Dog Health Questions: Dog training problem of a different sort...?

My dogs may not be the best behaved lot around, but they do listen to me. I say "Get in the pen!" and they get in the pen. My problem is my husband. They won't listen to him at all. He'll say "Go on, get in the pen" and they look at him and run off. I know the issue is the husband. How do I get him to show some dominance to them? They think he's around to pass out treats and love.

Dog Training Bumpers and Dummies

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I've always found spouses to be harder to train then the dogs. Sadly I haven't found a means to where spouse training has been successful on so many levels. an option that may or may not work is to enroll him and one of the dogs in a good local obedience class. I find spouses, like children take direction better from someone outside the house hold.

I don't believe in dominance theory. I feel that obedience is a part of respect on both sides. Dogs respect their owners because their owners respect them and train them appropriately.

Dog Training Fundamentals - 5 Key Dog Behaviour Factors That Affect Training

• He doesn't need to prove he is more dominant.. he needs to earn their respect.Respect is gained through leadership, not being demanding. He needs to find activities in which the dogs need to look to him for guidance, eg a beginners agility class. Walking also helps strengthen the bond between them, so he should start walking them individually, on a daily basis. He should spend no less than 15 minutes per day (per dog) training them with positive reinforcement techniques (think sophia yin's techniques)
  
  I think both you and he would benefit from reading the article on this page, and the links on here are good as well..
  
  http://drsophiayin.com/philosophy/domina…


• Sometimes I understand where your husband is coming from re: computers. I have the same problem, and though my husband might not agree to it, I would suggest finding a obedience class. PetCo and a few other pet shops have them in the summer. I could be good since the instructor can be a mediator for the two of you. Our problem is the closest one is over 200 miles away and we only to into town once a month for our groceries. Can't take our girl since it would not be fair to leave her in the car while we shop. Anyway, try suggesting that say to see if the trainer could give pointers on dog handling. Be sure though that you approach it where he doesn't go on the offensive. Men tend to do that when the wife suggests something he might be doing wrong.


• Well, to start with, he has to start being consistent in following your example. Treats are for special instances. Our dog gets Dogsters, but only if she finishes her dinner.
  
  When she wants a treat, from either of us, she has to earn it. We both do that so she knows that I am the alpha and my wife is the Omega.
  
  In your case, the husband may need to work on a command voice with the dogs. It isn't easy, but it needs to be done.
  
  And you need to help him in that respect, by showing the dogs that he is alpha and you are Omega (Pack leader and mate).


• If he was worried about it he would/should have posted this question. The thing is, he needs to invest time and effort in the training, but it will only work if he wants to change the situation. You cant make him do anything, it has to be something he wants to do.