not listening to me

[noodle]

We've had our 1 year old girl for about 3 months now. We've both spent about equal time with her, together and apart, and we both take her to obedience classes. She does really well minding me when we're alone, but not as good as she does my husband. And, when we're all together, she often ignores my commands. If I give her a command, often she just looks at my husband like "what do YOU want me to do?"

Somehow it seems she thinks she's moved ahead of me in the pecking order, but I don't know how to correct it. I use the same firm voice (although mine is, of course, higher-pitched), I follow through on all my commands, I spend part of each day going through training, etc. Any suggestions?

[gam]

Have you discussed this with your trainer? The last thing you need is for your dog to think she is higher than you in the pack.

Hopefully she is not looking at your husband for comfort and reassurance. You need to fix this now. I'm going through a similiar problem with my rotti and he is going through intense training for it.

Good luck and talk to your trainer.

[TrishB]

You said you follow through on you commands, which is great! But do you find that you're repeating yourself?

Many times, we'll say a command. We'll wait....they don't respond, so we assume they didn't hear us / ignoring us, we repeat again. We wait... then we'll correct them physically.

When we repeat, we teach our dogs that we don't mean it the first time! ;) You need to have patience. Put her on the lead, ask her to sit. Once. Then wait. Eventually, she'll get the idea that you mean it and sit.

And do bring it up to your trainer...that's what they're there for!! :D

[gam]

I never repeat the command...I only say it once.

[TrishB]

Originally posted by gam
I never repeat the command...I only say it once.

Well, that's good! Are you using food rewards? They'll be helpful too. Personally? I like to use Cherrios. Low in Salt, Low in Sugar, High in Fibre, Low in Calories - they even like them! (and they don't stink in your pocket in the summer ;))!

It may just well be that she sees your husband as the alpha of the house. It doesn't mean that you're not alpha to her, but not as alpha - if you get my meaning. Be sure that you put yourself into alpha roles (eating first before you feed her, don't let her go through doors before you, don't allow her to initiate play - only you initiate play and attention, etc.). She'll fall in line.

Best of luck! :)

[austin]

Since you said that she listens to you when its just you and her, it might not even be that she thinks you're lower than her in the pecking order. Especially if she listens to you when it's just the two of you. I think a lot of dogs pick one owner as #1. I've been through the same thing, and it has just improved with time and continuous training. I don't follow all of those "Alpha rules" to the letter either, but she's perfectly obedient with me now even though she will still look to my boyfriend for the "final answer" when it's the two of us with her. Just keep working with her, and good luck!

[CarolineS]

Even though you don't repeat your command, do you correct the dog for not doing what you've asked? I always keep a flat collar on my young dog, Dresden, inside and out. If I ask her to sit and she plays deaf, I approach her, take her by the collar, give her a sharp negative word (I use "ack!") and then physically put her into a sit. If I ask her to stay and she breaks it, I do the same thing, physically placing her back in the stay. I never repeat a command but I make it very clear that what she did was wrong.

I got Dres as an older puppy as well, she was 10 months when she arrived. There were times during the first three or four months when she'd just drive me to distraction. I've had her for 7 months now and the strides she's made in the last month just blow me away. I think it takes them quite a while to really settle in and figure the people and the rules out.

I'd suggest you set your dog up. Have your husband in the room when you put her through her paces. If she doesn't do what she's asked, you have the perfect opportunity to correct her so she understands she's to do what you ask no matter what else is going on. Learning the commands and doing them without distractions is one thing, the next step in training is proofing her. Consistency and calmness in handling this are the key, it will all come together for her. :)