he is very obedient with me..maybe because i had one before and i knew how to be the alpha male...with my 18 year old daughter he is like a playful brother. However with my wife its w hole different story. If he grabs something and she tries to take away he growls. The other day actually snapped at her hand. Wont listen at all to her unless I am around. Please any advice to let her be alone and feel safe with him. Even on the phone..if she is alone and is talking he constantly howls however only with her when she is alone.

by the way great website...glad i joined

oh my goodness ... sound's like you're wife needs to start having some "one on one" time with you're pup! Like taking him on walks, let her be the one that feeds him, let her start doing his favorite things with him. He will soon accept her and will start to respect her. The worst thing you're wife could do is be afraid of the dog, because he's just going to react to her energy. I would also suggest a trainer to work with you or see a behaviorist that could further assist you with the problem.

I think you described it the best yourself. You established yourself as the head of household and he recognizes that. Your wife sounds more passive, and he has started to capitalize on her lack of authority.

+1 to what Kelly said. Your wife needs to be firm and consistent; a little more involved. I don't really feel the need to listen so much to what the hosts and bussers have to say at work, but I will do anything the GM tells me to..

^^Agreed

Same thing happened with my dad. So long as someone was home, my dad didn't really interact with Kota. The first day he was alone with Kota, Kota snapped at him too. We had to get my dad more involved with Kota's daily activities, as previously stated. My dad started over (letting Kota sniff him, get to know him on his own), then after Kota went off to play a while my dad would call him over, take him outside, walk him, feed him, play with him. Now Kota loves my dad.

When my brother comes back from college, I feel we'll have to do the same thing and slowly "initiate" him into Kota's new pack haha. Good luck!

thats the weird part..she IS home with him all day while I am at work. SHE feeds him. Its an authority issue..maybe if she changes her voice when she wants to control is a good idea? She is very soft spoken where us guys seem to really show and strut our stuff.

Google "It's Me or the Dog" and find the episode with Diesel the Husky. I could describe what happens here and how to train it, but honestly, Victoria Stilwell does it best. That episode sounds EXACTLY like what you are describing and I think it will help. If I can find it, I'll post it.

thank you all.

that was exactly how it is at home..but when im there he is the most cutest in the world!! they are so smart..i tease and say why do you accuse him of such behavior lol

update..i taught wife how to be more commanding and it will take away her fears..its working better...i didnt bud in..just watched and let her do it so Storm respects her without me around. I showed her how her physical movements show fear and he feeds on that response. Also since soft spoken I said show body movement instead....walk towards him..corner him..point and get close..working like a charm

..................corner him..point and get close...............................


Careful though until the dog is use to her commands even a friendly dog can go defensive if it feels cornered. Watch the ears if they fold down flat on the head it can either mean submission or preparing to be defensive. Now the good part the wife can't show fear either way.