Husband Constantly Out Of Town!

[rawnzgrl]

We are looking at getting a rottie this Spring. My husband works out of town for weeks at a time. When he does come home, he comes home in the middle of the night and is home only for a few days. We are worried that the dog will become MY dog because I will be the one training it and living with it. We are worried that my husband will be ignored or worse yet, treated aggressively by the dog.
We have come up with a few solutions through some careful thought:
1. My husband will come with when we go and get the puppy. We are going to try and make it on a weekend that he is home. So the puppy will hopefully remember his scent from the first day.

2. We are going to have to stay awake until my husband gets home on those nights so that the dog will realize that HE BELONGS and that he is not someone lurking into the bedroom in the middle of the night.

3. We have also decided that we are going to have my husband spend a lot of time with the puppy on his weekends home, so that the puppy will remember him as that guy who is so great!

My husband has always had a really good rapor with animals. All of our friends' dogs just love him and are so happy when he comes around, even when he is gone for several weeks/several months at a time. What I am concerned about is that Rottie's seem to be a possesive breed (from everything that I have heard or read) and I am worried that our new pup will be upset or jealous when hubby comes around. I don't want the dog to be so attached to me that he doesn't want anything to do with hubby?!

Has anyone ever dealt with anything similar? Or does anyone have any suggestions so that hubby and puppy end up having a truly positive relationship when he does come around?! I just know it will break hubby's heart if the puppy/dog doesn't just love him!

Any suggestions, please share!!!! This is a really big concern for us!
Thanks!

[rglogan]

Hi,

If your hubby is gone alot, then the dog probably will be more of "your" dog. I have never heard of rotts being all that possesive, but I have read that they are very loyal to their owners. My hubby is at home all day with our dogs, and they are always *VERY* excited to see me when I get home. As long as your hubby works with the dog when he is home, I would think he would be OK when he comes in late at night. Maybe some of the trainers out there can offer some better advice...
Good luck!

[TrishB]

I have to agree. You can't help it if the dog chooses to be more 'yours' than your husbands. She'll be spending a lot more time with you, so it's only natural. Any breed of dog would do the same. It doesn't mean that she won't like your husband, but that she may have a bit of a preference. It can't be helped.

Your current plan sounds quite good! Also having one game that is just for them might be a good idea too. Frisbee or a Kong On A Rope - could just be for your Hubby and the pup. It will signify their 'bonding time'.

I would also reccommend that your hubby have a set routine when he enters the house. If he enters in the same way, every time, it will be a signal to her as to who it is. Maybe having a squeaky toy or something for her so she knows "It's Daddy!" ;) Rattling the keys, turn on the lights - but doing it the same way every time so that she has something to recognise.

I too am looking forward to other responses on this post.

Best of luck with your new addition! :D

[Judi W]

Well, my dogs consider anyone I welcome into the home a treat. Family, houseguests, whatever. If you are insecure and uncertain in your attitudes, then the dog will of course be uneasy. If you treat things like normal, so will the dog.

[rawnzgrl]

Well, my dogs consider anyone I welcome into the home a treat. Family, houseguests, whatever. If you are insecure and uncertain in your attitudes, then the dog will of course be uneasy. If you treat things like normal, so will the dog.

Of course I like to think that anyone I welcome into the home a good thing, but what about my husband who comes. in the middle of the night and crawls into my bed. I have heard stories about dogs getting jealous etc. That is where my concerns lie.

[RottiMomCT]

Originally posted by rawnzgrl
[BOf course I like to think that anyone I welcome into the home a good thing, but what about my husband who comes. in the middle of the night and crawls into my bed. I have heard stories about dogs getting jealous etc. That is where my concerns lie. [/b]

Last night, hubby was out with friends, and came home at 2am. Opened the door and immediately he said 'I'm home' quiet enough not to wake me, but enough so tha dog would hear him and not bark and/or growl at him. If he does not 'announce himself', Ben will let me know someone is there by giving a little 'Woof!", and hubby will usually say something to him. He started doing that after Ben would wake me up to let me know someone was there.

If, while hubby is home a few days, you and the dog go to bed before him, and he could do something similar. I guess it's like a code between hubby and dog. The dog will learn that hubby's voice signals that everything is OK and no panic is necessary. I think that if the dog hears strange noises and does not hear hubby's voice, he'll alert you to that, in time...

[WorkinDogz]

Originally posted by rawnzgrl
[B but what about my husband who comes. in the middle of the night and crawls into my bed. I have heard stories about dogs getting jealous etc. That is where my concerns lie. [/b]

Chances are real good that the dog will bark/alert on anyone coming into the house in the middle of the night.....in fact; I COUNT ON IT when my 18 yr old daughter is "out" on a date...... nothing like a dog to rat out a curfew breaker... :D

Jealousy is NOT a canine emotion. It's a human one.

Don't let the dog sleep on the bed.....and the dog won't view it as "his" and give your husband lip when he tries to get in it. It's very simple.

Guidelines when young; transform to guidelines when older.

[shybird]

So far you have gotten some good advice, but I'd like to add the use of a crate. Your getting a puppy and the greatest invention to housebreaking is the crate. It becomes the pups home. If you use the crate at night for bed, by the time the pup is old enough to be alerting you to strangers, the pup will already be use to Daddy coming home at odd hours. Dad comes in and says hi to the pup. Pup goes back to sleep and all is well. And best yet, you don't have to stay up all night.

[whitney greenway]

My husband travels somewhat! When his flights get in, usually at night.

Cam will get up and go to the door when he hears the car pull up in the driveway.

