Hi, My fiance and I got an eight week old puppy 6 weeks ago. We had been discussing it for 2 years. He works from home and I'm a nurse and decided to take off a few months. Two weeks ago we hired a trainer. I had read several books but felt that we needed direction. The problem is that he is incapable of saying no or being firm with her, she can be very pushy. As a result she nips at him and his clothes and is a different dog around him. We have spoken about this soooooooo many times. He was there when the trainer has come. I feel like I have to police her all the time around him. Its twice as much work and im exhausted. I feel like telling him to stay away from the dog because he constantly undoes the hard work im doing with her. Any thoughts?
Hi @Mjberger I'm sorry to read that you feel alone. But it is not an uncommon problem. It's true that things would be better if you two were consistent. But Labs are smart. She will follow your cues. It's not likely that your partner will undo all of your training. Perhaps you should not protect your partner and let him bear the brunt of his uncooperative behaviour. Experience often teaches better than words.
I just wanted to pick up on something here... It seems that saying 'no' or 'being firm' is something your trainer has told you to do? That's not something you should be doing with a puppy: https://barksfromtheguild.com/2017/10/10/just-say-no-to-saying-no-2/ If this advice has come from your trainer, it's a good sign that your trainer is not suitably qualified and force-free - and you might need to find another. Second, the issue may actually be that your partner knows that saying 'no' or being 'firm' is not the way to treat a puppy - many people are naturally reluctant to respond to a puppy in this way (and they are totally right!) but he doesn't yet know what to do instead. Finding an effective trainer who gives force-free and positive advice might therefore also help get you both on the same page and being consistent...
