Puppy preferring one person

[l777]

DH and I have had Bella since she was 10 weeks, and now she is almost six months old. She's an absolute delight and I don't think either of us expected her to have such an incredible impact to our lives (in the best way!)

Over time it's become more and more clear that if hubby and I are both home, she has a preference to be with me. Things like she'll always follow me if I leave the room (but not so much hubby) and if I leave the house she'll sit at the window watching out for me. We share the training, playing etc equally, the main difference is I'm always up first in the morning so I'm the one letting her out for morning pee, poop, breakfast, play or walk, plus I'm the one who feeds her dinner. Hubby has also had to travel for work recently, but only 3-4 days at a time, and only about once a month.

Just to add to the mix, Bella was spayed on Friday and this behaviour has been even more pronounced since she's been home (although her overall recovery has been great).

My first question - is this a rottie characteristic, or a puppy characteristic, and is it likely to get more pronounced as time goes on or will she grow out of it a bit?

Second question - while the above isn't really an issue for either of us, I would like to be at a point where if DH gives her a command to stay with him while I leave the room, she obeys him and doesn't try to follow me (at the moment she will stay with him if he gives her treats or plays with her, but as soon as this stops she'll go looking for me). We're starting our new class (including clicker training ) tonight and this is something I want to address with the trainer, but keen to get your thoughts and experiences too.

[SarasMom]

Totally natural, don't worry about it. I'm not entirely sure it has a lot to do with who does the routine stuff with the dog, sometimes they just seem to adore certain people, my experience anyhow. Just keep enjoying her. I would imagine your husband can work with her to where she will stay with him and she will love him. But when you come back to the room, her face will light up like you've been gone a month! If you get another Rottie and it works the other way, don't be offended! LOL

[VinDiesel]

Too cute. I'm glad Bella recovered from her spaying well. We still haven't got Diesel desexed but I spoke to the vet and we are going to do so in a few months we are letting him grow a bit more.

Interestingly I am the favourite over my husband too. I was thinking about why as well but put it down to the fact that my husband was away working alot when he was little. Diesel actually would not listen to my husband at one stage so I sent them both off to puppy primary school OB class together and their interaction has improved out of sight. Diesel still looks at me when my husband is about to leave for a walk alone to check that I'm not coming I have to tell him to leave sometimes.

Maybe the imprinting by the breeder had something to do with it? She was definitely pack boss there.

Edited to add: Good luck with the clicker training tonight.

[eminbrasil]

I used to laugh about the same subject ! When we got Shoeless, although I did all the cleaning of the poop and pee, feeding, washing etc, (we share the play time, walking and training), my husband always got a bigger wag of the tail and she seemed to want to be with him more ! I used to tease Shoeless about it and and demand a cuddle from her ! Now she is a very diplomatic pup ! If we are together she gives us equal attention, making sure we both have lots of cuddles, and if we are in separate rooms, will stay with one or other of us but always be checking on the other one ! So intelligent and incredibly loving !

[shimmer]

don't know what the reason is but Thunder started off with DH and we called him DH shadow. Now Thunder wants to be anywhere I am. I think it's cute except when in the bathroom. We are teaching Thunder boundaries since he will sniff your butt. I can't for the life of me figure this one out. But if this is the only thing that we have to contend with .........

shimmer

[eminbrasil]

That really made me laugh shimmer !

[shimmer]

eminbrasil, it's funny since he does it when you come in the house or out the bathroom. Then it's the hunched back ( like a cat hissing) and the butt wiggle he then sticks his head over your arm and nibbles on your ear lobe. Thunder loves ear lobes ever since he was 8 weeks old. He will be a year old in March.

[eminbrasil]

How funny is that ! Amazingly loving aren't they

[NikoJ]

Originally Posted by shimmer

don't know what the reason is but Thunder started off with DH and we called him DH shadow. Now Thunder wants to be anywhere I am. I think it's cute except when in the bathroom. We are teaching Thunder boundaries since he will sniff your butt. I can't for the life of me figure this one out. But if this is the only thing that we have to contend with .........

shimmer

Shimmer, that is so funny!

Niko spends most of his time with me but comes unglued with excitement when my husband comes home from work. We joke around that Niko loves J because he is the soft one and I am the dictator when it comes to insisting on NILIF. J will sit with Niko and give good back scratches and Niko will show his appreciation by licking J's face. (one day I might tell him some of the yuck's that Niko has had in his mouth) Nah... I will let them continue their crazy fun time together.

But, on the flip side: from time to time Niko stays home with J while I am at work (depending on our schedules) On those days, my husband says that Niko mopes around the house waiting for me to come home.

[l777]

But, on the flip side: from time to time Niko stays home with J while I am at work (depending on our schedules) On those days, my husband says that Niko mopes around the house waiting for me to come home.

NikoJ - this is what my hubby says as well. Apparently, she'll alternate between sniffing outside my bedroom door (to check I'm not in there) and sitting at our front windon looking out at the street. Yesterday I had drinks after work for a colleague who was leaving, and was home a few hours later than normal (hubby had been with Bella). When I got home, she could hardly contain her excitement, and in her efforts not to jump up on me, she was doing this little tap dance on the floor - hard to describe but was adorable