She thinks I'm her master, uses my husband as her playmate!?

[TawnysMommy]

Tawny is 8 months old and 60 pounds. I did most of her training(housebreaking, commands, and tricks). But my husband and I bought her as our dog and he has also been proactive in the training. She jumps on him and bites his hands and feet constantly! Trying to force him to play. She pulls on the leash more when he has her than when I have her. I have to make her stop biting at him because she will not mind him most of the time. Super protective of me and jealous if he touches me. Again, she minds me way better than my husband. If he is hom with her and I am away, she does mind him. But, when I am at home she thinks I'm her master and he is her friend! How can we make her see that we are both her master??!! Please help, she is too big to he jumping and mouthing all the time!! If he scolds her, she continues to misbehave and bark and growl playfully but rough! If I step in, she listens!

 

[mandyjo]

I am dealing with this in my house also! The vet told me to take him to a trainer because we have tried it all and nothing works. I would have your husband take her to a trainer since she listens to you and not him. Hope this helps and good luck!

 

[ehayes21]

It has nothing to do with being your dogs "master". Teach your dog some manners.

At her age, it sounds like you are entering the boxerteens which are "oh-so-fun".

Right now is an important time in her development to make her a well adjusted adult so it's time to crack down on the training. Enroll her in an obedience class and I would start implementing NILIF and have everyone in your house use it.

If she starts playing with your husband have him walk away and ignore her. It will take more than once, but you have to stay consistent.

Here is a link:

Nothing in Life is Free

 

[TawnysMommy]

Thanks for the comments!! Hopefully, with consistency and as she gets older, things will get better!!

 

[ehayes21]

Thanks for the comments!! Hopefully, with consistency and as she gets older, things will get better!!

Yes, consistency is the key - even if you feel like you are getting no where just keep it up. The teenage years are the most trying (for me at least), it's like they forget everything you ever taught them, so that's why it's so important to keep up with the training during this time. Good luck!

 

[Cami]

We are currently traveling down the same road with our own 8 month old.
Raine thinks that daddy is just for fun and her own personal toy. She plays differently with him as he has allowed it.
This could possibly be something your hubby has done without realizing it. I know my hubby can withstand far more nipping/mouthing/biting than I can. He is a mechanic and his hands are pretty tough. He doesn't realize that what doesn't even faze him hurts ME as far as the playing is concerned with Raine.
As she has gotten older, bigger and stronger he is now seeing the error of his ways.
I kept trying to tell him that what was adorable and sweet as a baby wouldn't be so cute as a larger puppy.
We have tried every correction in the book to no avail. The only thing that works for us (more so hubby since she listens to me more) is to walk away and if need be separate himself by going into another room and closing the door. It only takes a few seconds for her to realize that she misbehaves....daddy leaves.
Of course as he is walking away she is still jumping and biting at him and it is usually at his bum!
Anytime we use vocal corrections it just fuels her fire.
I have resorted to using a squirt bottle. I don't even have to squirt her but just shake it and she knows that what she is doing isn't a good choice to make.
They will get there eventually.....it's just sometimes we don't know if we will survive the journey!

 

[brlg]

My boxer pup is almost a year old and when she was younger we delt with a similar issue, except she would listen to my husband and saw him as the alpha, but me as the playmate. I would potty train, feed, and train her obedience, etc, but he was better at disciplining and not reinforcing bad behavior. One thing I would recommend is encourage your husband to continue being consistent in participating in the training and making sure he isn't reinforcing the behavior. One thing you mentioned is that you will have to make her stop biting him. In our situation, when my husband would do this for me and pup, this would show her he was the one she had to listen to. When I was more consistent and strict about disciplining and not reinforcing the bad behavior she started respecting me more too. It takes time and consistency...Good luck