Joined
·
416 Posts
My husband is an Alpha male with humans let alone animals, and stated that if we were to get a dog like a Doberman, it would need to learn who is in charge.
We've had Duke for a solid week now, and he's growled at my husband twice already. The first time was Duke's first night with us, getting ready for bed. I pointed out to my husband that Duke probably growled because he was in his bed in the corner, while my husband was towering over him to pet. Body language was all wrong.
This morning, Duke and I were laying on the couch when my husband came to pet him to say good morning, showering him with kisses. Duke started to growl at my husband again! This time my husband snapped, told him, "NO" and was so loud Duke got scared and pee-ed all over me. This only ensued with punishment of no couch, going outside, and into the crate. It broke my heart, but I did not intervene.
Duke is starting to show his personality, and we can see that he's very confident around us, easily ignores my constant corrections (like a nagging mom), but obeys my husband in a heart beat. But is he challenging my husband's authority by growling at him...or was he simply protecting his Mama because we were laying on the couch together? Is this a major concern, or does my husband need to pay more attention to his own body language so that Duke doesn't mis-read the intentions?
We've had Duke for a solid week now, and he's growled at my husband twice already. The first time was Duke's first night with us, getting ready for bed. I pointed out to my husband that Duke probably growled because he was in his bed in the corner, while my husband was towering over him to pet. Body language was all wrong.
This morning, Duke and I were laying on the couch when my husband came to pet him to say good morning, showering him with kisses. Duke started to growl at my husband again! This time my husband snapped, told him, "NO" and was so loud Duke got scared and pee-ed all over me. This only ensued with punishment of no couch, going outside, and into the crate. It broke my heart, but I did not intervene.
Duke is starting to show his personality, and we can see that he's very confident around us, easily ignores my constant corrections (like a nagging mom), but obeys my husband in a heart beat. But is he challenging my husband's authority by growling at him...or was he simply protecting his Mama because we were laying on the couch together? Is this a major concern, or does my husband need to pay more attention to his own body language so that Duke doesn't mis-read the intentions?