hey dog people: question about male presence

[NamelessMC]

My girlfriend's roommate has a Schnauzer. he's a cute little guy, about 18 months old. I went with them to get his shots and he responded really well to me. I didn't think much of it but then I went to visit her while her roommate's boyfriend was there and the dog was more or less glued to me. He also barks and gets overly excited when other dogs are around but I can quiet him a lot easier. In her roommate's words, "Sam loves him more than me".

It's gotten to the point that when I leave my stuff in my girlfriends room, we come back and the dog is napping on my backpack or my jacket.

Her apartment is full of girls and and the dog mostly sees females with the exception of her roommates boyfriend.

My question is, is that how dogs respond when there isn't a male around? I've heard of women being alpha males to dogs but I never knew it could impact them this drastically.

 

[Ashton]

Dogs definitely show gender preference. I've had like 10 dogs in the span of my life and they show gender favoritism for sure. In my experience dogs tend to gravitate towards males though, and they seem to be able to sense heirarchy. My dogs growing up were more interested in my dad and I than my sister and mom, but if it came down to choosing between myself or my dad the dogs picked him every single time without fail.

 

[Devout Pessimist]

Dogs definitely show gender preference. I've had like 10 dogs in the span of my life and they show gender favoritism for sure. In my experience dogs tend to gravitate towards males though, and they seem to be able to sense heirarchy. My dogs growing up were more interested in my dad and I than my sister and mom, but if it came down to choosing between myself or my dad the dogs picked him every single time without fail.

We got my dog, a Shiba Inu, when he was over a year old. He had been raised by a woman and her daughter. Now he prefers to be around women. In fact, he hated men. I was he first male he became affectionate towards. He definitely prefers women to men.

 

[DoctorTaco]

Then ladies are mollycoddling the cute little bugger, empowering his alpha status by treating him like a spoiled human baby.

 

[Ashton]

We got my dog, a Shiba Inu, when he was over a year old. He had been raised by a woman and her daughter. Now he prefers to be around women. In fact, he hated men. I was he first male he became affectionate towards. He definitely prefers women to men.

I had an Ibizan Hound that was like this. He didn't hate men but he was always dodgy and standoffish around them. He would approach women without any issue.


We bought him around a year old from a shut-in woman who bred dogs for shows.

 

[seatea]

My uncle adopted a dog that had been raised by an old couple who didn't get out much. She was frightened of men and absolutely terrified by children.

I remember her hiding whenever I'd visit. Over the years we became good friends, to the point that she jumped in to defend me when I was play fighting with my own dog, she must have thought poor 'ole Jasper was attacking me for real. He was baffled after she went for him, looking from me to her as if to say "WTF was that for?"

RIP Jasper and Goldie.

 

[Flash_Monsta]

If the females are treating him like a baby, spoiling him etc, and you treat him like a dog (lower in the pecking order) then he might see you as an alpha figure. I don't mean treat him bad, but just treat him not like a child with baby talk etc.

 

[Bme26]

In my family we always referred to my dad as the dog whisperer. Not necessarily because he has any special powers with dogs, well maybe, but every family dog we've ever had has gravitated towards my dad more so than anyone else. For example, we have a min pin now (and a Lab). They are a rebellious type of dog and like to get away with as much as they can. With me, the min pin knows I mean business so she will listen if I tell her to go outside or be quiet if someone is at the door. The moment my dad is home, that all goes out the window. She'll just run over to my dad for protection if I try and get her to do anything. As far as my mom and sis, forget it, the dogs have deemed them as push-overs since day one.

 

[FistsofScotland]

the dog training world is somewhat chauvinistic, meaning men usually have an easier time training dogs than women. This could be due to our size, deeper voice, firmer hand, etc.
And I agree with previous posters in that if they are babying him like a little human, and you are not, he will definitely respect you more.

 

[dadams]

I think it's a dominance thing. When you are with the dog does he try and keep his head higher than you? He sounds like he's protecting you from the other guy. Also the sleeping or laying on your clothes seems like that too. With dogs it's always a battle to establish dominance.

 

[Timetravel_0]

I dog sitted for my friend. His female boxer was aggresive towards me and my stepson but not towards my wife or daughters.

