OT RR Rescue cont. help needed

periwinklerocket · ‎06-30-2010

You ladies have been do helpful so another question. First our RR rescue is doing well. However she thinks the sun rises and sets in my husband. I was kind of wanting a dog for me. Our Italian Greyhound is already my husbands biggest fan. Of course she comes to me when she needs something but thinks my hubby walks on water. So now this is what I am seeing in our female Rhodesian. If he leaves the room she goes , if he goes outside she waits by door. I feed her ,take her out in AM and leash walks her while my husband leash walks the IG. I have heard that females prefer males and some see them as pack leader. Any suggestions I want her to be my dog or at least like us equally. I know that sounds sorry but.........

HappyDaze · ‎06-13-2012

Well, unfortunately we cannot really change who our dogs (pets) choose to admire more, lol. I have one rescue that I do everything for and, like your RR, he thinks the sun rises and sets with my husband. Yet another is my best buddy. My girl is also my best buddy.

In my experience, rescues seem to bond/admire one over the other even more than my non-rescues. I've never really seen a dog change his/her "admiration" of one owner over the other once they've made that choice. You will just have to be okay with that and continue to love her just the same.

I personally do not agree with that statement that females prefer males- each dog is different, has different personalities, and has different experiences so it just depends on the dog.

PAlady · ‎04-27-2010

Do you know if this dog was treated poorly by a female, this may be part of the problem. My dog was probably mistreated by a male and it took a year or so for him to really warm up to my DH. I wish you the best of luck with your new dog, your dog needs all the love it can get.

periwinklerocket · ‎06-30-2010

We think she was mistreated. We assumed it was male owner but recently found out he was evidently married. Now are wondering if maybe female abused her.

HappyDaze · ‎06-13-2012

On 9/8/2014 PAlady said:
Do you know if this dog was treated poorly by a female, this may be part of the problem. My dog was probably mistreated by a male and it took a year or so for him to really warm up to my DH. I wish you the best of luck with your new dog, your dog needs all the love it can get.

This is true but not always. Depending on the type and severity of abuse, some dogs will actually pick the new owner of the same s3x as the abuser was to bond with. Dogs just want to please so as strange as that sounds, some dogs will continue to try to please the new owner of the same s3x.

periwinklerocket · ‎06-30-2010

Thanks so much. Never thot about trying to please the same gender that might have abused her.

DoxieMomma · ‎08-30-2013

It doesn't sound sorry at all.......everyone wants to be loved and liked. And what's better than the love of a dog???

We already had one dog when we adopted our miniature dachshund (rescued from a puppy mill). Our first dog was mine, I'd had him a few years before my SO and I moved in together. I made him wait a year before I agreed to get another dog. (Told him adopting a dog together was as big of a commitment as marriage, lol). When we got our little girl, she immediately took to me. She didn't want anything to do with him. Our male dog didn't care, he pretty much ignored her when he realized she wouldn't chase him back (she's still too timid for that).

Over time, our dachshund became more accepting of my SO. A lot of that had to do with treats (he's the only one who gives them). But, most of it had to do with head scratches........she sleeps in the bed with us and he would scratch her head while we were watching TV........for hours and hours. We've had her for over five years and she now loves us both equally, it just took time for her to "be cool" with him.

periwinklerocket · ‎06-30-2010

Thanks y'all are giving me hope. I soooo wanted her to be my dog Like I said I take her out in morning. He takes her out at nite. I usually walk her on lead and feed her. However he gives supper time treats. I may take over that I do make the dogs mind more. I think my IG sees me as alpha but is in love with my hubby. But like I said if she has a need she comes to me. I am wondering if our rescue is just going along with IGs affection for hubby or if she is competing for attention.

KateChopin · ‎04-03-2010

Ask him to take a back seat on her care for a while...and take her for long walks. She will fall in love with you. Make sure you show her lots of attention...and be the food provider all of the time for a while.