[yorkietalkjilly]

Great ideas! So many things work to change/reshape dog behavior that you can pretty much choose anything you like as long as you let the dog know you mean it and you follow through and never scare or intimidate them. They will learn to do what you want without fear or startling things to bring them up short.

Your dog is acting as if she's in control and decides who can do what and you all are headed for trouble if something isn't done to stop her. She needs firm pack leaders, especially the one whom she's trying to discipline when he does certain things or she will begin to escalate her bad behavior. Your husband needs to become a strong but gentle, loving pack leader to her. I would Google one of the Nothing In Life Is Free programs and have your husband start having your little one perform a command for everything your doggie gets for the next 2 weeks - every morsel of food, every toy, every potty break and every permission to jump up on the couch or bed or cuddle with you. Works wonders!

There are several ways to stop a possessive dog, depends on you and your dog which way is best. One is to get up and both of you leave the room the moment she utters anything that sounds like a growl. Most people don't like this but it will work when the dog learns that growling will instantly make her lonely for the next 30 minutes. Others remove the dog from the room for the next 30 minutes, closing the door to the room where they are and not allowing it in until the full time has past - no matter how much the doggie howls. Another will take the dog out of the room on a leash while the other person stays in the room and make the dog stay in a down stay for a good 10 minutes before bringing it back into the room.

You can both firmly say "No", with one clap your hands and stand up, back the dog off the moment a growl is uttered. Stand over the dog until it back off and turns away, relaxes. It must be done every single time the dog acts possessive. In time, she will get the message what is about to come and learn to control her urge to growl or act possessive.

You can have your husband drop treats near your dog or feed treats directly as he begins to approach you, distracting her with the treat as he begins to kiss you or touch you and keep tossing treats for a bit - serial treat one after the other. Using boiled chicken or turkey hot dogs are best for a week or two. Keep repeating that for two weeks. By the end of that time, she should love it when he approaches you! Some will crate the dog in an open wire crate while they are desensitizing it to getting used to seeing its humans interact as the dog is tossed treats each time they touch until the dog can lie quietly in the crate while you and husband dance, kiss and touch. Then try the dog outside the crate, toss a treat at her and begin kissing, cuddling and keep tossing treats. If she begins to get possessive, say "No!" and both of you clap once, stand up and begin walking toward her, backing her off with a stern gaze into her eyes until she backs off.

You can toss a ball/toy or use a squeaky toy rather than a treat to distract the dog as he touches and leans over and kisses you if your dog isn't food-driven.

Watch your dog's body language and if she begins to get alert or focus in on what your husband is doing toward you, he needs to stare at her, stand up and point at her, say "No" also if he wants, and walk toward her until she relaxes. If he does this every time she starts to focus in on his behavior toward you, she will get the message in time.

Together with his using the Nothing In Life Is Free program where your husband requires her to sit before she gets anything she wants plus one of the training methods should start to show her she is not in charge.

All of these methods need repetition every time she offends and an instant response from you two and in time - not right away - but in time, she will learn that this possessive behavior will not ever be tolerated but immediately addressed and learn how to control her impulse to control you.

A good obedience training program where your husband takes her through her paces, teaching her one command at a time in a gentle way that positively reinforces her every time she gets it right with big praise and a treat should also reinforce their relationship with her learning who is the real pack leader and calls the shots in your family - teaching her over time to always obey what he says. It's wonderful how quickly a dog will come to obey you when the training is kept fun, upbeat and in short 5 minute sessions. In time, your dog wouldn't think of growling at her trainer and pack leader, no matter what he was doing! A stern look or pointing at her or standing up will stop most misbehaviors once a dog is obedience trained but the thing is, they rarely misbehave after training and a true pack leader/follower relationship has been established with gentle, fun, loving training and positive reinforcement. The dog will do anything to please you.