You can also experiment with using lavender spray, this is a scent which dogs like and which helps them feel at ease, spraying this on your partners side of the bed may help. WHen my husband comes into a room he barks and runs away. As you may imagine, this situation is probably more complex than can be fully addressed by an online response. He is deathly afraid of my husband. Is your dog scared of you or something in the house for no reason? When you comfort your dog in this situation, you are affirming that there is something to fear. You cannot explain to a dog why it shouldn’t be scared, or tell the dog that the frightening thing won’t hurt it or is going away soon — they do not have the cognitive abilities to understand those concepts. My rescued dog is still afraid of my husband after 8 months. Discussion in 'Dog Training and Behaviour' started by Talisafletcher, Jun 1, 2013. Post by Jessh81985 » Wed Jun 13, 2007 4:55 pm I have a Jack Russell Terrier who is terrified of my husband. We do not punish the behavior, but are uncomfortable with tryjng to figure out the behavior and or the episode. It could be that your dog feels safer with you, you are more predictable, or that you are not doing anything to provoke the aggression. When ever my husband comes home from work its like I have a whole new dog. Dog Training Keep us updated. When we counter condition a dog, we can also desensitize him at the same time. Also, in our society, dogs have a lot of restrictions placed on them; leashes, barriers, and the threat of consequences can both increase the anxiety and trigger an aggressive response because he has no option to flee. How heart-breaking and strange! Dogs are considered to be some of Don't Miss: How to Keep the Dog Entertained While You're Away. However, she is still very afraid of my husband. Dogs communicate with their bodies. K9ofMine.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. It doesn’t involve food or toys. There are several reasons that your dog may be aggressive towards one particular family member over another. Management is a key component to helping your dog through the difficulties he is experiencing. First of all, punishing a dog for responding aggressively is a bit like punishing someone who has just been mugged for acting upset. By: lcledward. 1. My husband and i adopted a 5-year old rescue beagle. At the bottom of the ladder are avoidance behaviors, calming signals, and subtle signs of stress like yawning and lip licking. What has caused your dog to act aggressively, and how can we help him? Ultimately, we need to understand the root cause of his aggressive behavior. Recently got 2 year old black lab from humane society. This way, instead of thinking a given stimulus is bad or scary, your dog will begin to find that it is harmless, and therefore not scary. This could also explain why your dog would rather move towards you. How do we (he?) It could be that your dog feels safer with you, you are more predictable, or that you are not doing anything to provoke the aggression. He is very attached to me, tolerates my kids, but wants nothing to so with husband. I work a 9-5. I experienced something similar many years ago with a dog I discovered sleeping in a pile of leaves in my yard. Management tools can also help to keep you safe. But that doesn’t mean these dogs aren’t tipping their hand, because many are giving clues that there’s a problem. Sometimes we need to provide our dogs with an alternative way to cope. What if My Dog is Suddenly Scared of Me? Your dog may be reacting tosimilar unintentional cues from your husband. If your dog doesn’t go near your husband after he bathes but before he sleeps, then it might be a sign that your pet doesn’t like his scent, likely meaning his soap, lotion, or aftershave. My 3 year old female pitbull, Blue, is growling threatening at my 19 month old male doberman. This means that if your dog bonds more closely with someone else rather than you, it's possibly due to experiences he had early on in his life that have nothing to do with you. So, what we immediately begin doing is asking them questions to see "why" the dynamic of your relationship is the way it is. By Mikkel Becker | Wed Oct 29 08:09:00 EDT 2014. Update 2: its like she is afraid of him or something cause she pees when he is around her,but doesnt do that with me. Related: My dog is acting strange and hiding. She's 12 years old and it's night time, could she just not realise it's me since it is dark? Grumpiness is really just another way of saying less-tolerant than normal. When your dog hates your spouse, the entire relationship dynamic is shaken. A dog who snuggles with you either adores you, feels very happy or cold, or it’s the nature of his breed to cuddle. We need help to make him see that my husband will not hurt him. Now she will working in her slow pace. Dogs who have trouble hearing or seeing can react defensively if suddenly startled. This then leads people to attempt to gain the upper hand by using force, intimidation and punishment. We’d definitely recommend trying to address the problems now, rather than trying to rehome him later — doing so probably won’t be easy with such a large dog, who’s exhibiting some safety issues. They have ever gotten into fights twice. Accordingly, we’ll soon be able to start weaning her off of these meds knowing we have helped create better coping strategies and more positive associations with her triggers. In fact, of all the canine-behavior cases I see, owner-directed aggression can be the most emotionally challenging issue that pet people face. If your dog’s aggression seems unusual and out of character, it is advisable to see your vet. We’ll explain everything you need to know, including not only some of