hi all,

tayler is 3 months old and we've had her since she's 8 weeks. everything is going well with her. my girlfriend and i live together and we train and play with tayler together, but tayler seems to obey my girlfriend more than me.

for example, when i tell her to come, tayler would come to me 5 of 10 times, but when my gf calls tayler to come, she would go to her 9 of 10 times. which is frustrating, but it's fine as long as tayler listens to one of us. but my question is why that is? we both discipline tayler, enforces the "rules" that my girlfriend and i agreed that tayler should follow (ie, sit before she does anything), we both spend about the same amount of time with her. but the only difference i see is that i strictly enforce the rules where as my girlfriend slacks on the rules. i feel like i'm more the alpha of both of us, but to tayler it's definitely not the case.

is that then backfiring on me? should i lighten up and be less strict about things? or be even more strict? any advise would be appreciated.

thanks

paul

I am still going through this with my two pups. My wife is the lover and goodie/toy bringer and the pups light up to her much more than me. She is easy with the discipline and will regularly leave it to me. I have noticed it more with my new puppy than with my 18 month old. I use a low voice when disciplining and have noticed that Akasha (15 weeks) cowers into a corner or under a chair when I say "No" or "Leave it". I love both of my pups to death and show them every ounce of affection I can muster throughout the day. It has puzzled me a bit but have also noticed that when all is quiet at night and the family is watching a movie, my pups are laying with me on the couch:D I am also the "Alpha" in my home and maybe they see my wife and son as playmates.? Just a guess:2cents:

i would suggest that you feed the dog for a while not your girlfriend and also for you to bring the pup for the walks minus your better half.

That's funny that your dog listens to your girlfriend more than he listens to you. Well not that funny but this is why I thought so. My dog listens to me or my Dad more consistanly than my girlfriend or Mom because my tone in my voice is different when I train. They are deep, loud, & very clear commands. Kind of reflects when I get mad around and the house and my voice shows that I now mean business. He knows to chop chop on the command given or there will be some reinforments coming. He just wants to please me and do anything to keep me from being mad. I would say exagerate your depth and base in your voice to grab the dogs attetion. I also agree with what Womble had to say.
(I use this with my girlfriend too, but try at your own risk. They don't like any commands nor do they like the deep loud voice either):confused: I just don't get it.:D

hi all,

thanks for the replies. well tayler and i are still working on listening to me more, she still responds at her will, definitely responds to 'come' better with treats, but she would probably come without me calling her so she could get the treat. but i do call out the commands with a deep serious voice, and also an excited "come" when we're playing, either one she replies to consistently.

but, i'll keep working on it and hopefully she will grow out of it or will finally listen one of these days.

paul