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So when I was in high school I got a dog (beagle/boxer mutt, not sure exactly what it is, it's just some sort of beagle mutt that's a bit larger than beagles and isn't like some small yappy dog, like beagles tend to be, but I haven't seen any pictures anywhere close to what he looks like online). I went to college, and a year after college, now, I got my dog back to live with me.
Now when I first got the dog and trained it, he had issues with ... listening, I suppose. Say I walked him in a field with no leash, he would kind of run ahead of me. I would call him back, and he'd maybe glance out the corner of his eye towards me, but he'd pretend he didn't notice me (when he very clearly did) and stay 10 steps ahead. When I would try to run to get him, he would run ahead. This was when he was young, and eventually I trained him. Now, he comes to me pretty well (though he may stretch and take his damn time, or have to repeated too, but he religiously follows me around anyways).
So I have this girlfriend of a few years. When I've had the dog over for a week or so before in the past, he was really bad with my girlfriend. He would totally ignore her, and as she put, he was 'a total asshole'. With 2 chairs in the room and me on one of them, he would take the other chair. If there was a couch, he'd almost block her from laying on it. He would totally ignore her, and when I wasn't there he would just get on the bed for himself over her, even when she told him to get off, he would never come, and he would do the whole 'run 10 steps ahead and pretend to ignore' thing.
So I got the dog back recently, and obviously I wanted to fix this. I've been having her feed the dog in the mornings, and with her attention towards him like petting and treats and us all going out together (restaurants, hiking, to the city, to events, etc) the dog hasn't been an ass to her anymore. The dog has gotten a lot better with her.
But, my problem now is that he doesn't listen to her. Now, he isn't an asshole anymore - when I'm not there, he doesn't go around tipping trash in front of her, pushing her off the bed, actually getting on the bed when he's been trained not to, but he doesn't listen anymore. My girlfriend says it's a HUGE improvement, but the issue is getting the dog to listen to her like he listens to me.
When I'm around, the dog is fine, he isn't a blatant asshole trying to shove her off or take her place, but when she calls him he doesn't come (unless she has food of course, it's a beagle), at all. When I'm not around, the dog half listens to her, but when she walks him without a leash he still does the whole 'pretend-he-doesnt-see-her-and-walks-10-steps-ahead'.
Now the dog always follows me around, and whines when I'm not around, just constantly whines (it's really annoying for others). This was a problem before with the dog, but now, he no longer whines when I'm not around but she is. It's progressed enough now that when I leave the room, he sometimes won't follow (if hes really tired) because she's there, or if I'm leaving the house, the dog will just go back to lay down instead of whine by the door, waiting for me. So there is some progress here (he will whine if neither of us are there though, it seems he is just okay if she's at least there if I leave).
I understand it's a dominance issue. I think part of the reason the dog responds to me is because he's somewhat afraid of me? That's not really the best way to put it - the dog is very, very submissive to me. When I call him in a 'serious' tone, I think he knows he better come over. I never hit the dog, or use any sort of punishment on him, but the dog knows I'm very dominant, and he's very submissive to me (rolls over when I approach him quickly, lies down when he gets to me, etc). But the dog is very clearly not submissive to my GF.
So just something I'm working on now. I think maybe she shouldnt feed the dog in the morning anymore, but she says that she thinks thats what helped (the dog was a HUGE asshole to her before, so his behavior in the last few weeks has drastically changed toward her than how he behaved towards her a year ago when he was over for a week). I think maybe she should pet the dog and put him on his back when she does it? I can't exactly yell at the dog for not coming to her, I don't think he'd quite understand that it what I'm yelling at. If I try to 'scare off' the dog toward her, he just lays down, because he's really submissive towards me (i think he thinks there's no point in running away from me), even if I act really threatening or angry towards him.
Is there any way to train him to go to her? When she calls him, he obviously knows. He'll just look at me, and maybe glance at her, but just stare at me, and wag his tail. But he'll just look to me, and I'm not sure how to let him know it's not okay for him to stare at me, that he better go over to her.
 
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Lock your gf and your dog in a room together and don't let them out until they sort out their differences.
I don't care if your gf can't speak beagle, this has to be done.