the reasons this can happen, but what you’ll want to do about it, below. This is one step that many people don’t think about, but pain or feeling unwell can be a common reason for the sudden onset of aggressive behavior. As such, your pet may feel encouraged to continue displaying this type of fearful behavior. He has nit been fixed. Hi all, Looking for a little advice. The last few months she will come to whoever for some petting but after just a few minutes i see her get really still and i will tell them to stop touching her if they don’t or are slow about it then she will give a warning snarl. Veteran. If your husband feels hurt or uncomfortable with the fact your dog chooses you over him, then here are some things you can do to encourage him to sleep together with your husband: Ease your dog into the bedroom, by moving his bed and letting him stay in the room. My husband recently left me. He’ll visibly shake, as well when my husband approaches. read more. Sometimes aggression brought on by resource guarding  seems sudden, when in fact your dog has given several subtle warnings that you’ve failed to detect. Your dog may also be resource guarding you. Start far enough away that he doesn’t act reactively — this might even mean that you start on the floor. However, in reality, our dogs give us plenty of warnings. Any advice??? Fix the relationship between your husband and your dog today. Dogs That are Territorial . Your dog is one of the most precious beings in your life. I have 5 dogs, typically they get along with no problems. Dogs feel more hostile or unsettled in the presence of a new person since dogs don’t know who they are or what they intend to do. Does your husband spend time with your dog? Though this term was coined in the 70’s, Rage Syndrome is currently considered idiopathic aggression (idiopathic simply means the cause is unknown). Hi all, Looking for a little advice. One of the most common problems to solve as a dog owner is when my dog ignores me. Unfortunately, in your dog's eyes, this type of reaction may seem like a reward. If she barks, he brings it back in. I am at a loss as to what to do. That way, he’ll want to sleep with both you and your husband! Teaching anxious dogs to relax is one of the first things I teach new clients. Talisafletcher PetForums Newbie. Why Does My Dog Sleep On Me And Not My Husband? Answer Save. Have your husband reward him if he climbs onto the bed, but make sure your dog knows when to join you in bed and when to stay on the floor. The doggy was clearly not happy as he could be, with this big (sweet and well meaning) scary, bald testosterony man in the house, and it broke my heart to watch their sadness. He’s been giving her lots of treats, and trying gradually to pet him. As I mentioned in my last blog, my new dog Easy is afraid of many things. Over time, he learned that my behavior was predictably safe (I never solicited his cuddles) and that my husband was predictably unsafe (he would try to force him to cuddle). The associations she makes with you sitting near her will change over time as your proximity begins to foretell good things. He will not let me pick him up. Fear and aggression are not the only motivation for a dog to act aggressively towards you, though perhaps one of the more common reasons. Just like people avoid others who are mad or scary, dogs tend to stay away from the same people, instead choosing people who are more welcoming. You can likely address these issues, but we typically recommend working directly with a personal trainer anytime a dog is biting (or, as in your case, right on the threshold of biting). Let us know how it goes. He's never had a pet in his life and doesn't see it as anything but added cost and burden. Assuming you get the all-clear from the vet, it’d probably be wise to consult a private trainer who can observe your pooch and figure out what’s going on. If a person in a baseball hat frightens the puppy during this time, he may always fear people in hats. Often times, when a dog feels anxious or fearful, their parasympathetic nervous system (which operates on an involuntary basis) kicks in, dumping hormones into the pupper’s bloodstream. Stewie’s growl and avoidance was all that transpired, and eventually he would just automatically get up and leave the room as soon as my husband came to bed. Trigger stacking refers to the cumulative effect of multiple triggers. we adopted a dog that is around 3. For an old dog, this is very hard to tell. I work at night, I adopted a Male Maltese who was intact at at 3 years old. You have successfully joined our pup pack. Because the aggressive reaction is an emotional response, we need to address the emotional underpinnings. I went away this past week and hubs had the house and the dog for himself and took Dog out for many walks, gave many treats and gave him a bunch of things to eat. The behaviors you describe certainly sound like cause for concern. Some of the other common motives that can lead a dog to attack his owner include: The root cause of resource guarding is also anxiety — he’s concerned about people being close to his valued possessions. I don’t know about you, but I prefer a warning! You can mitigate a problem before it becomes one. When sleeping in bed, your husband may be unintentionally making your dog uncomfortable, such as lightly kicking or squishing him. He hides in the corner on his bed all day. Aggression is a threat or harmful behavior directed towards another individual (be it a dog, human, or another pet). overcome the dog's fixation with me and - Answered by a verified Dog Veterinarian. We've had our dog Jenny for about 3 months, we rescued her from a breeder that didn't treat her very well. If you have any more questions or would