dog owner advice...

[BalogUK]

So- Moose- our Great Dane (2.5yrs old)
I bought my house in '08 and got Moose shortly thereafter. A couple weeks later I started dating this girl (now my wife)- she'd come over etc. but never stay long term.
well fast forward to Oct/Nov. we get married, Haley moves in.

Moose is pissed. He is not a fan of sharing me with Haley. we had our spats and Moose has lately been behaving- until this AM

Haley drove me to work this AM instead of us leaving separately for our jobs cause we're going to the hockey game tonight. So Haley and I leave together. She drops me off, runs some errands and then gets back to the house.

He has found her favorite blanket, tore it with his teeth, found anything on the coffee table that was "hers" and tore it up- like fit of rage/jealousy- excluding anything of mine (which there was plenty)

any tips- how do we get Moose comfortable with the fact that Haley lives with us (moose and I) now?

Thanks- Justin, Haley & Moose

[PatsRS]

She needs to show him some love. Bring him things just from her. maybe some one on one time. He needs to understand he is number 3 not number 2. If that's how you see it that is...

[hypurone]

The most obvious thing is to have her give him some new "fun stuff". Directly from her, no involvement from you, preferably you are not even around. She should become the one who feeds him etc. At least until he works thru the angst. He MUST learn the new pack hierarchy. Some dogs just need longer to adjust.

[BackinBlackSS/RS]

She needs to show the dog some real affection. Dogs can sense when it is fake. Gifts from her are a good idea, but if the dog feels she real loves him, he should be fine. If she is not really into the dog, well then it is what it is.

[danhr]

divorce your wife

if she won't love your dog, she won't love you.

problem solved

end result however will make your car slower because you will have a bigger (and heavier) wallet from all the money you are saving.

[BalogUK]

she loves him, he's known her since he was a puppy- He's not used to waking up in the morning and having Haley come down stairs- the expression and action he gives is a "wait, you used to never be here in the morning, and now YOU get to go upstairs with him, and I don't" look. he throws temper tantrums and will go lay on his big dog bed and turn his back to us and huff.

they're going on a trip to petsmart today together while im at work. we're gonna try what y'all are saying.

[BackinBlackSS/RS]

Originally Posted by BalogUK

she loves him, he's known her since he was a puppy- He's not used to waking up in the morning and having Haley come down stairs- the expression and action he gives is a "wait, you used to never be here in the morning, and now YOU get to go upstairs with him, and I don't" look. he throws temper tantrums and will go lay on his big dog bed and turn his back to us and huff.

they're going on a trip to petsmart today together while im at work. we're gonna try what y'all are saying.

He'll come around.

[danhr]

Originally Posted by BalogUK

she loves him, he's known her since he was a puppy- He's not used to waking up in the morning and having Haley come down stairs- the expression and action he gives is a "wait, you used to never be here in the morning, and now YOU get to go upstairs with him, and I don't" look. he throws temper tantrums and will go lay on his big dog bed and turn his back to us and huff.

they're going on a trip to petsmart today together while im at work. we're gonna try what y'all are saying.

my fiancee's dog wasn't too fond of me at first when she moved in with me

this wasn't planned, but i ended up being the one to feed him during the week (i was the first person awake/home, so it made sense).

Once he associated that I was a caregiver, he is all about me...... he still gets more excited when my fiancee gets home and if we both come home he goes running to her first, and then me.... but he still prances around like a 140 lbs bunny rabbit when he sees me.

[2ndgenz28]

Dogs will do that, and target the stuff of the person they are annoyed with.

Who know what they are thinking, maybe he thinks she is taking you away when you leave together, or he thinks your taking her somewhere he should be going, like on a walk?

gotta make him feel secure about coming and going. [had a dog that would chew through doors or the wall next to it when she thought you were leaving her.]

Helps to talk to em so they know what your doing. [I know how dumb that sounds] But they soon put two and two together when they is a pattern.

Some how it helps.
I also leave the TV going so there is extra sound to distract them, so they aren't focused on the sounds outside the house.

[CamaroSkooter]

I didn't know dogs acted like children. Remind me never to get a Great Dane

Good luck figuring that out. You could always call Cesar Millan

[BalogUK]

Originally Posted by CamaroSkooter

I didn't know dogs acted like children. Remind me never to get a Great Dane

he's an absolute character thats for sure- he still scares himself when gets surprised and barks haha
If you've seen Marmaduke (movie) you'll have a pretty close representation of Moose (other than color- moose is Harlequin & looks like a cow)

[hypurone]

Originally Posted by BalogUK

(other than color- moose is Harlequin & looks like a cow)

I have a baby cow! He munches on grass and everything...

[BalogUK]

i don't have many on this computer (work) but here are a couple...
I'm 6'-4" when he stands up with me, his eyes are at my chin-
ones from back in november- eating Haley's sandals in an act of defiance (he knows he's in trouble!- if I curl up in a ball, maybe he won't see me!)
and the second was from the clean up- deep in depression, missing his couch.

[hypurone]

Originally Posted by BalogUK

i don't have many on this computer (work) but here are a couple...
I'm 6'-4" when he stands up with me, his eyes are at my chin-
ones from back in november- eating Haley's sandals in an act of defiance (he knows he's in trouble!- if I curl up in a ball, maybe he won't see me!)
and the second was from the clean up- deep in depression, missing his couch.