Why is my Dog Calm Around Me But Not My Husband?

Why is my dog calm around me but not my husband? A woman sent this question over to me, and I promise to write on it today.

Many dog owners find themselves in a situation where their dog is calm and relaxed around them but not around their spouse or other family members. In this case, a woman is bitterly concerned about her dog being very calm and friendly with her but very aggressive with her husband. This behavior can be confusing and frustrating, but it is important to understand the reasons behind it.

Factors that Contribute to a Dog’s Behavior

Generally, there are many factors that can contribute to a dog’s behavior towards people or other animals around. Whether positive behavior is present or not, personality, past experiences, and socialization are the three major factors that shape the behavior you get from your dog at any given time. Let’s explain these points a little.

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1: Personality

Just like people, dogs have their own unique personalities and temperaments. Some dogs are naturally more confident and relaxed, while others are more anxious or fearful. These traits can influence a dog’s behavior around different people.

2: Past Experiences

A dog’s past experiences can also play a role in how they behave around different people. For example, if a dog has had negative experiences with men in the past, they may be more wary or frightened around men in general, including your husband.

3: Socialization

Socialization is an important factor in a dog’s behavior. If a dog has been exposed to different people, environments, and experiences from an early age, they are more likely to be confident and relaxed around a variety of people. On the other hand, if a dog has not been socialized properly, they may be fearful or anxious around new people and situations.

Why is my dog calm around me but not my husband?

Now that we know the three major factors that may contribute to the way a dog behaves toward different people, let’s get down to answering the question from the reader, “Why is my dog calm around me but not my husband?”

1: Familiarity

Familiarity is the number one reason why dogs may be cool and friendly with the wife but aggressive towards the husband, or the other way around.

It doesn’t matter whether you as a man were the person who actually adopted the dog; for the fact that you don’t make out time to familiarize yourself with your pet, give him food and water, the dog may likely not be calm and relaxed towards you.

Dogs are social animals, and they form strong bonds with their owners, especially with the person who feeds and bathes them. They may feel more comfortable and relaxed around you because they have known you for a longer period of time and have formed a stronger bond with you.

So if you have a husband who is never around and doesn’t like playing with the dog when he is, this is actually why your dog may be calm around you and not around your husband.

2: Different Energy Levels

Dogs are sensitive to human body language and energy levels. If you are naturally calm and relaxed, your dog may respond to that energy and feel more relaxed themselves. However, if your husband is more high-energy or nervous, your dog may be more wary or anxious around him.

3: Different Approaches to Training

If you and your husband have different approaches to training, your dog may respond differently to each of you. For example, if you are more patient and consistent with your training, your dog may be more relaxed around you.

Secondly, if you as a wife train your dog with rewards and praise, and your husband probably trains the same dog without any positive reinforcement, there’s every possibility that the dog will feel more calm and relaxed to the wife than the husband. Adopting rewards and praises while training your dog can help him associate specific behaviors with rewards, reducing their stress and aggression.

4: Different Interactions

The way you and your husband interact with your dog may also contribute to their behavior. For example, if your husband is more rough or aggressive with your dog, she may be more anxious around him.

How to teach your dog to love your husband

Like I said earlier, there’s nothing as frustrating as seeing your dog behave calmly around you but not your husband. However, with patience and positive reinforcement, it is possible to help your dog form a bond with your husband and learn to love him. So, check out how you can teach your dog to love your husband.

Step 1: Start with a Positive Introduction

When introducing your dog to your husband, it is important to make the first meeting as positive as possible. This means keeping the meeting calm, relaxed, and low-key. Your husband should avoid making direct eye contact or reaching out to pet your dog too quickly. Instead, he should let your dog approach him on his own terms.

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Step 2: Offer Treats and Reinforcement

When your dog approaches your husband, he should offer them treats as positive reinforcement. This can help your dog associate your husband with positive experiences and build a strong bond with him. Additionally, your husband should praise and pet your dog when it is calm and relaxed around him.

Step 3: Engage in Activities Together

Spending time together doing activities that your dog enjoys can also help strengthen the bond between your dog and your husband. For example, going for walks, playing fetch, or training together can all be fun ways to spend time and create positive memories.

Step 4: Avoid Negative Reinforcement

It is important to avoid using negative reinforcement, such as yelling or hitting, when working with your dog. This can make your dog more fearful or anxious around your husband and will not help them form a positive bond.

Step 5: Be patient and consistent.

Teaching your dog to love your husband takes time and patience. It is important to be consistent in your training and to use positive reinforcement techniques every time your dog interacts with your husband. With consistent training and patience, your dog will eventually learn to associate your husband with positive experiences and will become more relaxed and comfortable around him.

Final Notes

Understanding the reasons behind your dog’s behavior can help you better address any issues and improve their relationship with your husband. It is important to remember that every dog is unique and may respond differently to different people. However, with patience and positive reinforcement, you can help your dog feel more comfortable and relaxed around your husband.

I hope I have been able to provide an answer to the question, “Why is my dog calm around me but not my husband?” Please help us share the post.