Taking Edsel to Mississippi to visit my OH this weekend. He is currently there on a long work assignment and we often have to go 2 weeks without being together as a family. He is worried about bonding with Edsel and I am worried about making sure Edsel learns to listen to him. I know it's important to have him use the same commands and techniques Edsel is used to from our work together. Any tips for making smooth transitions to time with his daddy? Lori
Re: Part time dad My husband and I are retired. We spend a great deal of time together and still he cannot remember to use the proper words when asking the dog to do something. It is easier to teach a dog than a husband. Enjoy your weekend
Re: Part time dad Just go with the flow and let them enjoy each other. You should agree on basic commands, and on what you both find acceptable behaviour (for instance, is Edsel allowed on the couch, does he have to be in a separate room when you eat, etc), but the chances are your OH will have a different way of interacting with Edsel than you do. In my experience, it's best to try and accept this to some extent, rather than to insist on your way of doing it, since that invariably leads to tension and disagreements. : The relationship between Edsel and your OH will be different to his relationship with you - not better, or worse, just different. And that's fine.
Re: Part time dad Me and my hubby agree on what words we use for commands and ensure we keep to them. We agreed all of the 'accepted behaviours' prior to getting Harley and try to talk about any difficulties we each have with her to agree how to deal with things. Harley knows that she can be rough with hubby, but not with me.....she picked this up really quickly Enjoy your family weekend
Re: Part time dad Possibly half the battle is that your OH wants to accept advice and do things the same as you. Hope you have a great weekend!
Re: Part time dad Have a lovely time Dogs pay a lot of attention to what our hands are doing so make sure any hand cues you use are as identical as they can be. We have a friend who we see every couple of weeks and our dog Obi LOVES him. He is always so excited to see this friend and hang out with him, even in a room full of new people. This friend always makes a big fuss of Obi and brings him treats of dried baguette (he is French....). Dogs have great memories for people who love to see them and give them treats
Re: Part time dad Well, the first night in Mississippi is in the books. Very successful for the most part. Edsel has made a couple new pup friends and he seems quite pleased in his southern digs. I do believe I would never get him to mind if his dad were around all the time, though. Spoils him rotten. Lori
Re: Part time dad I think that is the job of part-time dads is it not? In fact, scrub that....probably all of them not just the absent ones ;D Glad all is going well. Hope you have a really great time.
Re: Part time dad [quote author=Mollly link=topic=5993.msg77588#msg77588 date=1400159421] It is easier to teach a dog than a husband. [/quote] Oh, I hear you Sister! ;D Ternaya....we had your plan,it fell apart on Day One!Sometimes we don't behave very grown up comes to Dexter! We howl with laughter afterwards though when we remember how we were carrying on ( there's a post on here somewhere telling the story of me throwing my mobile phone at a heavily pregnant woman's head while yelling at Chris for 'letting' Dexter picnic on a buried cooked chicken carcass....... ;D she could have done me for assault!) Remembering to use the same commands is so important ....Dexter was taught 'Off' for basically anything he jumps up on ,couches,beds,garden tables ( Murphy!) Chris was duly briefed,then completely told off when I saw him shouting 'Get Down ' to Dexter for getting up on the couch .......he was nearly divorced when he went to pull him off by his collar.....it wasn't Dex's fault! Lovely you are getting to all have a visit together ,have a great time and remember .....Nice Sharing! ;D
Re: Part time dad Nice to know I'm not the only one having the "off" and "down" issue. Not sure why that's so difficult to comprehend. Considering Edsel is only 12 weeks old he seems to be coping rather well with the confusing messages. This morning's adventure has been rounding him up after he caught sight of the family of mallards across the drive. Seems my new fitness routine has been developed by Edsel!
