Hi I'm new to the board and most of my questions have been answered, but I have one that is a concern for myself and my husband.

I am getting my first SchH dog next friday, a dobie, a male, 8 weeks old. I'm wondering how involved my husband can be with the new puupy. I am going to be the handler and I know that I have to be the one to bond with the pup, but how much interaction should my husband have? None, Limited? And...what type of interaction should it be? Playing, petting, cuddling, training? I will be the person who feeds, takes the dog out, and does the imprinting training, but my husband wants to have some interaction, I just don't know how I should structure it. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> Any advice you have would be greatly appriecated!

Thanks so much! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Lela

That is a good question. I would say that you have your hubby do as much helping as possible. At the very least he should be working with dominance issues and basic obedience. That will make sure that later,the not so little, Dobie doesn't try to eat hubby <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> . Other than the rank issue the rest is up to you. Is the dog going to be a house dog? If so then hubby had better be down for this whole experience, and be involved in training. Your pack should go like this YOU, SPOUSE, DOG. Otherwise there will be trouble. I would track by yourself though. That is real special time with the dog, IMO. Real working bonds are formed on the track, again JMO.

You are not going to mess up your dog with the extra love and companionship, you can only mess up your dog with crappy training and handling. So if hubby isn't as dedicated as you, then you will have to draw the line and be the boss. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

You're gonna have fun. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Dobiemom,

The puppy needs to have a primary trainer while it learns the basics. Your husband needs to be involved in basic manners training in the house. With the obedience a new handlers is the same type of distraction as a new place. Have one trainer train the dog so it is fairly reliable in multiple places and then introduce the new handler.

Everybody has a different style for training and it is omportant to be consistant while the puppy learns the basics. For every new command work with the dog until it is fairly good before introducing the new handler into the equation.

Thanks to you both! My husband is much happier (as am I) now that he knows that he can have interaction with the pup! Since I am a novice in the sport I'm sure I will be coming here for more advice and guidance...keep up the good work! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Thanks again,
Lela

i see no problem w/your husband helping w/feeding,housetraining,and playing. but i agree, it should have one primary trainer for now

Socialization to as many people and places as possible is vital to the proper upbringing of a puppy. But a relationship with the same person can be counterproductive. Just as a child if told no by one parent will then ask the same question to the other if a puppy is not getting attention for one member of the household it will seek another’s. My puppy’s world revolves around me and only me. It learns to work hard for my attention and praise because if he does not get it from me he is not getting it period. You might not go to that extreme but the principle is the same.