Meghan, I wen't back and read one of your old posts and found this..
"No, not a breeder yet, but hope to in the future...."
"it's just been a lifelong dream of mine"

Hopefully you can convince your husband how you REALLY feel about the above statements and about your dogs.

"plus I have a couple of really nice dogs."

I hope your husband realizes VERY SOON that he is ruining your "really nice dogs"!

From that thread that I took your quotes from, it sounds like you are a shy "keep to yourself" kind of person. Maybe you don't like confrontations ,but You really do need to step up to the plate and go to bat for your dogs! Get up some nerve, get stubborn, and make it work! I wish you best of luck and lots of backbone.

Thanks everyone, for your input. I have brought up the fact that if he's willing to hit a dog for accidentally knocking a cup of soda off the coffee table, how is he going to treat a kid? He refuses to acknowledge that how he treats dogs is the same as how he treats kids. I told him NO KIDS til he can control his temper a long time ago!

And I'll admit, I'm not a very confrontational person, BUT I have no problem confronting anyone about mistreating their dogs (or other animals, for that matter). I've always related a lot better to animals than to people, which I'm sure a lot of people on the board can relate to!

I wish there was a schutzhund club or something around here I could go to, but there isn't. Actually, that's not the problem, since I am in Germany right now...it's the language barrier. I don't speak any german, and they don't generally speak much english. Once we get back home, it'll be a different story, I am going to go all out with them, like I was before we got over here, and I want to get all the titles I can on both of them.

I will admit I am worried about the puppy...I think she is going to be amazing, once of those "once in a lifetime" dogs. I guess for a little while longer I can sort of keep them apart, and I think I should get him involved in training. I'll take him and the dogs (Cassie and Annabel, my newfie) out to a field and work on some obedience. I'll have him work Annabel, since she actually listens pretty well, and does really good basic obedience. Plus, she isn't bothered by corrections or yelling, you could yell in her face and she would just ignore you. I think maybe he needs to work with her a bit, just to understand how dogs work. I won't let him work Cassie yet, if ever, since she's so soft and I don't want to lose any of my hard work!

I don't want to make it sound like he's turned her into a nervous wreck, the only thing that's really changed is her peeing on the floor, which only happens once in a while. I talked to him about this last night, and he did point out that he's gotten a lot better, and promised to try and improve, so I guess it's a start. I think I just need to get him to understand how dogs work and think, how any abusive behavior is just going to hurt them.

Last night he told me that he took the puppy out, and he was talking to her and telling her how he's sorry, he just needs to have more patience with her since she's just a pup (he hasn't done anything to her yet, he just gets frustrated by crying and chewing and all that).

I do feel a lot better, thanks everyone, I think things will improve. He might never be perfect, but I can't expect him to, and I think if I get him involved and inside their minds, he'll figure it out.

So you are living in Germany and not a member of a SchH club? Ok, unless things have changed a lot in Germany from the time the friends I have from there grew up, English is a required course in school. Now maybe some people won't speak to you in English, but most people that have graduated from High School speak several languages. You haven't learned any German either? Why give away a wonderful oportunity to experience and learn about a wonderful culture.

My suggestion would be to make a friend that wants to improve their English and learn some German from them. It would be even better if it is someone that is in to dogs also. You could go to their club with them and have them help interpret. I'd bet that there are people on the Base(?) that fit the bill. There are always civilian workers around that could be a resource. Contact Bernard if he is in country and see if he has any suggestions. Maybe even go work with him if you are close enough. You have a great opportunity, don't give it away!!!

honey, you have the greatest of opportunities RIGHT NOW for training dogs.....being in germany! if you don't utilize this opportunity now, you will wish you had. surely someone can help you find a club or a trainer. also wishing you luck with the hubby but unfortunately his is a character problem and not so easy to change. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I don't know exactly where Bernard lives, but I know it's in the north and I am in the south, so that's unfortunately not an option. I have e-mailed several dog trainers and not gotten an answer. I am still working on it, though. There are a couple of clubs nearby, one I don't think I would go to (not schh club, general dog training, doesn't look too great), but there is one SV club I'd love to go to. I am still working on the issue, I'd like to start some serious training with Cassie before she gets any older (she's almost 2 already), but I'll see what happens.

