[Stangwatt]

I'm just really curious as to why they do that. My boyfriend and I are both in college and he's out of state, so we stayed the summer at his house with his parents and dogs, Zeus and Hercules. Zeus is the needier one while Herc is more independent so sometimes he'll sleep off in a chair with no one around. However, Zeus will sleep with bf occasionally. So in the 3 months I was there, we stayed in separate rooms and both dogs slept with me about 90% or more of the time. Zeus was closer to 95% and would always come back in after his morning food-and-poop run to nap with me until I got up. My boyfriend started feeling jealous because they wouldn't go sleep with him. We even switched beds for a week and they still chose to be with me. I've been back home about a week now and they still don't want to sleep with him. Any advice on this? I have no idea how to explain their behavior. I can't imagine they like me more. They've known me for 3 months and he's had them since they were 6 weeks old.

 

[MollyDoggy]

Do you sneak the dogs treats when no ones looking?

 

[Stangwatt]

Do you sneak the dogs treats when no ones looking?

No more than anyone else does and I'd say I'm definitely harsher with them compared to my boyfriend. He's always love and cuddles with them while I'm quicker to scold them for chewing up paper or digging through the trash.

 

[jagger]

Zeus and Herc, what kind of dogs?

 

[Stangwatt]

Zeus and Herc, what kind of dogs?

They're half-brothers, same age, German shepherd/some type of hound mix/not really sure lol. Got them from a humane shelter. Let me try to attach a picture...

Herc on left, Zeus on right.

 

[jagger]

With names like that, I expected either yorkie or mastiff. Handsome pair of pups. They both - especially Zeus - appear to be calm and submissive. Some dogs are just weird.

My own personal experience and opinion but... I find the dogs that are confident and outgoing - dare I say a little more dominant - tend to gravitate toward the weaker of a pair of people. Gravitate toward the one that just wants to love the dog, they can get away with more. More submissive dogs tend to gravitate toward someone that is more the leader when there is a couple involved.

But of course you may just smell better than him

 

[Shandula]

Maybe your boyfriend moves more, is hotter when he sleeps, or maybe your bed is more comfortable.

 

[PipsMom]

Maybe your boyfriend moves more, is hotter when he sleeps, or maybe your bed is more comfortable.

I was about to say that too! My dog loves me and adores me. I train her and she and me are super close. But she used to rarely sleep with me because I am very restless when I sleep.

Anyways, I started something new that helps me from being too restless when I sleep and now my dog sleeps with me.

 

[Stangwatt]

More submissive dogs tend to gravitate toward someone that is more the leader when there is a couple involved.

Thanks for the compliments on them. <3 Zeus is definitely a little baby so I'd believe that part hahaha. I feel like your response is probably the closest I'll ever have to an answer, thanks so much.

Thanks to all for your responses!

 

[TankNintendo]

Sometimes I try to figure out who my dogs prefer out of me and my boyfriend. Tank I feel is 60% me and 40% my boyfriend. I do the majority of the feeding, letting out, and training. Tank is very submissive and super obedient. He was very easy to train and eager to please us. Nintendo prefers me all the way. He's been the tougher of the two to train and I'm much more patient with him then my boyfriend is. So he prefers me, because I give him more attention and more positive direction. My boyfriend gets frustrated with him and gives up which doesn't help them bond sadly. Sometimes it really depends on who is running the show with their care. Are you the one who feeds/walks/trains them? Maybe you should step back a little bit and let your boyfriend take the reins a bit more with their care. Everyday care is a great way to help strengthen their bond and most dogs are gonna gravitate more towards their primary caretakers.

 

[Laco]

Dogs each have their own individual likes and dislikes. Our dog Samantha, who is like Velcro all day, follows me from room to room, if I sit, she will be with me on the chair, or on my lap, but at night, she will go to sleep in our bed, spends about half the night there, then will go downstairs to her own bed for the rest of the night until morning. She does this consistently, and has been for a long time. Just the way she likes to spend her night, I guess.