We just adopted a Cockerpoo. He is 10 months old. He was originally at a puppy mill and rescued and put into a rescue shelter. We adopted him last week. Because he was abused by the man at the puppy mill he barks continously at men. We feel he is fearful or trying to protect me. He has bonded with me (a female) How can we help him to interact and trust my husband?
I am not sure of the time line with the rescue of your dog. Gentle training might be the way to go. This takes time and probably a lot of treats. Establish the rules of the house with your dog. Make sure the dog knows the basic commands, sit,down, heel. I recommend that the dog does not go on the couch the chair or the bed. Those are the places your husband belongs. While you're at it keep the husband out of the dog house cause that is where a dog belongs. When the husband comes into the house or the room he is to make no eye contact with the dog. Husband should be able to sit next to you while the dog is on the floor. If dog jumps up then both of you must leave immediately, go into another room and leave the dog alone. Repeat as necessary. As soon as the dog does not jump on the couch with you and your husband, treat the dog. First you treat the dog then you can eventually let your husband give the treats. You and your husband might consider alternating who is putting the dog food down for the dog. The technique for bed training is similar to couch. The dog should have it's own bed.
We started most of what you suggested. I will make sure the couch becomes off limits. How about the barking in general. Do I have my husband walk by him and just ignore him?
Yes, just ignore him. He's barking because he's scared. You don't want to scold him for barking, he's not doing anything wrong, but you don't want to coddle him when he's barking either. It will take a while, but your dog should get used to him. Chances are he'll be scared of all men, it's something you'll have to work on.
I just watched an episode of It's me or the dog on animal planet and Victoria dealt with a dog who always barked at men! Okay, what she did, (if I remember correctly) she took the dog on a walk and she got a guy to walk by (not too close) and without giving eye contact, he threw a piece of chicken to the dog as he walked by. Then a minute or so later she got a diffrent guy to walk by and throw a piece of chicken to him. And she had like 5 more guys do the same thing. Then she walked the dog into its own back yard and there was a man there that the dog did'nt know and he gave the dog a piece of chicken and then pet the dog and the dog did'nt even bark at him! I was amazed, it happened really fast. Hope I helped
Ha! I am sorry, but that is what happened to my mom once. She had a dog that was partially blind and completely def, but it loved my mom, but would not accept my dad. We had to lock the dog downstairs every time he came home from work! What I might suggest is to bond the dog to your husband by taking a piece of your husbands clothes or whatever has his scent on it and let the dog sleep with it. It makes some type of bond with anything with that smell, and it just might like your husband. Plus, if you reward the dog with treats or table scraps and punish it when it is bad, let your husband give more treats and do less punishing of the dog. That may strengthen the bond more. Another way is to make sure that you show the dog that you love your husband and that he loves you so that the dog doesn't think you are in danger. Still, don't make the dog think that he has to compete with your husband for love and attention. I think if you try this over a few weeks your husband may have built a stronger bond with the dog and you can all sit in the same room together. Plus, I reccommend you watch the hit animal planet show ITS ME OR THE DOG, which deals with these problems every day. I hope this works for you two, er, three. Good Luck!