I'll keep you all posted on what happens. I'm sending out another e-mail now so hopefully this one will get a response!

Meghan, try to get a teach yourself German tape set or something. Even if you don't learn anything dog related, it will show them that you are trying and help with the situation <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> . Most likely something you say will make them laugh and at least break the ice (I have taken three semesters of German and I am still feeling that way).

As far as the husband situation, I really doubt that you will ever be able to become a breeder with him around. Some people just aren't right for it, and everyone has to be very excited about it because it takes a ton of work. How will he feel when you are spending 11 hours a day cleaning, feeding, washing, etc. You will be sleep deprived, the house will probably get dirty, and he might not get a hot meal for a while. It would make it very easy for him to get jealous of the dogs, and have all of the old behaviors return. Maybe it will be different, but it is definitely something to think about if that is one of your goals. And then what happens if you can't find the right home for a pup and you end up with 2 high energey pups at once? Or you sell a pup to someone with a husband that abused the dog, and now you have to take back a submissive urinator that is afraid of men to begin with? Your husband has to be okay with the expense of being a dog breeder as well (can be several thousands of dollars beyond what you might sell the pups for).

You really have to make a decision. There's nothing I can say to make it easier.

check your p.m. i am sending you jutta's private e-address. maybe she can help <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I think it will be ok...he's never really had dogs before so he's still learning (hell, aren't we all anyway?). Ever since I've known him, I told him that my dream has been to breed my dogs, so he understands that it's what I want to do and won't stand in the way of it.

Plus, I plan on building a kennel outside and then possibly rotating the dogs in the house, I'm not sure exactly but if the situation with 2 pups happened that's what I'd wind up doing. I've sort of had some luck conditioning him, too...two of our friends have labs, and they've left the dogs with us for a week or so at a time (first time was at 3 months, now they are about 6 and 8 months old). I'm not taking them since we have the 3 in the house now, plus i don't want to have 2 pups, way too much trouble for this small house!

Luckily, seeing how hyper and obnoxious the labs were convinced him that he didn't want a lab (he'd had his heart set on it). Now he wants a husky...but I think I might have talked him into getting a malamute eventually, much calmer!

Anyway, it's all a learning experience, and he is actually very loving to them most of the time, always makes sure i've fed them and given them plenty of water, so he's a good guy most of the time, just when he comes home in a rotten mood, I've learned to take them out for a nice looong walk so he can have some time to himself and chill out!

Originally posted by Meghan Rabon:
Ever since I've known him, I told him that my dream has been to breed my dogs, so he understands that it's what I want to do and won't stand in the way of it. That's good, just make sure that he knows the whole story of what is involved. I am only saying this because after working for a vet I have noticed that most non-dog people think that breeding a dog means taking it over to the neighbor's shepherd and then the mother will raise the pups out in a dog house in the yard without help. They don't always realize the long hours and massive expense that are involved to raise dogs the right way.

Megan, if your husband finds a well-behaved GSD a strain at times that husky he is craving is a REALLY bad choice, as would be a Malamute - Mals can be a very high energy dog and very destructive if not given good outlets for their energy. They are alot harder to obedience train and can be as stubborn as rocks when the mood hits them. They can also have dominace issues and same-sex aggression issues and need a firm leadership from the word go. Malamutes are great dogs in the right situation but as all working dogs they are a lot better in siutations where there attributes can shine. I think your husband would be better off with a compliant low-energy type of dog, if any. I'll get off my soapbox now - just seen too many nice northeren breeds in rescue or bad situations when when people didn't know hwat they were buying.