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yes.. i was definitely expecting something else.. >.>
we had the same whining issue with our dog, but we picked her up after she was basically left to die in a flat with a few welps by previous owners, so that's understandable there. never found a way to train her otherwise.
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I definitely think she should keep feeding him. I've grown up with dogs and when my family gave me the responsibility to feed them they started giving me a lot more respect. I think dogs know that if you're giving them the food then you have dominance over them.
Also, eating your meal first and then feeding the dog afterwards is a signal to the dog that he is beneath you in the pack, as he sees it.
Depending on how old the dog is, you could try and train him to go to her using treats. So you and your gf stand about 20m apart, outside or inside whatever, and you call the dog. Then get your gf to call the dog, and if he comes, he gets a treat. And you do that for like 5 mins or something and do it every day for a week. That's how we used to train our dogs to come to their name.
Edit:
On October 20 2011 07:57 MisterD wrote:yes.. i was definitely expecting something else.. >.> we had the same whining issue with our dog, but we picked her up after she was basically left to die in a flat with a few welps by previous owners, so that's understandable there. never found a way to train her otherwise.
LOL exactly what I thought when I saw the title too.
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Also, eating your meal first and then feeding the dog afterwards is a signal to the dog that he is beneath you in the pack, as he sees it.
She doesnt eat here in the morning. She just showers and goes. But I guess we'll find his dinner after we eat dinner. I usually feed him in the evening, but she can if that would help.
Depending on how old the dog is, you could try and train him to go to her using treats. So you and your gf stand about 20m apart, outside or inside whatever, and you call the dog. Then get your gf to call the dog, and if he comes, he gets a treat. And you do that for like 5 mins or something and do it every day for a week. That's how we used to train our dogs to come to their name.
He's a beagle, he'll come to anything or anyone who has treats. And he won't come when called, he'll just bum rush them. Which I think is kind of a problem with the whole treat method.
I think to do that effectively, she would need to put like 10 dog treats in her pockets and walk around with them on her at all times. When she pulls a treat out, the dog just runs to her of course, and I don't think it does anything to make the dog come to her when called or respect her. But this was how I trained the dog when I was younger for a few things (heel, better obedience, stay), because anytime you have a treat near this dog it just runs up to you and stays with you and I don't think he hears anything once he sees a treat.
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What we did when training was just start calling the dog, get a treat out, and just keep calling his name until he was right by you trying to get the treat. I'm sure there's stuff you can read online about training dogs with stuff like this, but that's my take anyway. 
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How is your GF going about calling her? Is she being passive or letting the beagle dominate,etc... Or is she taking the initiative and trying to dominate the dog? You might want to consider training your GF first if need be.
And for the calling, have you tried having her call your dog, then show the treat. Then repeat by giving less and less treats as you call it? Maybe like call the dog, give a treat, call it again, give half a treat, call again, give 1/4, call again, get it to stay, then call again and give a treat? (Might want to take it slower, but I assume you get the point?)
I've been trying to train my dog, but she doesn't like treats, she only eats cheese / table food whenever we're eating but she's a Yorkie mix, which I heard are difficult when it comes to food.
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Watch that show called "dog whisperer" or something...seriously.
They have the same issue every show...there are dogs that lack discipline, bark blablabla.
I've watched enough of the show to understand that your gf needs to show your dog who's boss. Dogs act wildly when they don't have a defined leader (of the pack). Your girlfriend needs to present herself as boss. This comes from attitude/body language when around the dog. Initially you will have to get your gf to get the dog in a subdued position (where the dog is relaxed and laying down accepting her dominance). You will also have to firmly correct the dog verbally and with a slight jerk of some sort on the leash when he gets out of control and get back back into relaxed position etc.
I know this sounds like a pile of dogshit (pun-intended) but this what I gathered from watching that show. Google it!
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I also thought about this:
http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=22757
But I can see that it's been posted already.
I suggest making clear to the dog that your girlfriend is to be afforded the same privileges as your dog. Also, let your girlfriend take care of your dog for a few days without your dog having any contact with you whatsoever. The dog will bond with whoever feeds and takes care of it.
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EPT
