My dog...his dog...

[Lindsey]

I used to tease my husband whenever Molly or Ali were bad and say "look what your dog did!".
When they were being sweet or doing what was expected of them I would say "Look how good my dogs are!".

However, lately...both dogs have really been acting like "his dogs"...not because they have been bad, but because (I think) he gets to spend more time with them. I work fulltime and DH is currently in between semesters at school (he did the whole Army thing first so he is just now getting his degree). Therefore, he gets to feed them, play with them, walk them, and spend time with them.
I come home and I'm lucky if I get to throw the frisbee or ball a handful of times before it gets dark.

I've noticed that both dogs gravitate towards him when we're all in the same room. If DH gets up to walk into another room, they both follow him. If I get up, they kind of look at me and if I'm lucky they might stand up. Heaven forbid DH walk upstairs (where Molly is not allowed just yet) she sits and waits by the stairs until he comes back...if he's gone long enough, she'll come back over to me and flop down...and let me love on her, but I can tell she's just settling for me, lol.
I've gotten to where I've been sneaking them treats a lot more frequently...
I think I'm trying to buy their love!! lol.

Does anyone else have problems with their doodle loving one human more than the other??

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

HA! You sound jealous. I know the feeling. I do however do most of the feeding and training and treating with mine so they tend to divide their affections more evenly as they know good things come from both Dad and Mom. Maybe you can do meals? Early morning or late night walks? Baths?

[Denise & Hunter!!!]

LOL My DH and I say the same thing back and forth.  Whenever Hunter is naughty she belongs to whoever finds the mess or distruction first.  I actually work from home so I spend the majority of the time with Hunter, I say she is my co-worker.  I kid my DH that he is trying to buy Hunter's love with special treats because every night he lets her lick his ice cream bowl or whatever goody he has.  I tell him Hunter isn't cheap she won't sell herself out for one nightly treat LOL  In the end I think they just get into their routines and if he is home all day its just what they are used to.  I am sure they love you just as much and know that they are going to get their special treats from you :-)

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Ditto here! It'snot fair, when we go for a walk and Myla is acting like a spaz biting her leash and such he says look at your dog!

Then we get hime and she's snuggled on his chest and stares at me, I think this is because I'm more stern with them. It's ok, they love us all.I do the treat thing also!!! LOL!

[Lindsey]

LOL- yeah, maybe a little jealous. It's just, I'm the one that wanted them, did the research on both breeds, found them, buy their food, and doggy supplies...and DH gets the loving, LOL.

However..SUE, you may just be on to something (even though you meant it differently)...BATHS!! They actually both hate baths, they don't mind the water so much as they don't really care for the bathtub and the scrubbing I suppose...anyhow....I think I just found my new dog washer...DH!!! :-) If they start to associate bath time with HIM...hmmmmmm.

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Oh...I forgot. Went to the Brewer game with my sister and 2 nephews, she was telling me how the little one does all these crazy things and the older one always narrates what he's doing (nark!) Anyway, little one was brushing his teeth and decided he had to go to the bathroom and so he was sitting on the toilet brushing his teeth and the older one yells down the stairs that he's brushing his teeth AND making stinkies. Parents are downstairs and my sister says to husband-that kid is all yours-everything he does is all you. They do this all the time and it's quite true! So don't feel bad, it happens with kids too!! It's funny how they can act so different though.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

DH works at home, so he gets a lot more time with the dogs.  I do think Peri might love him a little more than me - she is spoiled rotten by him and is a daddy's girl.  However, when I am home, they follow me everywhere.  I think it's because I am the one that usually gets their dinner ready and I am the one that walks them, etc....

It is funny how they get more attached to one usually....hehehe.

[Deanna & Desi & Cori]

My husband is retired, but I'm still working.  As a result, Sedona is clearly a "daddy's girl".  However, when she was really little and we did the puppy training classes, I was the one that took the lead role during class, so even now she responds better to my commands (it may help that I was a middle school teacher for 25 years so I have that "authoritative vibe").  When I am home, I try to play with her as much as I can and I'm the one more apt to take her on longer walks.  Even though she tends to snuggle most with my husband, I do get my Sedona time and each afternoon when I come home, I get plenty of loves so I'm good with the situation.

[Lynda Kamrath]

My DH also spends lots of time with the dogs, but he is usually working out in the shop during the time he is "dogsitting".

The puppy gets into anything he can and we have to remember to put everything up and close doors to bedrooms and bathrooms when they are free in the house.  The other day when I was subbing, Harpo got into my computer cabinet and took out a box of printer cartridges and tore up all the little boxes.  Then he took a cyan cartridge and chewed it up so he had cyan muzzle and cyan spots on the rug.  It came off his face pretty easily, but the spots are still in the rug.  Of course, he was my dog when he did that!  He has toilet papered the house (my dog),  dug a hole in the yard attempting to see China (my dog) and pooped numerous times on the deck (my dog).  But it is all to be expected with a puppy. 

I'm the one who usually feeds the dogs, takes them on outings to the dog park, beach, and great walks along the coast, and takes them with me running errands, but DH has the voice.  Why is it that the male voice has so much more authority than the female voice?  It's the same thing with children or dogs.  It seems to be more of an issue of obedience than love.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Amanda - my husband is gone MOST of the time so when he is here he wants to be the one to walk, take potty, feed and all of that because he feels short changed - I'm always telling him the same thing "you better not steal my dog".  All of our dogs have always been more my husband's - Rooney was my breed choice and mostly my dog and it better stay that way - lol!!!!

[Alli and Barkley]

I know Barkley is still young but he is attached to me at the hip- follows me everyone, listens to me more, etc.  Hubby was starting to feel bad so I took the kids out for the day and let him spend some alone time with Barkley- it actually helped a ton.  I think because I am home with B all day he is closer to me. I am going to have to figure out a way to give Hubby more alone time with him so they can bond too.