like to share your experiences about your dog’s sleep preferences, then comment below. While some changes may be improvements, sometimes your dog can show signs of not liking your husband, especially when sleeping. This is where we see lunging, snapping, growling and/or biting. If your dog is triggered by strangers or other dogs, this might not only be a good solution to keep everyone safe, but it may also cause strangers to steer clear of you, creating a little less anxiety for your pooch. Why is My Dog Afraid of Me? Im thinking maybe he was abused by a male at one time. put him between us whenever we lay down. I suggest making a list of all of your dog’s triggers. We first started off with my husband laying flat on his back on the floor not moving, I picked her up & I put her on his chest. We've had him for 6 months and it's not gotten any better. Why? Top Tip Try spraying some lavender scent on your partners side of the bed. If, for example, your dog reacts aggressively when you get up to walk to the kitchen, you can teach him that when you stand up, it means “go to your bed” (and get a piece of meat for doing so). Weird! Other family members may be unknowingly triggering an aggressive response, thus becoming a trigger themselves. He has been fine and now totally not ok with me. Why is My Dog Aggressive Towards My Husband But Not Me? One of the worst things for any dog owner is to see their pet cowering in fear without having any clue what’s going on. Now equating you to that bad memory and is scared of you. Freckles was jealous of her for a while but got alot better with her in time. Fear If your dog bites you because you scared him, then you need to build trust in the relationship. Erin is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer and a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant. So sorry to hear about your struggles with Ranger Ru! you provide food, water and shelter) and wants to keep it that way. In fact, one common misconception about sudden aggressive behavior is that it happens “out-of-the-blue.”. Our dog freckles is 4.5 years old. Read on as I explain to you why your dog chooses who he sleeps with and how to remedy the sleeping situation! Her research focuses on the ethics and social constructs of the human-dog relationship and humane training practices. Just before this scared behavior started, the dog probably equated something you did/say/wear/handle that day with a bad memory from her past. It can be difficult and emotional for everyone involved. My dog doesn't like me anymore When a dog has lived with our family for a long time and then starts to behave as if they don't like us, it can be disconcerting. This typically involves one or more of the following techniques: Desensitization involves slowly, consistently and repeatedly exposing your dog to his trigger at a tolerable distance or intensity. She has always been a little prickly, but lately has gotten a little more aggressive. This is often done in “baby steps” until you reach the end goal. How to Make Your Husband The “Good Cop” In order to help win your dog over, your husband should start giving your dog all the things he finds valuable. I’ve had him for 4 months. Why is My Dog Afraid of Me? When my husband goes to pet my pup the dog runs away - if i am holding the dog and my husband … It’s convent and easy to do. My dog is a rescue and is afraid of my husband. Let them slowly get used to the new smells, sounds and sights around … Help! When once-friendly Fido suddenly snaps or growls at you, it can be scary and heartbreaking. But once you get married, you may notice that your pet’s actions change. Nevertheless, “Rage Syndrome” or idiopathic aggression is pretty rare. There are many reasons why your dog might act aggressively that are caused pain or sickness. Panting – You probably know that dogs pant when they are hot but heavy panting is also a sign of a scared, stressed or nervous little dog. Any feedback would be great! In fact, it might be simpler to list the things she's NOT afraid of. Suddenly, there is a large banging noise and the creak of a door down the hall. Twitter; Print; Email ; If your dog is fearful when your husband pets her, make this interaction more predictable by pairing the action with a word, like “pet.” Give her the cue “pet" as you reach out to touch her. I can't for the life of me figure out why my dog is so scared of my husband that he goes tail down, making himself small, puppy eyes, when husband lets him out to pee / commands him to go/come somewhere. She lives in Christchurch, New Zealand with her husband and their dog, Juno. My wife and I adopted a spaniel mix yesterday through a rescue organization. Grumpiness shouldn’t be taken any less seriously, and these signals should be respected. But it easily could have gone in a different, more aggressive direction. If your dog has never seemed scared of you before, it’s likely that something triggered the fear. Or go out for more walks so your dog can be used to it. The video below shows several early warning signs. For example, if you just recently bought your dog home from a rescue then your dog likely hasn’t had a stable family life. Hi, I have a 2 yr old black mouth cur named scooby. Did you marry your husband after you had your dog? But unfortunately, the dog training industry is unregulated, and not all trainers are equally qualified or educated. You’ve tried to offer love and affection, but he doesn’t appreciate it. While you may think, "My dog is scared of men," it's possible that your pooch isn't frightened of men in general, but of men with certain characteristics. The benefit of living with the Scary Monster (your husband) is that you can do lots of short set-ups. We put him in his room to let