? about behavior - Page 2

Ulli, LOL gotta Love Ya ! Blitzen, thinking you may be right ! P59, our dogs are allowed to be with us on couch, on beds, and in laps, just the way we like it I guess. and you might be right with the leaving thing, however I don't do that all the time, just sometimes, as I don't wish to be the center of an argument between the two bull headed nit whits. You guys would kill my hubby he somewhat "I feel" eggs it on almost, simply because he's such a bad "reader" and he doesn't see his approach, I see it a mile away, I know when the dog is gonna protest and when he won't, He does not protest every single approach, only when hubby prounounces a "challenge" with his body language and voice tone.

Hi Echo, Totally agree with Bob-O on this. It seems that the dog sees pack order as you, dog, hubby, not you, hubby, dog. Working on same issue with my girl, she sees order as me, dog, wife, instead of me, wife, dog.

Reading a dog's body language is not always easy and sometimes even professional dog trainers miss or overlook certain signs of impending problems. A few years ago an area dog trainer was severely bitten by her husband's Belgian when she tried to push him off their bed after she and the dog had taken a nap together. This dog lived with them for several years, had always been dominant toward her, but she ignored that and let her guard down one time too many. This woman is very well known nationally and is a published author. I think some reading this have most likely read at least one of her books. Point being your husband should not challenge this dog now or ever. That's an accident waiting to happen. I think having a trainer come into your home is an excellent idea. Your husband needs to be trained as well and understand that "egging" on any dog with a dominant tendency can be a dangerous proposition. Good luck, you are a sensible person and I think it will all work put for you in the end. You might have to buy an e collar for the hubby though (only kidding.... well maybe not).

Ulli, thanks for the support. We's guys understand and appreciate it. EchoMeadows, I meant to say something about that as well. Positive reinforcement (hugs, kisses, a poured glass of beer) tends to work better on modifying our behaviour than the iron skillet. Definitely negative (but effective) reinforcement. Bob-O

Echo...just my 2 cents: I realized by letting my alpha bitch on furniture at her will I was enabling her dominance. Not demonstrated towards me but my other dog. I like letting my dogs curl up next to me...but you know what...I realized it MUST be on my terms...NOT hers, its not her couch/bed its MINE. Now she's only allowed on furniture if she's invited by a human. Now she no longer growls at the other dogs and they are also allowed on the bed...because she KNOWS its MINE. Rules and boundries! don't let him call the shots. If he jumps up, pull him down by his collar and say NO. Do it over and over till he gets the picutre. THEN invite him up. Make him wait paitently for a few minutes every time before letting him up. I think if you are consistent with this starting with yourself, then your husband..he'll find his rank below the both of you. It doesn't have to be mean or harsh, if he doesn't growl at you, you should be the one to introduce this new rule. Then I think it will be easier for your husband to step in. Don't continue to feel sorry for him and his past. Dogs live in the now, he needs your guidence, rules and boundries, black and white to experience a peaceful state of mind without conflict. You are feeling sorry for him while he's busy taking over your house. Good luck

ProudShepPoppa, I understand that for sure. LOL Blitzen, I think the "maybe not" might be correct ! :-) LOL Bob-O only way to get anything out of a bull headed guy is to bash him with skillet my mom taught me that LOL :-) my friend you are SAFE !!! GSDfan, I think maybe your right there maybe we should impose some rules about the furniture, with 7 to 11 dogs at any given time in the house it can get a little chaotic. But everyone is typically very good and the only time this male is in, is when he is in by himself, he would fight our other males, and while our other two get along very nicely this older male I think would innitiate a fight and I won't take the chance, most of our dogs run together in a large 1 + acre yard, we pen up females in heat when they come in but other than that they all stay together. But good points you've made that I will be taking into consideration. Thanks again to all, I really appreciate all the wonderful advice and constructive critisisms, They are very helpful and will be considered !! Your all Awesome, Thank You Thank You Thank You :-)

Bob, i will take the beer ..... leave Peggy & her mom in the kitchen with her skillet !! :-) Sometimes i am glad to be back in Europe .... we use aluminum skillets here, they make smaler dents in your head ! Peggy, 7 - 11 dogs in the house ..... my wife would put the skillet aside and get the shotgun out ! Of course not for the dogs, she would chase me ! Ulli

Again..... how did i come up with the name Peggy for echo.... gues i am getting old !Sorry for that Echo !:-) Regards Ulli Dresbach

I just love it because that is exactly what goes on in our haus.I see nothing wrong with it because ever since our female came back from Deutschland(training Schh3) she became my dog.At first it was my better half before she left.I picket her up from the Airport and released her from the cage.She recognized me and was all over me.My husband came one week later from a business-trip and our female was happy to see him too but she bonded with me.No she is not on the furnitures she is on the floor where she belongs and she gets all the love from both of us,she was somewhat apprehensive at first when he was sitting beside me,but I was telling her it is fine sehr gutes Maedchen(good girl).That was all I had to do she is happy to see him at all times and even with me she is then totally Gluecklich. I am the one now who has to train her.When my husband calles her she looks to me to give the signal to go.I am now the Alpha Bitch and my husband thought that for a long time LOL.Just work with your husband to get it corrected and with the advise from the group.Greetings to you all. Charlotte

Hi again, I see nothing wrong with allowing dogs on the furniture. After all most people I know do. The problem lies within the interaction and not where the dog is. If the dog have been invited, then fine. If the dog's attitude is "this is my couch, or person or whatever" then that is a problem. I would start by profoundly ignoring this dog. No eye contact, no accidental petting, no talking to him, ect. The more you give this dog a reason to be that bonded (or controlling of you) the longer it will take to retrain him. Have your hubby teach him that when he's in the house with you that he is not to approach you, this would take care of him getting up onto you. Also, again, keep a training collar and leash on him so hubby can control him with out a physical confrontation. Hubby needs to train him to focus on him no matter who or what is going on around him. Work on small distractions and work up to using you as the distration. This coupled with you ingoring the dog should give you some results. It is not this dog's job to keep track of you all the time and it's about time he knows it!! Remember: everytime you or your husband interacts with this dog he is learning something from you. So keep in mind what you want from him all the time to avoid any accidental training.