Need advice

[ali2005jason]

Last year, we adopted two dachshunds and both of them were (and still are) fearful of my husband. Anytime he comes in the door, comes down the stairs, gets up really fast etc, they bark at him. Cocoa does it the most. Dapper will go up to my husband most of the time but still barks at these times. My husband gets so pissed off at them when they bark that he yells at them. I have told him that yelling at them will not help. Last night, he got up kind of fast and they went off (it was dark in the house). He picked up the chair he was sitting in like he was going to throw it.

What can I do so that the dogs quit barking at him and he stops getting so mad at them? He said I was defending the dogs over him last night when I yelled at him to put the chair down.

Thanks!

[starburst604]

It sounds like they may have come from a situation where they were abused or frightened by a man. Your H yelling and pretending to throw a chair isn't going to help anything.

[ali2005jason]

I have told him that it won't help to yell. But he still does. I'm asking what I can do to help the dogs not be so fearful of him. Cocoa also doesn't really like my son either (he's 10).

[patches31709]

Yeah I agree with pp. His actions certainly aren't helping the situation. He should be the one to feed them, take them for walks, teach them tricks, and in general just be lots of fun.

[ali2005jason]

He's not home enough to do everything with them. Cocoa won't even go to him unless he has a treat (in which he will stand away from him and reach for the treat).

[niemand88f]

Honestly, YOU can't do too much to help the dogs. It's all on your husband and how he acts towards them. They seem scared of him, and he isn't doing anything to lessen that fear by yelling at them. He needs to spend time playing with them, walking them, and speaking gently to them. It might also be a good idea for him to try to teach them some tricks - training is a good way to bond.

[Deleted]

Get a behaviorist in there STAT so you and your husband can work on methods that will help these dogs not be fearful. Throwing chairs or pretending to throw chairs and yelling is only hurting the situation.

[Deleted]

I second going to see a behaviorist. His actions aren't helping the situation at all and the behaviorist can work with your H and the dogs together.

[dearprudence]

Listen, there's only so much you can do to help the dog's behavior. They're dogs. They don't listen to reason. They respond to environments.

One would think that your husband, as a human being, would be easier to work with. Tell him to knock it off with the yelling and chair throwing, because each time he does that, it brings you back to square one. Nothing you do for/with the dogs is going to have any impact if he's doing that.

When we adopted my dog he was a ridiculous submissive pee-er. As in, if I called across the house to my husband to bring me a paper towel my dog would pee allll over the floor. Just because I raised my voice. It took a couple months of the two of us never raising our voices until he was more comfortable and stopped the behavior. Training/classes also helped build his confidence which added to his success.

[dearprudence]

Listen, there's only so much you can do to help the dog's behavior. They're dogs. They don't listen to reason. They respond to environments.

One would think that your husband, as a human being, would be easier to work with. Tell him to knock it off with the yelling and chair throwing, because each time he does that, it brings you back to square one. Nothing you do for/with the dogs is going to have any impact if he's doing that.

When we adopted my dog he was a ridiculous submissive pee-er. As in, if I called across the house to my husband to bring me a paper towel my dog would pee allll over the floor. Just because I raised my voice. It took a couple months of the two of us never raising our voices until he was more comfortable and stopped the behavior. Training/classes also helped build his confidence which added to his success.

[redheadbaker]

Apr 25, 2013 7:21:25 GMT -5 ali2005jason said:

Last night, he got up kind of fast and they went off (it was dark in the house). He picked up the chair he was sitting in like he was going to throw it.

 WTF?? I'm not sure I'd want someone with such an anger issue in my home with children and dogs. 

[dexteroni]

Apr 27, 2013 15:41:17 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

Apr 25, 2013 7:21:25 GMT -5 ali2005jason said:

Last night, he got up kind of fast and they went off (it was dark in the house). He picked up the chair he was sitting in like he was going to throw it.

 WTF?? I'm not sure I'd want someone with such an anger issue in my home with children and dogs. 

Seriously. Over two small dogs barking? I don't think the dogs are the problem here.