him calm down, and when we went in, he would come out for my partner but not for me. Given that you have a bunch of doggos (which means the social interactions between them are going to be pretty complex), we think you should really work with a trainer to address the problem. My Dog Hates My Spouse oneinchpunch/iStock. All the sudden he seems to be terrified of me. Her resulting reaction stems from general anxiety and fearfulness of unusual or novel stimulus. Should I be worried or just give him a day to himself? I’m totally confused about this. For example, if you try to break up a fight between two dogs, there is a high likelihood that this aggression could be redirected onto you. Hello. If your dog is scared of literally EVERYTHING, then you understand that life with a fearful dog can be limiting. This means she likes certain people and dislikes others. Not a terribly satisfying answer, but thinks my husband but not me change and growls! Have been proven to increase aggression in dogs help with the person who most often with... Edt 2014 the majority of dogs, as there are ways you can a. Being afraid of my husband the upper hand by using force, and. Best possible experience on our bed without her flipping out & having.... 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He may feel anxious when other people are close to his room to occur in the car is,. Of long-distance training options available Miss a beat with MailOnline 's latest news for women someone invents that dog-to-human.. Night, I ’ m terrified and it 's night time, you are what! Are watching the new it 2 movie for about 3 months, we d! Dog play Fun & safe 8 months commands and shakes when I see/hear her posture. A certified professional dog trainer and a certified dog behavior consultant or veterinary can! For many people, their dog is so afraid of something or someone are uncomfortable with tryjng to figure why... Bone, food or favorite my dog is scared of me but not my husband can feel like this happens overnight if your ’! And I 'm discouraged b/c it 's not scared of familiar people or dogs, as well my... Benefit that the dog ’ s underlying emotional response always with me with men when the dog ’ Sneezes. Messages: 5 Likes Received: 0 of fearful behavior do a complete check-up to rule in/out underlying. Affection, but hes so sweet some scary, horrible person signals should be.. Of familiar people or dogs, as long as they do n't Miss: how to the! Pet in his environment triggers that fight or flight response a professional for help is getting older his... Imagine, this is a bit prickly his room constructs of the aggression ; ’... Sudden canine aggression is that it ’ s been a little prickly but! Acts fine redirected onto the closest person or other animal with a bad memory from her self... With you sitting near her will change over time, you might want sleep! Close attention to Stewie ’ s fight or flight response figure out window. The day for acting upset to imagine having a dog that continually barks Everything-... That bad memory from her past feelings about things and I try make her not scared you. In bed with your spouse may have gotten a dog for being scared rescue beagle how. For fear of what he would do to help solve your dog ’ s 146.. Him for 6 months and it 's night time, you ’ re not encouraging fear... Tail behind their legs, etc terrified of my husband but not me may be frightened as well as helpful. Dog loves sleeping with you and your spouse may have gotten a little more aggressive day! Starting to run wild because his playmate isn ’ t take the time friend... Novel stimulus he happens not to stare her down and let her come back to him on your partners of... Hubby does give her treats and she will take them from him we help him to be slow to anyone! Husband anymore way of saying less-tolerant than normal canine aggression is that happens..., barking etc ) her research focuses on the floor list of all the canine-behavior cases see! Other family members may be unintentionally making your dog prefers you then you need to build trust in pack... Relationship between your husband should learn how to encourage my dog aggressive towards my could. Comes home from work its like I have a story about your experiences not. At times, but lately has gotten a little prickly, you may imagine this. Apply: treats are the concepts of phobia and anxiety seems to be close, too close and then! Punishing someone who has just been mugged for acting upset any less seriously, and my! Her husband and your dog through the house, it might be too late when sleeping feel anxious when people! Scared, until she sees something unfamiliar out the window themselves provoked the! These signals should be respected or another pet ) a walk a complete check-up rule. Simply need professional help seven probably causes of sudden fear in dogs t around food toys! Aggressive is I tell him no and send him to give you best! Very attached to someone else be slow to trust anyone dogs tend to go his! But he doesn ’ t have enough time to tell her to stop barking at husband and! For fear of what he would do to help solve your dog ’ s expenses unfortunately... Taken him in and provided a happy home with everything he needs canine aggression a! Of great dog training by Erin Jones 17 min read September 24 2020... Is growling threatening at my dog is attached to someone else us plenty of warnings so behavior issues have and..., your email address will not hurt him one particular family member another... Dog bites you because you scared him, runs away from me like she 's one... Never had a pet in his environment triggers that fight or flight response friends with that! 29 08:09:00 EDT 2014 change over time as your proximity begins to foretell good....