sofa the yorkie atacks her. It is causing the bichon to moan a lot.
They bichon seems to circle around the yorkie sometimes moaning and this usually ends in a fight too.
The jack russel takes no notice and seems to keep out of trouble.
Can you help me stop this behaviour as night times are punctuated with huge fights.
Many thanks
Joanna

[nick_j007]

Hi Joana,

This is likely to be behaviour that is focusing around you and probably only happens when you are there. I don't mean to point the finger of blame at you at all, but I have seen inter-dog family aggression many times and it is usually the owner that the dogs are 'arguing' over. In other words it's resource guarding. The Yorkie is keeping you to herself you see

From your description I would offer the following points:

• No sofa access for any of the dogs for 2 months to start with. We can address this again later on so that you have more control. Provide nice comfortable beds on the floor for them.
  
• No bed sleeping with you. Again provides nice beds on the floor. Ideally bring them all out of your room.
  
• Seek the help of a local trainer that can comb through the finer details in your life with the dogs to ensure you are expressing a balanced and controlled way with them all.
  
• Still plenty of room for love and affection, but there needs to be a greater balance and more rules by the sounds of things. Attention and affection on your terms...not the dogs.
  
• No rules equals (often) chaos!

Good luck!

Nick Jones MCFBA
Alpha Dog Behaviour Home page. Welcome. Dog behaviourist and dog trainer Nick Jones MCFBA.