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Edited on Mon Feb-13-06 07:58 PM by IndyOp
willing to do. Your dog needs to know that he is lower in the hierarchy than your husband - that *all* people are dominant to dogs. If you don't work with this behavior it could generalize to other men who visit and/or to other women who aren't you and/or to kids (who dogs often don't see as the boss). Aggression in little dogs is often seen as less serious than in bigger dogs, but little dogs that bite often get stuck in a crate or in another room when they might misbehave - this isolates them and can become a vicious circle.
If possible, your husband should become the source of *all* food.
Ask your husband to spend 5-minutes a couple of times a day putting the puppy through a series of basic commands for treats - sit, stay, roll over. If you put a doggy treat jar on the kitchen counter or in the living room where it is convenient it is easy enough to work this into a daily routine.
If you currently leave food out all day, consider feeding 2 or 3 meals per day and have your husband make your dog sit, then stay, put food on floor - hold that stay - then your husband can give the dog the "okay to eat" sign.
For the time being, doggy should not sleep on people beds or sit on furniture with people - that is a privilege for very well behaved dogs, not a right.
Be really persistent with this -- it should last for several months. My dog was aggressive with other male dogs when I got him. I've been working with him for many, many months - every time we pass a dog(s) I have him sit until those dogs pass by and then give him a cookie. He just keeps getting better and better and better -- I figure a few more years and he'll be golden!
Good luck! :hi:
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