Hey Guys,

I need some help with this one. My mother lives with my family, and does not agree with the style of training we have taken with our 14 1/2 month old German Shorthaired Pointer. He has some definite dominance issues with her. He forces her to pet him when ever he wants, as well as the other day he tried to take food out of her hand. After that situation, she has finally agreed that there is a pack structure problem with her and the dog. Reluctantly, she has agreed to follow rules that I set down for her. I need this situation to get under control, we are expecting our second child in April, and I don't want any problems when the baby arrives. My problem is that I can't come up with a clear set of rules for her to follow (I think my pregnant brain, has just stopped working). I know one of them needs that she needs to stop talking to the dog (she baby talks to him, as well and has full blown conversations with him), as well as stop petting him. She does no training with him, and won't do any training with him. She will occasionally take the dog out to relieve himself. Other than the basic, concepts of she goes down the stairs first and out the door first, I don't know how to establish pack structure with her. The dog actually has no problems with my 19 month old son, and respects him. It's just my mother that is the problem. So please help. Thanks guys!

My first thought would be that mother doesn't interact with dog... If food is out, put him in another room, a crate or a down several feet away.

Give the dog more structure so mother doesn't have as many opportunities to interact with the dog. Keep him with you or crated. Tell mother that it is to get the issues under control.

Introduce her to NILIF - tell her that before she does something for the dog, he needs to do something for her. If she wants to pet him, she needs to have him down first.

These are just a few thoughts of the top of my head - I'm sure that others will have more for you!