Update on choosing btw husband and dog...

    • Gold Top Dog

    Update on choosing btw husband and dog...

    ... Thanks again everyone for all of your input and advice.
    We've been keeping Snickers seperate from Khoale in a "rotation" of crates and outside which has been working well, and actually seems to de-stress her. We've also kicked all three dogs out of the bed and onto the floor until we get this under control.... no worries, they have therapeutic memory foam beds so they're not exactly leading the tough life :).

    We located what seems to be a WONDERFUL trainer through Mirandadobe (thanks ...grin) that is 2.5 hours away. DH is into the dog training thing now and is willing to drive the 2.5 hours each way on Sundays for private lessons with ALL THREE dogs with this woman. I was ultra impressed with her... as was my husabnd which was the best part. he left feeling like he was justified in some of his feelings about Snickers but also feeling like there was a plausible solution and plan! (I swear she must be a mind reader, the way some of the things she said were right on to how he was feeling was eerie!). She called us on the fact that our pack is not in control... hurts to hear but totally true... they walked US in the room, we treat Oliver like a baby who gets everything he wants, and Snickers is left feeling like SHE has to train everyone and make all the decisions. It was embarassing to see Oliver become demonstrative and whiny, rolling on his back in an exxagerated way when we ignored him... we created this "monster" of a pack, so we'll be working to get the control back and start making the decisions :)
    Snickers and Khoale may never love one another, but we both feel confident that someday they can be in the same room when we are around. The things she said in her assessment were very positive but also brutally honest. i was impressed by the time she spent not only answering my emails but also sitting and assessing us and the dogs... way above and beyond with no guarantees she was getting our business... that was an earmark or a good trainer as well.

    Anyhow... things are going better... just wanted to let everyone know.
    • Gold Top Dog
    WOW.. sounds like you had a fantastic experience with the trainer and I am impressed that hubby is feeling good about it... WAY TO GO![sm=dance.gif]
    • Gold Top Dog
    Yay - congratulations on all the news.  When we met with the behaviorist for our 2, it was much the same type of thing.   She gave us hope that we could manage things, and that was what I needed to hear.  My DH was more like you and I was the one who was feeling pessimistic about the situation.  Once we met with her, I felt safe thinking differently.  She also gave us some great advice and although we'd already started a serious NLIF program, she agreed that we were on the right track.
     
    Good luck to all of you on this.  It sounds like things are much calmer than they were and I'm sure your DH appreciates feeling like his concerns were taken seriously.
    • Gold Top Dog
    Yay, that's wonderful!! You've just given me a lot of hope for fixing things with my "pack" (me, BF, dog), lol. I'm so glad to hear things are working better. I hope things on the non-dog front of the relationship are going better, too. [:)]
    • Gold Top Dog
    AWESOME update!  Thanks for sharing.  Please keep us posted on how all the steps of training go for you guys.  I am very interested to hear what kind of training you do and how it affects pack dynamics. 
     
    • Gold Top Dog
    That's great news! I'm glad to hear that everything is working out.
    • Gold Top Dog
    The best part is that the two of you seem ready and willing to do what it takes to make it better, and thats great.  Im sure everything will change over time with everyone working for that goal.  Great news, glad things are getting better for you![:)]
    • Gold Top Dog
    I'm so glad DH is with you, finally, on this one.  And I wish you success!
    • Gold Top Dog
    Wow, that's great to hear :) Very smart getting DH involved with the training [;)]
    • Gold Top Dog
    I think it is great DH calmed down and is willing to get help for the dogs.  I hope this opens his eyes to many things and you have a happy and healthy long life together.
    • Gold Top Dog
    That is soooo great! I'm soo happy for you. you just sound so much happier in your tone in that post. You could just hear the frustration in the original thread.
    • Gold Top Dog
    [sm=clapping%20hands%20smiley.gif]let's hear it for saving the marriage!  that is great news!  i'm glad you posted THIS update, as opposed to the update that MIGHT have happened. 
     
    good for you, good for him.  YAY for cooperation!
    • Gold Top Dog
    Sometimes it's a good thing not being totally 'right' -- it probably gave dh room to think he could catch up, and the "brutal honesty" gives EVERBUDDY someplace to go, something to work on, and it was a good equalizer.  Good for you!!
    • Gold Top Dog
    That's great news.  I hope that things continue going well!