 

[MuayThaiBX]

I have an 18 month old Schnauzer also. He's a great dog. He also gets very attached to people and is very amorous. Whoever gives him an inch affection wise - he wants to take a mile. He also always tries to be dominant in the presence of other dogs - even big dogs like pit bulls, shepherds, labradors, etc. He wouldn't back down to a grizzly bear LOL.

 

[ZappBrannigan]

My gf begged for a puppy for the past three years. I finally got her a female puppy. It is glued to me every god dam day now ughhhhhh!!

 

[Snakesolidsnake]

If the females are treating him like a baby, spoiling him etc, and you treat him like a dog (lower in the pecking order) then he might see you as an alpha figure. I don't mean treat him bad, but just treat him not like a child with baby talk etc.

This right here. Dogs are pack animals and there is always an alpha in the pack. They will respond better to non-verbal (body language, posture) and the tone with which someone speaks over what is actually said.

That said, some dogs respond differently to males and females. If someone beat a dog when it was younger, it may be scared or aggressive to that sex. My sister has a pit bull that she's had since he was about 6 months old. He's the most gentle dog to everyone that is welcomed into the house (not sure what he would do to someone if they broke in), but there is something about men with really deep voices that really agitates him. He usually likes people as soon as they enter the house, but if a guy with a really deep voice comes in the house that he doesn't know them, he's bark pretty aggressively for about 15 minutes. After that, he's fine, but for some reason really deep voices bother him. Her other dog (pit/lab mix) doesn't do this at all.

 

[Judo Thai Boxer]

My parents' dog definitely favours me and my Dad but I think that's because we're more stern with him and don't appease him when he's being a dick.

I hate people that baby their dog and then wonder why it's badly behaved.

 

[Ashton]

This right here. Dogs are pack animals and there is always an alpha in the pack. They will respond better to non-verbal (body language, posture) and the tone with which someone speaks over what is actually said.

That said, some dogs respond differently to males and females. If someone beat a dog when it was younger, it may be scared or aggressive to that sex. My sister has a pit bull that she's had since he was about 6 months old. He's the most gentle dog to everyone that is welcomed into the house (not sure what he would do to someone if they broke in), but there is something about men with really deep voices that really agitates him. He usually likes people as soon as they enter the house, but if a guy with a really deep voice comes in the house that he doesn't know them, he's bark pretty aggressively for about 15 minutes. After that, he's fine, but for some reason really deep voices bother him. Her other dog (pit/lab mix) doesn't do this at all.

One of my old man's friends had a ridgeback that had a hang-up like this. It was a great dog, really affectionate and friendly... until I put on a baseball cap. Instant transformation; tail down, teeth bared and growling until I took the hat off.

 

[NamelessMC]

Hmm. I think I've more or less got it figured now. I definitely don't coddle him and I hate baby talk. I scolded him too when he tried to eat a piece of bacon that fell on the floor. That's MY bacon you stupid dog. jk I think it's poisonous for them or something.

I definitely feel like they baby him too much. When her roommate comes home, she gets all baby talk with him and I don't pull any of that shit.

Next question:
How do you properly potty train a big dog? I'm gonna adopt a shepherd mix and it's definitely going to be a puppy but I've never 'successfully' trained a dog for that.

 

[FistsofScotland]

Next question:
How do you properly potty train a big dog? I'm gonna adopt a shepherd mix and it's definitely going to be a puppy but I've never 'successfully' trained a dog for that.

Using a crate is the easiest way. But, if you get a puppy (even though he will be big when he grows up), start off with a smaller crate, then upgrade as he gets older. If you get the biggest one right off the bat, it makes it too easy for him to crap in one corner and sleep in another.

give him PLENTY of opportunities to relieve himself. Puppies have ZERO bladder control. So, he needs to be able to go often.

Break up his eating and drinking into several small portions throughout the day. That way, he doesn't have a big tummy full of food or water at any one time. (which would create the overwhelming urge to go)

Take him out IMMEDIATELY after he eats. Eating, drinking and exercise all stimulate the system to have to go.

Don't leave water in his crate. You have no way to monitor his intake if you do.

Take him to the exact spot in your yard where you want him to relieve himself. (in an approx 5'X5' area) not just anywhere in your yard. You want to condition him to only go in that one area. There's nothing more annoying than having to tell your guests that may be in your backyard "watch your step"

If you decide to go down this road without a crate, make sure he is confined somewhere with puppy pads when you are unable to supervise him. But, everything else applies.

Good luck.