The bonding of a pup
 

I will just talk about my experiences - I am too tired to find out if there are any extant studies on this topic.


I will start with my final analysis - sometimes dogs just bond with whom ever they choose that live in the home!


If you are the only human living in the home this post is not for you - but in a multi human household that is a different kettle of fish.


Traditional thinking goes somewhat like this; those that feed walk train and groom the dog is the one the dog will bond with the closest.


Well maybe yes and maybe no. I think dogs have a delicious mind of their own - and that there are different kinds of bonding that go on in the doggy mind and heart.


I have watched n hoped very many times for a dog of ours to show that they have bonded un-equivocably to my hubby - and well it just has not happened. But then I gave up on the un-equivocal part and just watched how my dogs interact with hubby. All my dogs love hubby - they go to him for endless pets - which he gives them - and also the treats they love. He is now feeding them their two meals a day. But where-ever I move or if I go out our dogs are right by me and wait at the window until I return.


In terms of obedience - they obey me much much better. But then I expect obedience of them and train them all. When hubby leaves with a dog and I am at home or just sitting on a park bench - all the dogs look back at least 4 times to see if I am coming. Situation is reversed - no dog looks back to hubby when I leave with a dog. We went swimming yesterday and I took one dog after another out for a swim while hubby sat at the picnic table. We had a rest and a bit of lunch - then I said to hubby will you take the pups in for a swim ? He said yes and thank god I am so tired of the whinging and antics of the two dogs you leave behind. Well good to his word he took each dog out for a swim. There was no whining crying barking going on with the other two stuck with me. Why? I am not sure.


I can supposition that I am the Alpha and as such is someone to be confident in and want to be around. But that does not mean our dogs are not bonded to my hubby - just bonded in a different way.

I totally get where you are coming from! Our dogs are all bonded to me. They love other people in the house. The exception to that would be my daughter's puppy. She does almost everything for her puppy. She has been gone over a month with her puppy so I expect the puppy to be bonded to her when she returns home with her.

Teek only listens to me. When hubby comes home he is happy to see him, but not at all like the welcome I get with the pawing the air and the guinea pig squealing sounds. Rowan loves my husband, but if I leave he is looking for me. Both Yorkies sleep curled up with my husband and my theory is that my husband produces a lot of heat at night and I do not so they curl up with him to get warm. Last night though Rowan was not feeling well so he was curled with me all night long, wanting his mama.

My husband's dog also sees me as pack leader. Although all dogs in the house will listen to my husband (with maybe the exception of Teek as he listens to only me). However, the husband's dog really does listen to me. He doesn't follow me around the house like the Yorkeis do, but then he doesn't really follow anyone around the house like that. He just isn't that kind of dog.

My teenage son does not like any of the dogs, but when he sits on the couch Rowan will curl up next to him and I see my son stroke Rowan's ear a little bit. It is the cutest thing to see.

My husband works all day and I stay at home so I think that has a lot to do with it, the dogs are with me all day.

I do think they pick who their favorite is no matter who feeds them though. My husband is one of those people that dogs just love, but so am I. While we were dating though he bought me a Husky puppy. The dog lived with me, slept in my bed and I fed it. The minute we went to his house to see him the dog was his and I was dirt under her feet. I was only 20 years old and not as experienced a dog owner as I am now 20 years later. He was bonded with that dog even though I took care of her and she lived with me and not him. Now, I am pack leader where I didn't know how to be back then. I think that is the biggest difference between now and then for me.

It's the same in our house-husband treats them and feeds them but it is me they are constantly following and looking for.

My husband retired before me and was home with them all day. He said while I was at work, they slept most of the day. When it came 5:15p they were up and looking out the window or sniffing under the door to the garage. When he is out and comes home they greet him but when I come home it's a big party with kisses. He sometimes feels unloved because when my son comes home or when my brother in law comes over the make a big fuss over him.

Who knows what is in the sweet little minds!

My three are only supposed to be MY two. Because Technically Izzy is my boyfriend, Scott's dog. I bought her for him . She was the littermate to my angel Marley. And after Marley passed at only 6 months old, Izzy was alone until Scott bought Toby for me. And now we have little Madlyn pitter pattering around at 12 weeks. And every last one of them shadow me with every move I make. I can't make it out of a room tiptoing in silence without them eyeing me in their sleep and jumping up to follow. Now like I said, Izzy is Scott's baby. We all know this, but you can't tell Izzy that. She won't hear it. I have tried everything save for completely snubbing Izzy in an effort to get her to turn to Scott first. Ive doted on the other two first, Ive tried not being affectionate , I've had Scott feed and bathe her and give treats and walks and drives, and nothing deters her from me. The second I sit down she is right there in my lap. Even if I'm sitting in a position with little room for her to balance on and scott is there with open space. If i call to her she comes immediately. Scott most times has to beg for her to come to him and sometimes even that doesn't work. She just stares at him. He's always giving her love and playing with her and saving her from being trampled upon by Toby. She talks to him all the time like a little Ewok. But she will not change alliances for anything. He gets so hurt all the time over this ( he's learned to blow it off too) and I feel bad, but what can I do? She's made up her mind. If we ever broke up I don't know what we would do with her. Have to have joint custody probably... lol. But you're right, they have funny little minds. You'd think with as much preferential treatment as he gives her, and attention galore first and foremost, that she would flock to him... But I am the light it seems...