Hey everyone, hoping you can shed some light on the issue I've got.
We've got 2 chi's, Buddy and Belle. Belle is 'mine' and Buddy is my partner Dave's. We got them both a few months ago on the same day from separate people. Buddy is now 7 months and Belle is 6 months.
The problem is whenever Dave isn't around Buddy but I am, he really doesn't like it. For example...
- I go downstairs first in a morning & Buddy will sit under the table until Dave comes down & won't even come out to say hello to me
- If they go outside Buddy won't come in unless I'm not there/ Dave's there.
- Buddy is never more than 1 meter from Dave's feet and if I go near, he cowers or moves out of the way
On the other hand Belle is brilliant & loves Dave. Will happily be with him if I'm not around.
I'm trying EVERYTHING it seems to make him like me - treating them both, stroking both, feeding both. It's starting to work in that Buddy will come to me now if I have food & will sit on my knee (but doesn't look too happy) and he seems to like being petted by me.
I've thought it's because one or all of the following...
- Buddy's previous owner was a single lady who was with him 24/7 - so he never saw her with anybody else - maybe Buddy is jealous of me or too overprotective of Dave? You should see his face if Dave comes near me, it's utter disgust!
- A few weeks after we've bought them, I hadn't realised how important it is to watch your feet when you go outside....at the time we didn't have a gate, Buddy shot out into the drive & I somehow managed to get him back inside, but really shouted at him & scruffed him; not so much it caused him pain - just enough to know he'd done wrong. Do you think because of the excitement he had at this moment increased his feelings towards the telling off?
- I'm the one who tells the dogs off mainly, although Dave has been doing his fair share lately as Buddy's always in his way & getting more clingy (although I don't think he scruffs hard enough for the dogs to know they've done something wrong - they think he's playing)
Belle is getting spayed next week so I'll be off all week whilst Dave's at work. I really don't want Buddy to be sat in the kitchen under the table all week on his own. Dave says this is his choice, but it's upsetting. I don't want to get him from the table as that's obviously his safe place.
Any suggestions other than to keep doing what I'm doing re treats, strokes? When Belle's in her op next week I was planning on taking Buddy for a walk for some 1 on 1 bonding but if he doesn't want to I don't want to make him.
Thanks in advance
We've got 2 chi's, Buddy and Belle. Belle is 'mine' and Buddy is my partner Dave's. We got them both a few months ago on the same day from separate people. Buddy is now 7 months and Belle is 6 months.
The problem is whenever Dave isn't around Buddy but I am, he really doesn't like it. For example...
- I go downstairs first in a morning & Buddy will sit under the table until Dave comes down & won't even come out to say hello to me
- If they go outside Buddy won't come in unless I'm not there/ Dave's there.
- Buddy is never more than 1 meter from Dave's feet and if I go near, he cowers or moves out of the way
On the other hand Belle is brilliant & loves Dave. Will happily be with him if I'm not around.
I'm trying EVERYTHING it seems to make him like me - treating them both, stroking both, feeding both. It's starting to work in that Buddy will come to me now if I have food & will sit on my knee (but doesn't look too happy) and he seems to like being petted by me.
I've thought it's because one or all of the following...
- Buddy's previous owner was a single lady who was with him 24/7 - so he never saw her with anybody else - maybe Buddy is jealous of me or too overprotective of Dave? You should see his face if Dave comes near me, it's utter disgust!
- A few weeks after we've bought them, I hadn't realised how important it is to watch your feet when you go outside....at the time we didn't have a gate, Buddy shot out into the drive & I somehow managed to get him back inside, but really shouted at him & scruffed him; not so much it caused him pain - just enough to know he'd done wrong. Do you think because of the excitement he had at this moment increased his feelings towards the telling off?
- I'm the one who tells the dogs off mainly, although Dave has been doing his fair share lately as Buddy's always in his way & getting more clingy (although I don't think he scruffs hard enough for the dogs to know they've done something wrong - they think he's playing)
Belle is getting spayed next week so I'll be off all week whilst Dave's at work. I really don't want Buddy to be sat in the kitchen under the table all week on his own. Dave says this is his choice, but it's upsetting. I don't want to get him from the table as that's obviously his safe place.
Any suggestions other than to keep doing what I'm doing re treats, strokes? When Belle's in her op next week I was planning on taking Buddy for a walk for some 1 on 1 bonding but if he doesn't want to I don't want to make him.
Thanks in advance