[pepe mint]

Ok, I have never been one to give doggie treats. My cocker, who is 6 years old, never got rewarded with treats. mostly because I could not afford to buy a lot of extra stuff like that when I got her. But it was also because I was told about not having her depend on getting treats every time she went potty or did something I asked her to do, but simply doing it to please me...her master. well. my husband has always been just the opposite. his 10 year old min pin still gets a treat EVERY time he goes outside to use the bathroom. It drives me NUTS because if he goes out and comes back in...and he doesn't get a treat...he whines and barks and goes nuts until he gets one. my hubby ALWAYS gives him one. I don't. EVER. I never ever give him one. I refuse!! at 10 years old, especially, he should not be rewarded for using the bathroom outside...not with treats anyway. a simple praise should suffice for him. he should be doing it because it is the right thing to do...NOT because he wants a treat. I know you guys agree because I have heard it said many times here...and in other chat groups.

anyway..here is my problem. I have asked him not to give Daisy treats. but he still does. I do not want him giving maggie treats when she goes out. the praise is enough. I don't want MY dogs acting the way HIS does. period. but he refuses to change his ways. I would love it if he would just stop with the treats all together but he won't. I just don't know how to talk to him about it. He gets very defensive when I try to tell him what is wrong with his dog. His dog has had issues with being stubborn and bossy since the day I met him. He has always made the rules for Jim, not the other way around. it is just horrible. but when I try to tell Jim that it is because of the way he treats him and has raised him, he gets extremely defensive and then proceeds to tell me the things I do wrong with my daughter. I just feel like it is a losing battle but with having maggie in the house now, I don't want her to end up like Rex. I just don't.

any suggestions as to how I can talk to him about this and actually be effective? I mean, I have mentioned it before but he just doesn't seem to agree. actually, he says he agrees with me, but then as soon as rex goes outside, he give him a treat when he gets back in. It's like we never had the conversation. I think he just feels it is easier to give him a treat to shut him up than to deal with it the right way.

I'm just tired of it. and want to change it. I have trained Rex so good since we moved in together...the dog was 8 years old and still using the bathroom in the house when left alone...until I came along. now...we haven't had an accident in the house in over a year. he also does not bark at ME anymore. still barks at Jim because Jim gives into him but he knows better than to bark at me.

anyway...what should I do?