She'll go for him but not for me....

howbout · 05-12-2007, 04:35 PM

I am very confused. Our new pup Brandy, adopted 3 weeks ago, is 7 months old. It seems we have managed to house train her and get her to go in our yard as we wanted her to do. I am the one home most of the time so I usually take her out. (I am a SAHM). She doesn't go that often, but when she does, no problem...however, the past few days when my husband is around (in the evenings, on the weekend like today) I will take her out and she won't go. I hang out with her but she just relaxes - finds herself something to chew on, chases something, or just lays down and hangs out. But then if my husband takes her out she will go almost immediately! She did that the past couple of days and again today. We were out for a few hours, came home and I took her out back right away. She just hung out, seemed totally relaxed and found herself bugs to chase around and sticks to chew. I came back inside and my husband took her out - for her to go out with him I often have to lead the way then let them go...within minutes he was back -she had gone. She is incredibly bonded to me and follows me around everywhere and like I said, often won't go out with him until I lead her out, then and only then will she follow him out the door. She hasn't had an accident all week, I haven't crated her in the past two days while I am out (as long as she HAS gone, which as I said, she does for me, just not when he is home it seems!) and she is doing great. But this is the ODDEST thing and I can't imagine WHY she is doing this. I don't distract her outside, I simply take her and tell her "go potty" same as he does. And I wait a bit just as he does. Does anybody have a clue why she would do this? Like I said - it isn't always - it just seems to be happening when we are both here and I take her out first and she won't go...is she "waiting" on him for some odd reason??????

Renoman · 05-12-2007, 04:48 PM

maybe it was a male attendent at the shelter? Some dogs are predisposed to being a guy's dog or a woman's dog depending on their early experiences. Sounds like you're the fun stuff, hanging out, etc. and hubby is the going out to do our business guy. Maybe hubby should spend as much time as possible just hanging out with Brandy so she doesn't associate him with just potty time.

howbout · 05-12-2007, 04:55 PM

Well, what is odd is that SUDDENLY she is doing this. During the week she is fine going for me EXCEPT when he is home. And it's not ALWAYS the case, just sometimes. It's just that this is about the third time it's happened - where I took her out and nothing and he took her out and she went immediately. So I can't get why all of a SUDDEN she would be doing this??? I don't linger with her outside either - I am all business so she knows it is time to go, not time to play (playtime is another story). I know they had male and female volunteers walking the dogs at the shelter but no idea who walker her more...this one just has me stumped!

Hubby plays with her as much as he can - but of course he doesn't spend as much time with her b/c he is at work. So we can't increase the time to any more than it already is....

Renoman · 05-12-2007, 05:08 PM

You are the primary care taker for Brandy right now. You say she is suddenly doing this. Well, she is now settling in to her new home and figuring out the dynamics. You are there for her all day long. You are the main person in her life. You provide the playtime, the bathroom time, everything. You need to let husband take over the responsibilities as often as possible so that Brandy knows that everyone is involved with her caretaking. He needs to be able to feed her, take her out to pee, take her out to play, as often as necessary.

She's seeing him as the no nonsense, bathroom guy. You are the have fun, hang out mom. The roles need to be shared. Am I making sense? It may be hard with your husband's work schedule but maybe you can find some way to work this out. She's bonded with you but needs to bond with everyone else in the house as well.

howbout · 05-12-2007, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Renoman

The roles need to be shared. Am I making sense? It may be hard with your husband's work schedule but maybe you can find some way to work this out. She's bonded with you but needs to bond with everyone else in the house as well.

Yes, you are making sense, but I'm still not sure why she would CHOOSE not to go when I take her out if she HAS to go???? Especially if I am not distracting her or playing with her???

Renoman · 05-12-2007, 05:23 PM

Maybe when you take her out she's expecting other things to happen like hanging out, playing etc. You bring her in cuz she hasn't gone, husband takes her out again and she goes because he's not the fun guy. Not an expert in dog psychology, but it sure sounds good.

howbout · 05-12-2007, 05:54 PM

LOL! Sounds good to me too! It would also explain why she WILL go for me when he isn't around....