Recently my wife and I decided to adopt two adult dogs (mixed breed 1 male 7 years old and 1 female 6 years old) from a local shelter. At the time my wife was not working and spent the first 4 months with them almost all the time. The dogs will constantly follow her around the house and pay no attention to me. The dogs do not listen to me at all. I tried my best to help train the dogs, but they do not do anything I say. They will listen to her without a problem. I read many books on trying to train them, but the first thing that is always stated is that the dog want to please me, but that is not the case here. At times when I would discipline or reach to pet the male he would pee on me or the floor. Recently my female has started to growl at me during the night and will not come when she is called. I have tried many different treats, but none work. Now after six months our marriage is really starting to feel the strain of these dogs and need some serious help.

Is your wife willing to work with you in getting the dogs to warm up to you? If so, you might try being the only one that does the things that they love most for a while. You feed them, you let them out of the crate (if they are crated), YOU take them on walks, You throw the ball for them. I'm not saying that the Mrs. should totally ignore them or anything, but it might help if you are the one providing their favorite things for a while.

I would not allow them on the bed or furniture either. (Don't know if you do this or not)