Member

Posts: 16
From:Pennsylvania
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 08-05-2003 08:32 AM         

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Hello everyone. I posted this question in the Pit Bull section but I thought I would post it here too. I am looking for some advice concerning my pit/lab mix. We adopted him from a shelter last September, he is a very sweet dog but we do have some problems with him and although he is well trained I don't know what to do about them. First of all I think he was in an abusive home before... if my husband tries to help me out of a chair or even hug me sometimes.. our dog jumps up and tries to push my husband away from me. It was cute in the begining but its just getting worse and I don't know how to get him to realize that my husband is not hurting me. If we are in the pool and are playing around he will jumps up, barking and try to open the door. He gets very worked up. Another thing is that if my husband tries to move him.. pick him up etc.. he will growl and sometimes snip at my husband. He doesn't do it towards me but he does to my husband.
Does anyone have any suggestions? Is there any training methods that will help us out? We love our dog very much and while he is still young we would like to work out these problems. BTW he will be 2 in December.

Thank you for any advice you can give!

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Member

Posts: 926
From:
Registered: May 2003

posted 08-05-2003 10:11 AM         

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we rescued an abused dog that hated to be touched and didnt want anyting to do with us and it wasnt until almost 2 years when she started trusting us and wanted to be touched. Now she is just the opposite and cant get enough attention and almost lhas seperation anxiety. She is such an angel now.
It sounds like your dog may have been abused be a male. and also has some seperation anxiety problems if you have it in the house and you are outside and it wants t be outside.
as for the dog coming between you, I would nip that in the bud, my lab does this between my husband and I. We cant even hug each other, he will come over and stand between us and bark. this has been going on for 6 years. ( I would like to hear what people have to offer about this)

I am sure you will get lots of good advice. good luck.
Honeybear

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Member

Posts: 16
From:Pennsylvania
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 08-05-2003 11:07 AM         

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Thank you for posting honeybear. It is good to know that I am not the only one with this problem. I talked to my husband about this yesterday and we decided that he will start training our dog. I usually do it and I think he sees me as the leader and my husband as a play mate. I don't know if it will work but I don't think our dog respects my husband.. even a simple sit command the dog won't do but as soon as I tell him to sit he does it immediately.

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Member

Posts: 16
From:Pennsylvania
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 08-06-2003 04:48 AM         

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Anyone else have any suggestions?

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Member

Posts: 1387
From:Portland, Oregon US
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 08-06-2003 10:43 AM         

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You said it yourself Pitfan...and it's the same in my house. I have done all the training with the dogs and they respect me. My husband is the fun one, he plays, breaks the rules with them, doesn't ask much of them...and in return has alot of fun with them UNTIL he wants them to listen to him. The older of our dogs listens to him most of the time, he is very bonded with him and wants to please him. My pup however is totally my dog, he likes my husband, but see's him as a playmate, not someone he has to listen to. He just pretends he doesn't hear him, or he does the puppy bow and bounce routine in front of him. My husband has been more assertive lately and has taken a more active role in doing a little training, it has made a big difference. A couple of times when the pup has decided to ignore him, I had my husband put him on time out in his kennel, when he came out of his kennel, it was my husband who let him out. He has also taken his food bowl a few times and sat down in his chair giving a command for the pup to do in order to get a morsel. He would tell him to sit, then give a kibble, then down, gets a kibble etc...he did this for about 10 minutes then put the bowl of food at his feet and put him on a sit stay. He would wait a minute or so and then tell him "OK" and allow him to eat his food. This is a new thing we are trying..but it seems to be working. He also asks him to sit before getting or doing anything, he can't go out the door without sitting first and waiting for the "OK" from my husband, same for the kennel, putting leash on etc. It just means he has to work for anything he wants from my husband and puts it into his head that my husband is ranked higher than he is. Hope this helps, Maisey

PS. The hugging thing...same here, my youngest child and my dogs! With the dogs, we have used the command "Enough" if they don't listen, we go into a room and shut the door, staying there for a few minutes. The message the dogs get is, "when you act this way it drives us away from you". Thats the last thing they want...they want the attention. I read an article on dog mouthing or licking that suggested that technique and decided to try it for the butting in on hugs and kisses too. It has worked on my child...still not sure about the dogs. *GRINS*

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Posts: 6
From:
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 08-08-2003 06:13 PM         

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Your husband doesn't have to be the one to train him, but he should give him commands and your dog should listen, watch out for the corrections so that the dog doesn't think that your husband is being too hard on him and that he is being 'abused' by a man again.
I would suggest that for the hugging you either be tough on him - "NO! Stop It" and tap the dog on the nose and try to ignore him. OR try telling the to 'sit/Down Stay' while you hug. Or try desensitizing him to hugging by only hold hands in front of you dog, if he behaves give him a treat, then move closer, treat, then hold two hands, get closer, ect until you can hug normally without him fussing!

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Member

Posts: 166
From:Colorado, USA
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 08-08-2003 07:22 PM         

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Your dog needs one on one time with your husband, with lots of treats, rewards, love and attention without you in the room. He needs to feed, walk, train...do all the things you have done to make him bond with you. Give them a chance- I have had a simialar problem with my Aussie..she is getting better, but I had to even tell my husband to use a softer tone, and be more playful with her as she developes her bond with him. She is only 4 months old- but a true joy to have in this household.

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