Dog more nervous when husband away?

[pizzaplaneteer]

Just a bit of a wondering really. I have an 18 month old male Labrador. He's very much "my" dog as in I'm the one whom walks him the most and who he follows around. However my husband has gone away with work for a week and he's more anxious in the evening, barking at every little noise etc. He settles down very quickly and is still very chilled on the whole so it's not an actual problem but I was just interested in whether it's a common occurrence for dogs to feel safer when their "Dad" is home. I've got to be honest he spooks me when he barks & runs towards the front door too as I keep thinking he can hear an intruder but his routine hasn't changed and I don't think my behaviour is any different?

Yes it's common. It's just change. At 18 months he will still be an adolescent too so still working things out. It's not guarding, or protecting - it's just trigger stacking - things have changed and he feels a bit stressed therefore he will react more.

Might not be a case of ‘Dad’ not being home, it might be because A Person from the household is missing. Our Lab is a bit unsettled when any of us are away overnight. She was at her most spooky when DS went away to Uni when she was about 6 months old, but she accepts his comings and goings now, with just a bit of staring up the stairs on the first day and looking for his trainers.
Have you ever been away and your DH noticed similar behaviour?
I’d distract at the first sign of being unsettled. Give him a ‘job’ to do instead of running to the door or barking - going to his bad, lying on a blanket, fetching you a toy, whatever works best for you. Our girl needs a quick reassurance of “It’s fine!”, light and breezy and a redirect to a treat or sniffy mat etc.

Mine seems to be waiting for people to come home, I wouldn’t say he’s any more anxious.

Mine doesn't settle as well if one of us is out in the evenings. I think they get very used to their "normal" and don't like when things change!

If hes ususally there, then maybe your dog is just listening out for him? And is a bit unsettled because the pack is not all there. Are you more nervous as he isnt there and your dog is picking up on this?