Help. The dog dislikes my husband, and nipped at him last night...

[elehhhhna]

Long story short--Hubs went in to tuck in our daughter & Spiffy nipped at him. Spif (7 mo. male rat terrier) also jumps up at our male 6 y/o labby's mouth, which Budward (bless his heart) puts up with--sometimes pushes him down w/ a paw).

How do we get this dog to knock it off? He took 4 MONTHS to housebreak - a record. I've never had a dog housebroken (crate training!) in more than a 2 weeks.

How do I get the hubs and the dog to be friends?

Thanks!

[IndyOp]

1. Hubs needs to take over as much of the basic care & training as he is

willing to do. Your dog needs to know that he is lower in the hierarchy than your husband - that *all* people are dominant to dogs. If you don't work with this behavior it could generalize to other men who visit and/or to other women who aren't you and/or to kids (who dogs often don't see as the boss). Aggression in little dogs is often seen as less serious than in bigger dogs, but little dogs that bite often get stuck in a crate or in another room when they might misbehave - this isolates them and can become a vicious circle.

If possible, your husband should become the source of *all* food.

Ask your husband to spend 5-minutes a couple of times a day putting the puppy through a series of basic commands for treats - sit, stay, roll over. If you put a doggy treat jar on the kitchen counter or in the living room where it is convenient it is easy enough to work this into a daily routine.

If you currently leave food out all day, consider feeding 2 or 3 meals per day and have your husband make your dog sit, then stay, put food on floor - hold that stay - then your husband can give the dog the "okay to eat" sign.

For the time being, doggy should not sleep on people beds or sit on furniture with people - that is a privilege for very well behaved dogs, not a right.

Be really persistent with this -- it should last for several months. My dog was aggressive with other male dogs when I got him. I've been working with him for many, many months - every time we pass a dog(s) I have him sit until those dogs pass by and then give him a cookie. He just keeps getting better and better and better -- I figure a few more years and he'll be golden!

Good luck! :hi:

[elehhhhna]

2. Thank you. That's a very thoughtful post. I think

that's the solution. Hubs would love to love this dog...they've been getting along well lately and Spif even lays by him & licks his hand...so this episode came out of the blue.

[IndyOp]

3. Let us know how it goes! (nt)

:hi:

[retread]

4. "... went in to tuck in our daughter & Spiffy nipped at him." Could

the nip have been a startle reflex or could he have been protecting something or someone? How is Spiffy with the other members of your household?

Could your husband take Spiffy to a good, basic obedience class? Some 7 month old rat terriers can be real cement heads.