Am I being unreasonable to think that when I say..............

[youcannotbeserious]

.... "you stay there" to my chocolate labrador, he wouldn't take this to mean "run out of the door as fast as you can"

I mean, my dog is pretty well trained (in so far as he understands a lot of what I say - whether he obeys what I say is quite another matter!) but he's usually pretty good.

But since I have my baby (DS is now 6 weeks) the poor dog is behaving like a petulant toddler.

I try to leave him at home, he's out of the door in front of me and trying to get him in the car (he used to sit in the back seat) is a joke. The dog will not get into the boot, so ends up travelling in the passenger seat up front with me (always wears a dog harness so no problems with him being strapped in)

Other than this, he is great with the baby.... he even comes and stands over me while I change the baby's nappy...

I don't want to tell the dog off - but not sure how to tackle his sudden stubborness to do as he's told!!!

aw he sound like a lovely doggy

i can't help thinking of this

Well, yes, he is a lovely doggy...

TMMJ - Believe me, he understands a lot more than that!! He knows just what I'm saying.

Have you ever seen a dog refuse to get into the boot of a car before (he sits a good 5 foot a way from the car) but when I say, 'OK' and open the passenger car door, he's in like flint....

I told him to 'mind the baby' today and he left the room sooooooooooo fast, it was comical, it was if he was saying 'you and NOT leaving me with that thing!'

But, he's such a softie, It's my fault he won't get into the boot, etc., because I won't make him.

He's so good with with the baby, so I don't want to tell him off........... I'm guesing he'll just get used to it...

FWIW, he sleeps on the bed with me and when the baby cries, he goes and sleeps on the couch (yes, he's a boy dog!!!)

he's fighting for his place in the pack.

You've brought a baby into his pack and he's trying to assert himself and let you know that he is above that thing in the pecking order.

He isn't. And should not be.

At the moment his behavior is comical but if you allow him to get away with it you run the risk that he will become dominant and consequently uncontrollable. This doesn't mean he will necessarily become agressive but dominance is still a major concern.

You need to show him that you are boss.

Don't let him go out the door in front of you - make him sit if need be and walk out ahead of him and then tell him to come.

If he won't go in the boot make him. Lift him up if need be but don't stand for the disobedience.

And I know you might not like this but...

He's a dog. He doesn't belong on the couch or on your bed. Allowing him up there reiterates to him that he is equal to you in the pack and he is not.

He needs to be brought down a peg or two, especially as you have a baby.

okaaaaaaayyyyyy

it's got nothing to do with the baby. he refused to get in the boot long before DS arrived.... nor has he slept on anything other than the bed or sofa since he was a puppy - even though he has a gorgeous leather dog bed, he will only use that during the day...

i'm only noticing it more because i've got my hands full with the baby.

I don't have a single worry that the dog would ever be aggressive. I've heard the 'all dogs can be aggressive' line a million times and while i'm not professing to understand all dogs, i know my own and i know he wouldn't. And. he's extremely well behaved... he just doesn't like admitting he's a dog

so, if it's all the same, i'll keep him the way he is