hopefully you guys can help me settle an argument. A few weeks back merlin had a stomach infection teamed with colitus, if he howled overnight we would have to get downstairs quickly and get him outside before he decorated the place. Well bit of background, me heavy sleeper, OH light sleeper. Last night i woke up to him howling, (he has been well for a few weeks) and OH was already awake, so i said that he cant be very well if he is howling to which OH replied that he howls every night Then he said dont bother going down i have been down twice and he just lays on the sofa and stretches, he doesnt need to go out :rolleyes: I asked how long he had been doing this and he said about a week. He also recently started barking again when we went upstairs to the toilet,(a few days ago), so quite a few bad habits have reoccurred. I said that he must be ignored as giving him attention will reinforce this bad habits and asked how he handled this when i am at work to which he replied he shouts to him whilst he is using the bathroom and rushes down to him :rolleyes: and he gets up everytime he makes a noise in the night just in case. So i said that he must be ignored, when he has been barking at me i do not go down until he has stopped, if he barks at me for something i have (which is a brand new one yesterday) I turn my back on him and do not go down to him overnight. He only howled for 20 mins or so on his first night home and we havent had any problems since until now. Just to add insult to injury, when i am at work he barks at OH when he is eating and he gives him some, talk about rewarding bad behaiviour. OH says he is sounding for a reason and i am being cruel and the noise will upset the neighbours, I said that he will quickly get the message and then he wont bother being noisy which would be better for the neighbours. Is this right as i have said that this is the way it will have to be, Merlin has just turned 1 and i think he is starting to think he is the boss. Some encouragement and advice would be great so i can show the numpty the replies, Thank you , from a very frustrated dog owner, I think i should send OH to obedience

Hubby needs dog schooling , i agree with you all the way :)

He's sounding for a reason all right - because it gets him anything he wants! :D

I agree with you also, hubby needs a few lessons in doglish :)

What a clever dog Merlin - you've taught daddy to do whatever you want him to do! :D

Tell OH the neighbours are going to be delighted if he has to go anywhere and Merlin starts barking for hours on end when left alone. In his eyes, every time he's shouted in the past, daddy has appeared on order, so he'll start barking incessantly  to ORDER daddy to come home. And for daddy, read subordinate pack member in Merlin's eyes.

Ive already told him he is the subordinate pack member, Merlin is really naughty when he takes him out aswell, the people who i have met through dog walking always comment on the differences in him depending on who takes him out. OH thinks im really strict but i dont have to be as i have already laid the rules and merlin knows where he stands with me. We are on our own this morning and he hasnt made a sound. I am going to read him bits out of the gwen bailey book tonight

Has the dog got over his colitis? :)
Reason I'm asking is that I have a dog who has had it in the past and part of the symptoms is stretching (relieves stomach pain) so if the dog is stretching on the sofa I'd not be sure he was one hundred per cent.

I veer between being kindly firm and also understanding the dog has needs - I think it has to kind of boil down to knowing your own dog :) :P

I don't follow any pack ideas as such, a dog may be pushy and manipulative but so can a teenager be like this, it's not anything to do with your hubby being a subordinate pack member (so much evidence pack theory is outdated is now out there... ).

I do tend to take notice of my dog. I've had 2 experiences which make me say this, one was of my very well behaved dog not wanting to go into mybedroom (a change after about 8 years) and i discovered after a while he was very scared of noises upstairs (long story).

Another is my current dog who is used to being downstairs but who will be concerned if fireworks are around and will whine; in this instance she is allowed upstairs for the night on such occasions :)

I'd say that if you are sure the dog is now healthy, is not afraid or nervous, then you are on the right track but i'd be prepared to question everything and not assume the dog is trying to boss your hubby around. If you are totally satisfied then hubby can perhaps be brought round to understanding your methods a bit more :)

(Are you reading hubby or Merlin bits out of gwen bailey's book? :P )

Good luck
Lindsay
x

Definately reading the book to OH. I showed him your answers and he agreed to give it a go and guess what, there is a huge improvement already. He howled for only a short time last night when he realised we wernt going to come down to him and i made OH stay upatairs until he stopped barking and this took 2 attempts for the little stinker to stop this habit.
I agree with you lindsey, you do need to know your own dog, and I definately know my dog, he is really well behaived with me as i trained him and always abide the rules, he is good at my mums because if he wasnt i would not be allowed to take him there so we have always stuck by the rules. I try to stick by the rules everywhere but others dont, he is an absolute cowpants at my nans, (let him go he is just a baby:rolleyes:) and when my nan looks after him he  has her running around after him. The same with my OH, my sister and my mate jade. He knows exactly who he can do this with. The problem being he started pushing the boundaries with me and at home and i wanted to nip it in the bud.
He is definately fit and well, and always stretches on the sofa, he likes to be laid a certain way so he lays down stretches right out then rolls onto his back showing us all
If you let him get away with something even just once he trys it everytime, and OH gives in to him a lot.
Thanks for your replies, hopefully calm will be restored.