How do I get closer to my dog?

Matthew · 04-30-2007, 07:11 PM

My sister has a dog. It's a white chihuahua that's around 2 years old now. We sometimes play a lot, and occasionally, he will sit down next to me.

My dog is very close to my dad, my sister, and my brother. I can see why he's close to my sister because I have a feeling that he feels that she is his mom per se. I think he feels close to my father because my dad feeds him human food sometimes. He use to feed him a lot of human food, but now that we always catch my dad doing so, he stopped quite a bit. And I don't know why he is so close to my brother.

For your information, I DON'T walk the dog, feed the dog, or anything like that. Occasionally, when my family members are busy, I will. I cuddle with him sometimes, but other than that, I don't feel much "love" from my dog. Do you guys suggest I walk, feed, and "hang out" with my dog to get closer to him?

sillylilykitty · 04-30-2007, 07:16 PM

If he's YOUR dog, why arent you feeding and walking him anyways? Yes if you want to get close to him you have to do that stuff. Feed, walk and play with him. And if your dog sleeps on a bed, I hope its yours because if he sleeps with someone else he also is closer to that person.

sobreeze · 04-30-2007, 07:20 PM

I agree if its your dog you should be careing for it thats how you bond with them. He does not know he is your dog if you let everyone else do all the work .

sillylilykitty · 04-30-2007, 07:43 PM

It just like my younger sister. She doesnt take care of HER cat, my parents do, and she wonders why the cat prefers them to her. Just change that and your dog will prefer you to them

RonE · 04-30-2007, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matthew

I don't feel much "love" from my dog.

Is this a joke? I'm thinking your dog isn't feeling much love from you, either.

People love to say dogs are loyal. In reality, they are opportunistic. They look around, see who's feeding them, walking them, playing with them and generally being a friend. That person is the one they will align themselves with.

Cassie Nova · 04-30-2007, 07:52 PM

I agree with Ron.

In my house, I play with, feed, walk and train Cassie. She follows me around like a lost child, lol. Scamp...my mom does all that stuff and he follows her around.

Hang out with your dog if you want him to hang out with you.

onyxdaily · 04-30-2007, 09:29 PM

I just have to echo what the others have said. A dog will only be close to you if you have some involvement with the dog. My husband and I share equally the feeding, playing, walking, etc and our dogs show love and affection to both of us equally.

lovemachichis · 05-01-2007, 12:15 AM

wow you sound like my boyfriend, he doesnt do anything for the dogs, and in the event that he plays with them he does it in a manner that they dont like, and wants to wonder why they wont come near him or why they try to bite him if he does. he figures since he pays for them then they should love him.

but yeah the dog isnt gonna wanna be with either of you if you dont show them any reasons to wanna be with you. duh. would you wanna be with people who didnt act like they cared about you?

Amaya-Mazie-Marley · 05-01-2007, 12:35 AM

My dogs follow me around like they are lost, because I am the one that does everything involving them. Feeding, walking, playing, training, treats. They sleep on my bed, sit with me on the couch I sit on, follow me everywhere. They sit outside the shower until I get out, I would say they are rather clingy. If you want your dog to show you love, show him some.

tirluc · 05-01-2007, 09:33 AM

my Lacey was supposed to be my husbands dog to take to work and fishing and such.....someone "failed to tell Lacey this" when she was a pup and my husband was always saying "well, you gotta feed Lassie (my old Sheltie), why not feed Lacey for me..." or take her out to potty, etc, etc....so now, 8 yrs later, who does she belong to?.....

Matthew · 05-01-2007, 04:55 PM

It's not MY dog. And I don't get the opportunity to walk, feed, and hang out with my dog much. Usually when I do, I always see him having fun with my brothers or sister, so I just leave him be.

RonE · 05-01-2007, 04:58 PM

Oh, see, we all got confused because you referred several times to the dog as "my dog" (as in How do I get closer to my dog?) so we all jumped to the conclusion that it is your dog.

How silly of us.

BoxMeIn21 · 05-01-2007, 05:05 PM

Quote:

It's not MY dog. And I don't get the opportunity to walk, feed, and hang out with my dog

Edit: Whoops, RonE said it better.

RonE · 05-01-2007, 05:13 PM

Often, the answers we give would be different, possibly even useful, if we had more complete and accurate info in the initial post.

This reminds me a lot of the poster who had all sorts of questions about her pregnant dog. When several of us wondered why she allowed the dog to breed when she clearly didn't want to be a breeder, the dog suddently became a stray that just hung out under her porch.

Okay, here is my opinion, adjusted to allow for the fact that the dog in question is not yours.

Actually, the opinion remains the same. If you don't do anything for or with the dog, why should she care about you?

Silverwolf · 05-01-2007, 06:26 PM

My advice would be to try and find more time to spend with the dog. Not just a few pats on the head, but when you get the chance, take the dog for a nice long walk. Play fetch (if the dog likes to), give a few treats, etc.

3DOGNIGHT · 05-01-2007, 07:20 PM

To get the respect of a dog, IMO, is to be the alpha dog, they have to know who is in control, who does feed them, take care of them or provide for them and yes, dicipline them.

Once they see you are the one in charge they respect you and look at you for leadership and love.