My 4 year old male shih tzu was laying down with my husband ...

Sometimes with our pets even with each other when we are laying down sleeping they feel they have to be more protective of us even with spouses for some reason. It is the same for me and my husband, if we are laying down and one of us goes near the other one our chihuahua wants to growl and come toward us as a protective method. It seems bad but that is their nature and I don't think it had to do with you personally it is just their protective nature, but you have to tru and curb that aggressiveness before it becomes worse. So without yelling or scolding and doing what you did putting him in time out will teach him that is wrong so he will learn not to do it, but that is just nature in some animals.

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*Cheryl K* Please click the "ACCEPT" button
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My husband wasnt sleeping. He had just fluffed his pillows and layed down. Watson was on the bed as I was turning the duvet down. I gave my husband a peck on the cheek and as usual, and then was going to give Watson a little kiss, like I have done for years, on the top of his head when he bite me in the face.

Have you seen any signs of illness or a difference in behavior in him? It doesn't actually take sleeping but when we are laying down for some reason even relaxing they tend to take on a more protective nature. This was also something that did not start with ours right away this just started in the last year and when I meantioned it to the veterinarian I work for that was what he told me was it was a protective instinct even towards us as his parents. You did the very best thing you could in letting him know that he did wrong but unless he is not feeling well this is a protective instince action that you will have to keep an eye on and work with him to keep it from becoming worse. It could have happened in just the opposite way as well, it could have been you laying down and your husband doing the same thing and he might have reacted the same way. It seems as though your best bet is to not allow him on the bed and you may want to think about getting a trainer. With us we had to stop him from getting on the bed with us to stop this type of behavior as it seems as though when we would bend down he looked at is as a dominant move on our part. And he would try to show us that he was the boss in the household. I think your best bet would be to get some training for him and not let him think that he can be the boss of your household as this will only get worse in time if it is allowed to continue and for now allowing him on the bed will add to the problem.

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*Cheryl K* Please click the "ACCEPT" button
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