I am complaining about my husbands dog! This is a german shepherd that is 2 years old. I have asked about training classes, and even bought the lead for the nose. My husband got this dog before we were together, and now married it is now my problem. He works 11 hours a day and I have to care for it. This dog is out of control, and when not kenneled makes a mess all over the house. I am disgusted with this! All this dog is to me is a clean up job, and I am sick and tired of it! I don't dare ask my husband to rid the dog, as he loves him, yet has little time for him. Does anyone have any idea what I can do to fix this situation? I don't want to fight with my husband over the dog, but that is what we do. It has no respect for house rules, gets on the couch, sheds everywhere, chews on my table, messes in the house for no reason, and last night my husband gave him a bath in our shower!!!!!!!!!!!! UGH! I want to pull my hair out! Sorry for complaining, but I am at my wits end! Anyone with some good advise would be appreciated.

No-one can give you advice on this... it's all down to your husband. If he knows all of what you are telling us, but is unwilling to put you before the dog, then it's a marriage counsellor you need to be speaking to.

Personally if I were you I would start to get more angry than you have been before and really lay down the law. If it's you looking after it all day then you need to give him some ultimatums.

I think you should put your foot down and demand that he finds a solution if its making you that miserable. Of course the poor animal is not the issue, since he know no better, but your husband should. Best of luck

It sounds like you and hubby don't agree on what "house rules" are. Once you get that settled, then you can both work on training the dog to meet them. Until then it is a waste of time and energy and will only confuse the dog.

I am also a little bit curious how you found yourself in this situation: you say he had the dog before you were married, so presumably you must have met the dog / seen the house at some point? but no little alarm bells went off in your head?

Or is the dog's "out of control" behavior and complete run of the house something completely new since you married?

I have thrown fits about this, and my husband has said (with anger) "Fine, I will find him another home" but totally making me feel guilty for sending his little precious puppy away. He makes me feel like a monster for feeling this way! I shut up, but have had enough! I literally HATE this animal, and I know the dog knows I do too. I have a little yorkie, who is 4 and is no issue. No mess, no shed, no problem. How do I send his dog away and keep mine? Am I being selfish? I can take the truth, just want to know?????

Give him an ultimatum you or the dog if he is not prepared to train him. The dog would be better in another home where he is loved by the whole house. But be prepared he may choose the dog over you!

I had bought a horse 6 months before I met my boyfriend and she is the world to me and my boyfriend knew all along that my horse came first (literally). Now twenty years later my boyfriend is my husband and my horse is still going strong at the grand old age of 32! I often think that if it hadn't been for my horse maybe my husband and I wouldn't of been so strong and I am also certain that if it wasn't for my husband I may not of retained my interest in horses. I now love them both equally!

he was a puppy, and was better trained before we moved here from the USA. My husband was home then, and had time for him. Now this new job has me babysitting a dog that does not respect or listen to me. Dad is alpha, not me. I'm the joke... Yet the caretaker as well. When I show the dog what he did wrong, aside from not rubbing the nose, he cowers, and wags his tail like.... "SO WHAT"!

I'm sorry but I dissagree. Ultimatums do not work. Follow up on the training classes. I your husband loves the dog he should sort it out.

If you have a problem with the dog having a shower and your husband cleans up after, then maybe you have a problem with dogs in general.

I don't mean to be harsh but you can't expect your husband to get rid of the dog he loves and expect him to be fine with you keeping yours. If you ask to get rid of his then it is highly likely that he will turn on your dog and dislike it for stupid reasons. Have you tried discussing training?

Yeah but you said he had the dog before you met him and then married him. Surely you knew what you were getting.
Seems to me you didn't really know them that well..... Love the man, accept the dog. Did you pretend to be all happy about the dog already knowing what it was like and assuming that once you were married you could get rid of it....

you hate the dog, it sounds like its not to keen on you either, and your husband isn't around to give it the stimulation it needs (hence its wrecking stuff) the kindest thing all round would be to rehome him.

Got any pics (of the dog)

Get your husband to employ one of those dog psychogists (don't remember the proper name for them right now) and he will help you to train the dog.

Good luck !

start to train him yourself. iT really isnt that hard....

Or maybe take him for some more walks to settle him down. I think the dogs know you dont get along and your mind is already set. Keep him off furniture and brush him for the shedding.

The dog is probably just bored out of his mind sounds like. And sorry to say but I can allready see you simply scream at him all the time....Like those nanny 911 shows. Just a guess sorry if im wrong.

Another good thing to get them is a KONG . Its a toy where you put a treat inside and it takes the dog hours to get it out

http://www.kongcompany.com/

I think you just need top take the training in your own hands as you spend 11 hours a day with him. Buy a book if you need to.

You received alot of tips as well as some trainer contacts in a similar thread that you posted less than a month ago. What have you tried out?
Have you contacted any trainers and tried the starter tips (re housebreaking, re-establishing yourself as the alpha) at home?

Dog training in Basel

Buy it a one-way ticket to Korea

Did you follow up on any of the training recommendations from your other thread? What happened?

A dog trainer I met (Craig Murray) said he once had a couple and the dog only respected/obeyed the husband - but was also aggressive towards the wife which was the main problem. Anyway he had the husband completely ignore the dog and gave the wife a bunch of tasks she had to do to get the dogs respect and obedience. It apparently worked.. but I can't remember it all.. the only part I remember is that the husband had to completely ignore the dog at all times for quite a while...

Isnt your husband bothered by the fact that this dog does all these things..?

OK, I am going to recommend classes for you and the dog - him so he can get some (re)training and you so you can learn to read doggie body language.

"cowers and wags his tail" (tail partially lowered, am I right?) is a classic anxiety pose... he knows he's being scolded and he is looking for reassurance. "SO WHAT" is the farthest thing from his doggie mind at that moment!

if what you want is to get the dog more discipline instead of getting rid of it, you could consider taking him to a dog training lesson or pay for a professional dog trainer to train it. It's never too late to train it but certainly take a bit more time and money. When I worked in UK, I've seen a professional training an adult dog to do one trick within 5 mins. good luck

It sounds as though the poor animal is bored (chewing on the table). Needs toys he enjoys playing with (each breed and animal is different in what they like. I'm certain your husband knows). Get outside and throw sticks and balls. Maybe for you this sounds like torture, but this is NOT the dogs fault!

But 1st and foremost, maybe you and the dog can enroll in obedience classes. It would give you better control over his behavior.

Messing in the house: I would assume the dog is not house trained? This is NOT the dog's fault...
shedding: Also not the dogs fault. Get a brush and brush him. It would help with this problem.

I realize he is your husband's dog BUT it sounds as though you need to come to grip. Otherwise, you and he's relationship is in for bumpy ride...

Never do an ultimatum you are not ready to carry on with! If you do, make sure you are ready for the consequences...