We have a 6 year old Golden Cocker Spaniel bitch who we have had since she was 7 weeks old.  She is a loving, gentle dog with a sense of fun and mischief.  She has never chewed or destroyed anything in the home, apart form the odd tissue of newspaper sheet, and is generally very well behaved.

She has been speyed as she had some cysts last year and this was done at the same time as the lumps were removed.

However, she sometimes growls and threatens my husband, particularly if he is trying to take something off her, although she has actually "gone for him" for no reason, as if she perceives he is trying to remove something. An example of this is that she always brings you a toy or a shoe when you arrive home, and she often settles with my slipper, but if Mal tries to remove it she will really show a nasty side to him, although she does let me take it.

We did go to the vet's last year about this and his response was that Goldie considered me as top dog, herself as second in command and my husband as last.  We have tried to get around this by encouraging my husband to feed her, brush her etc, instead of me, but he is not really interested.

We have no children, and she is very protective of the house and of us.

Can anyone help with any suggestions as to how to treat this unacceptable behaviour?

Many thanks.

A J Birch

Hi Guest, it sounds to me as though you had some sound advice in the past, and if you and your husband really do want the situation to change, you have no option but to persevere. You should do nothing for her and your husband should do everything, all the rewarding, and all the dicipline.

Dawn R.