On the rare occasions that I am asleep and do not hear my husband come in, Cam will bark and let me know he is home.

That is a very good thing as far as I am concerned.

I have an alarm system on my house and an alarm canine system.

I feel that is a big mistake to let the animal sleep in the bed with you.

Others, do it...fine...but when I got my first boy...the heart ruled before the head.

I was going to let some bad habits start, due to the fact that mine has HD!

I stopped that stuff quickly. Mine would take a mile if you gave him an inch!

[k&s]

Not sure if you are considering rescue, but it might be the way to go. You could specify what your situation is, and aim for just the right kind of temperament. Both of my rotties are rescues (aquired from bona fide rescue organization at ~ 15 months old, a year apart). Both are fantastic dogs. One is more focussed on me, whereas the other is thrilled to get affection from eeither of us. When either husband or I come in in from travel in the middle of the night, there is no concern -- they know who we are and are happy to see either of us (that is, when they eventually wake up).

[MrsBoats]

Mr. Boats is in the military (coast guard)....so he's NEVER home.

Sam is most definitely my dog....Mr. Boats is pretty much the "play guy" since I'm the one who is home all the time and the enforcer of rules and such. I do notice that Sam doesn't listen to Mr. Boats as well as he does me. He often has to repeat commands and ultimately, I have to step in and give the command which is then followed. That may also be because I and only I take Sam to obedience. Mr. Boats has NOTHING to do with it. Which is fine by me. I really don't mind having better control over the dog than he does.

Sam remembers people....he remembered the girl who worked at the shelter we got him from and it's been almost 2 years when he saw her last!! We did have one time where Mr. Boats came home late and unexpectedly. It was summer, sam and I were in the bedroom with the door shut and the A/C on. Sam didn't hear the deisel truck pull in the drive. I was sleeping when Mr. Boats opened the bedroom door. Sam got up and growled at him through the cracked bedroom door. Once Mr. Boats said Sam's name....he was fine and wiggling his nubbie all over the place. Sam can hear that truck down the street way before I can. I think if the door hadn't been closed and he could hear the truck....it would have been a non issue.

So, the message of this long winded post is....I wouldn't worry too much about it. I like the advice about the crate. The nights you're expecting you Dh home....put your dog in his crate. :)

[JonandMichelle]

Yeah, I have to say I am not quite "Getting this?" I too have a husband who is gone a lot and usually works mid shifts. Grant it, Raja will bark when she hears the door lock being worked (which I don't condone one bit), BUT she quickly knows it's Jon. I have never heard of these stories of dogs attacking OWNERS as they come home Maybe I missed something, but I am not seeing the big worries here What I am seeing (IMO) are unsure possible owners, and misguided myths.

[rottnreba]

Dogs, like children, bond with whomever is there with them the most.

My husband also travels frequently for his job. Whenever we got a pup, even our latest older rescue, he took it for the formal training which I reinforced at home. Our family spends alot of time with the dogs when he is home and on weekends. He feeds them when he is home. But they are 'my dogs'.

Just like my kids, when they aren't feeling well in the middle of the night, they come to my side of the bed and nudge me. LOL

[rawnzgrl]

Originally posted by JonandMichelle
Yeah, I have to say I am not quite "Getting this?" Maybe I missed something, but I am not seeing the big worries here What I am seeing (IMO) are unsure possible owners, and misguided myths.

Yes, I am a possible owner. My conern does not lie with the dog attacking my husband when he comes home. My concern was that he and the dog have a positive relationship.

I am pretty sure that there was probably a time in your life that you didn't know everything that there is to know about Rottweiler's. That is what this forum is all about so those of us that have questions for the experts who have the dogs can help us out! I don't see what the big worry is here
I hope it is okay that 'possible' owners seek out this advice!

To those of you that gave positive feedback and understanding to my question, I thank you, we have already talked about putting those things into practice!!!

[JonandMichelle]

Originally posted by rawnzgrl



Yes, I am a possible owner. My conern does not lie with the dog attacking my husband when he comes home. My concern was that he and the dog have a positive relationship.

I am pretty sure that there was probably a time in your life that you didn't know everything that there is to know about Rottweiler's. That is what this forum is all about so those of us that have questions for the experts who have the dogs can help us out! I don't see what the big worry is here
I hope it is okay that 'possible' owners seek out this advice!

To those of you that gave positive feedback and understanding to my question, I thank you, we have already talked about putting those things into practice!!!

See, I did miss "something" ;)

I will admit, I didn't read your Topic and replies in their intirely:o I kinda got turned off by statements like "Treated agressively, jealous, and husband who comes in the middle of the night and crawls in my bed."

Yes, you are quite right, I never did know everything about Rottweilers, and I still don't;) and I probably never will know everything, as I don't think anyone can hold that title.

Yes, you did do a good thing about coming here to seek advise.

I don't see where you're gonna have problems though. Like I've stated..my hubby is gone A LOT (AF), and also works mid shifts most of the time. He was gone for a full year. Raja was approx. 9 months old when he left. A year later....she still remembered him and went nuts when she saw him. You get a puppy..you begin a bonding phrase that will last a life time. Also, as what was suggested in the begining...your puppy should be crate trained. At this early stage of life, he/she will more then likely be in the crate when hubby comes home. He then will have time to take the pup out, play with it, treat it, put the pup back to "bed" himself. Also..as WD suggested..don't let the pup sleep with you. Not only does this enforce habits that will be hard to dismay if there are problems in the future, but you are also putting the little pup at risk.

Again, learn, learn, and learn. Read as many books as you can, get a trainer or get signed up for OB classes. You should be fine.