This. I have bitten a dogs scruff before though. Consistency is key. If you and the lady friend do different thing for different behaviors the dog isn't going to know what to think. Have it on a feeding schedule and make it sit before you give it it's food, it's a dominance thing. Reward it when it goes potty out side and if you can train it to only go in mulch or some place easy to clea. Up. Do not let it sleep with you no matter how cute it looks, this goes back to dominance you share a sleeping space it sees you as it's equal not the master. Any time you tell at it or it does some thing bad and you if a command try showing your teeth while growling. It all sounds alittle crazy but we have used this with all of our Dobermans and it works.