Is there any hope for me?

[Sadgirl]

I'll admit I'm disappointed his coming to me for what I thought was affection is actually just more dominance?? I'll be getting us into some classes real soon. I'm starting to get the vibe I can never pet my dog. (My husband was laying on the floor with him last night, head on his shoulders...hanging out together. Moose eating it up. I felt pretty sorry for myself!!!)
As far as the verbal correction and turning away (when) he growls at me again- why is this not seen by him as me "obeying" him? Maybe I should just get my own little apartment in the back yard.
(Thats a joke....just trying to keep my sense of humor here!)

[fostermom]

Sadgirl,
He DID want you to pet him when he came to you...the point is HE is telling you to pet him when he does that, and HE is not supposed to be making any decisions right now, you are. My dogs do it all the time, and yes, I pet them...but they don't have any issues with exactly who is "alpha". Read up on Nothing in Life is Free (NILIF)....in that you'll learn that the dog must EARN affection..that's why I told you in an earlier post to have him do something (like a "sit")..then you can reward him for that by petting him...he's just earning it, not demanding it.
I still think leashing him to you might be good...it really helps with the bonding and helps establish who is "boss". You can even hook it through a belt loop and keep both hands free...then just go about doing whatever you normally do in the house and he has to follow you.
I'm also wondering if hubby needs to keep "hands off" for a while, ignore Moose, and let you be the one to interact with Moose until he has a chance to bond to you...you feed him, you interact with him. Although I don't think this is the case, sometimes the person the dog is strongly attached to actually reinforces bad behavior by the dog to the other person (strokes their ego's)...but even if hubby's not doing that, I still think all the attention Moose gets should only be from you right now.
I'm also wondering if you could keep a bag of treats (TINY bits of hot dog, cheese..something the dog loves) handy and whenever he comes over to you, you could simply say "good boy" and drop one.
I wish someone more versed in behavior modification would chime in...but my feelings are this...he's growling when you approach him because he's uncomfortable (for whatever reason)...maybe he's even guarding (guarding hubby, guarding the dog bed..whatever)...if you push the point, then you are convincing him that he really DOES need to guard (or be uncomfortable). I might even try tossing him a treat and walking off...I'm thinking that might alter his perception of your approach being a scary thing to "oh, boy..here she comes"....they do this when teaching dogs to be non-reactive to other approaching dogs...dog sees other dog, starts to react, gets treats...soon it's "WOW...here comes another dog...oh, boy where are my treats!!!"
I just think
1. you need to keep everything positive with him right now, and
2. demonstrate his place in the pack structure (ie, the bottom!!) by doing NILIF.

[debbiej]

I too wonder what is going on in his head. fostermom is right, your DH should give the dog some space too. a little aloofness shown by both of you probably would help him understand in his place in the family.

here is something my dogs will do that I don't quite understand. I do almost all the training. we both feed them, requiring a sit stay release to their food. sometimes I think my dogs are more "affectionate" with my husband, but as the years go by, I realize it is that they respect me more. they obey me more. strangely, they are more comfortable with him hugging, etc. but will do anything I ask. they blow him off if they feel like it.

not sure why I offer this, just have often wondered if we really know why dogs act the way they do, and how to properly interpret their actions is tough.

[Weily4Life]

I agree, Moose does need to understand where his position is in the "pack". Here's an excerpt from an article "Alpha Boot Camp", by Vicki Rodenberg De Gruy:

Petting and attention:

Alpha dogs are used to being fussed over. In a real dog pack, subordinate dogs are forever touching, licking and grooming the alpha dog. It's a show of respect and submission. For now, until his attitude has shown improvement, cut down on the amount of cuddling your dog gets. When he wants attention, make him SIT first, give him a few kind words and pats, then stop. Go back to whatever it was you were doing and ignore him. If he pesters you, tell him NO! in a firm voice and ignore him some more. Pet him when you want to, not just because he wants you to. Also, for the time being, don't get down on the floor or on your knees to pet your dog. That, too, is a show of submission. Give praise, petting and rewards from a position that's higher than the dog.

Here's the link with other suggestions on establishing the Alpha position...

Alpha Boot Camp

[natesmom14]

SadGirl- Congrats on your adoption of Moose! I was where you are now- 3 years ago we adopted Nikki from a rescue- she was approximately 18 months old and she was our first experience with a Rottweiler! It was VERY scary at first- I was always afraid I was making mistakes with her and trying to interpret every noise and action she made.

The first time she ever growled at us was in trying to engage us in play (she loves to fetch balls and play tug-of-war) and it took us a bit to figure out that is how she "talked" to us in playful times- and that's the ONLY time you'll ever hear her "growl" (if she is trying to warn us of something- ie: a delivery man approaching the driveway- it's a full bark- it never starts as a growl with her)- but we sure didn't know that at the time!

I obviously am not one of the experienced on here and am not trying to interpret the growls your dog is making - I am in no way saying what he is doing is in any way the same as what Nikki was doing- I am just trying to say that I understand that right now is a bit of a nervewracking time in trying to get to know your new dog and learn his behaviors and signals and that if you work hard and persevere, you too can look back on this growing and learning time with your guy and be at a place where you can be happy with the great relationship you have with him!

Just be patient, read the forums a ton (this place was my lifesaver in the first few months!), get in to even just a basic obedience class- and, I agree, YOU be the one to take him with hubby along to watch and learn as well, and learn how to enjoy your guy!

[webangel2b]

Just because Dixie puts her head on my lap/leg, is not a dominance thing. It is an attention thing, if I allowed her to progress beyond that and demand the attention from me, then she dominates me.

There's a fine line, however owners know best when it's crossed. I'm not of the belief that every move a dog makes they are trying to dominate you - however you must be AWARE of their moves and act accordingly. If it makes you uncomfee that's probably what they are after in a dominance sense.

Best of luck to you!