ok this is really embarrasing to admit, but I need help. My 5 month old pup seems to prefer everyone to me, hubby, kids, family neighbours and strangers even though I take her training, walk her, feed her and groom her every day. If hubby calls her she wiggles over climbs on his knee and wraps her paws around his neck if I call her she looks the other way or even stalks out of the room! my other dog loves me and my last dog who passed away adored me. I am the main doggy person at home and do everything for them, I used to work in a dog sanctuary and read up on them constantly so I am at a loss as what to do? if I have to see my husband snuggled up to my pup one more evening I will either explode or commit double murder so anyone who has experience of this please help.
emma the unloved

I have one like this.  I had to cajole OH into getting her as he wasn't keen on the idea of a second dog at the time.  He only agreed on the condition that she was my sole responsibility so I fed, walked, trained, groomed etc.  However said dog has decided that she is very much OH's dog and follows him around like a 55kg shadow :rolleyes: Of course, he dotes on her too and spoils her rotten and I only get a look in if he's not around.  I think she sees me as the boring one who does all the necessary stuff and him as the fun one who will crawl around on the floor with her and dish out tummy rubs on demand :rolleyes:

I notice your puppy is a bitch ! I have 3 girls and all of them seem to  prefer my hubby to me he gets the kisses and licks . I like you feed ,groom ,show, clean up the p** and  exercise them .
I am with them 24/7 I know they love me just as much as my OH but they havent seem him all day as he is in work  so make loads of fuss when he is around, personally it doesnt bother me as long as they are happy thats all that matters. :)

~Roni

my eldest bitch ignores my husband but the min she is coming in to season she is such a hussy with him and ignores me!:rolleyes:

Some dogs do attach themselves to one person in a family more than another.

On the other hand such a young pup will always find other outside or novel less available people as more fun.

With my own breed I never felt they really became mine until a lot later, up to about a year they were anybodies.

I don't know if you have children but plenty of Mums feel this way and get the same behaviour from their offspring, the absent parent, grandparents or Dad is always more fun.

i have a nice partner who i have been with for 20 years but it doesnt stop me enjoying the company of other men......eventually your pup will come round so long as you are fun to be with. x

my dog is like that with my partner..my dog adores me..actuall obsessive. but with my husband, no way,  she pushes him away if he pets her walks away..excited when he is home from work etc but thats the only time he gets a look in.but our youngest pup is the total opposite and adores him and i dont get a look in..a dog chooses you and thats that. as long as the dog respond to you when out on walks etc..if you struggling with recall (i trained our to a whistle as the oldest would not respond to my husbands voice!)also try and play games and be the fun one rather than the top dog in terms of walk, food brushing and see how itr goes

if I have to see my husband snuggled up to my pup one more evening I will either explode or commit double murder

:-D :-D  Sorry, I know I shouldn't laugh but it sounds so funny.

Starryeyes is right in the fact that some dogs do prefer certain sexes and often that is the bitches, the main reason for this is that a dog can often sense who is the Alpha human in the house, sometimes it is us women but often it can be the male, she does not love your hubby more it is more to do with a respect thing, she is sucking up for a better word to who she sees as the dominant person in the home, in the same way she would do in a dog pack, all dogs make a fuss and pamper the Alpha's, it is no different in the home with their human counterparts, she does this to insure her own safety and acceptance.

Along with what everyone else has said puppies in particular are going to make a fuss of visitors, children are more likely to be their playmates so they crave childrens attention also they are smaller so more attractive and fun.

So in effect it has absolutely nothing to do with love, you are her main carer, you feed her, groom her and walk her, you are indespensible to her and if there was ever a problem you would be the first person she would ever protect even against your husband.

Dogs have a natural instinct to fit in and protect themselves they soon sort out who is good for what purpose. ;-) Your pup knows your roll, she is just doing hers. ;-)

Actually it might be the other way around.  Now my alpha bitch is the one that any pup born here since she became Alpha would avoid playing with as it just isn't done as she is the boss.  Occasionally she will countenance to play with her 4 year old granddaughter and more recently 9 month great granddaughter, but they always look uncomfortable playing with her in case she changes her mind and boxes their ears instead.

Now both will play and in the younger ones case plague the life out of her daughter (their mother and grandmother).  So it could be that your pup views you as Mum the one to be obeyed and respected and she sees the others as playmates with whom she can let her hair down.

thanks all for your very sensible advice, what you have said makes perfect sense and has given me hope for a future bond with the fluffy traitor! you are probably imagining me as a wild haired jealous woman nashing my teeth (and you wouldnt be far wrong:rolleyes:)  its just my last dog loved me so much and was so faithful we were like best mates, but that was kodie and this is jess- very different dogs. I have always wanted this breed and im afraid she was on a huge pedestal years before she was born! but I will relax now (although I may grow a beard and talk in a booming voice so I can be alpha human)
cheers
emma with a very fetching goatie

my very much loved puppy is the same he is nine months old and from the day we fetched him home him and one of my sons have been inseparable  I must admit I was jealous to start with but I have just got used to it

I understandd where you are coming from. My boy adores me and last year we got a new edition. I feed, walk, groom etc all the time with my two but my bitch prefers OH. I may get a cuddle when he is at work, but as soon as he gets home no one gets a look in. She adores him and to be honest I get jelous sometimes as he does nothing for either dog, they were my responsability. He does love them though and they cuddle right up evenings which is a tad annoying as my boy isn't cuddly, he likes his bed.

>With my own breed I never felt they really became mine until a lot later, up to about a year they were anybodies.

I have found this too Barbara with my breed.  At first I thought it was me, but now several dogs/bitches later they have all done it.

It is nice though to not ahve clingy dogs, my breed are meant to be independent, and bold so they don't over rely on you.  this means the bond builds slowly, but when you realise how strong it is after a time it is quite humbling.

dilemma....you wild haired, jealous woman you ;-) :-D Don't take it personally.  Most of my dogs and bitches absolutely adored my late partner when they were pups and ignored me.  I think they just saw him as fun fun fun!! 
If ever they felt a bit ill though, which was rarely, they'd come to me for a cuddle, and as they got older, they were more interested in me.  My GSD bitch adored her 'Dad' up until she was about 8 months, after that she definitely became my girl!  She's 6 now, and we have a very special bond.
I'm sure your little traitor will see sense soon ;-)

my dog is exactly like what you descibed with my partner, he is so loving to me but when my partner pets him he cowers and acts scared. we never quite understood why he done this.especially as when he was out for walks he loved my partner and also looked at my partner to command him.  this went on for over a year however he is difinitly getting better around him.