severe change in my dogs behavior

Question
QUESTION: Hello,
   I have an 11 year old Rotwieler,and have had him since he was 5 weeks old. He is a great dog. I recently (one year ago) got married and in the last 6 months my dogs behavior has changed drastically. he has always been house broken, never chewed anything except his toys. very athletic and a great all around dog. He was always allowed on the furniture, given numerous treats and had free run of the house . after getting married my wife and i bought new furniture and he was no longer allowed on it . he gets much less treats because my wife thinks he doesn't need them . he is still in great shape . he thinks he is a puppy (very active). there have been alot of changes since i have gotten married but i still spend a lot of time with him . recently he has been really spiteful when i leave he steals food from where ever he can get it. counter tops, trash , anywhere . and his food bowl is always full I'm in the military  so if i go away for a week here or there its especially horrible . he seems to be very spiteful to my wife. she will go to take him out and he will walk to the door and urinate ,and or defecate right on the floor and go lay down . also it seems like a regular occurrence that he tears the trash apart . he doesn't go to the bathroom in the house when I'm around but when he does if I'm not. I love this dog so much but we are constantly fighting about him . i don't know what to do . do you have any ideas or advice. please help.

ANSWER: Your wife does not like your dog.  This is obvious and it's too late to warn you that marrying someone who doesn't share your interests might not be a good idea.  Stealing food is a resource acquisition thing, a rank statement, and is highly self rewarding.  He feels insecure around your wife and doesn't know his "place"; he can't read her and is attempting to promote himself over her in rank so as to be able to control the situation.  Dogs don't understand we are much more complex creatures and that they will be unable to control us as a "pack", but they still try because that is a primary motivator in the canine.  You need to have a conversation with your wife about what goes on when you are not at home.  is it possible the dog urinates and defecates at the door because she is NOT TAKING HIM OUT??  Dogs who choose to eliminate at doors are often attempting to access the place they prefer..which is outside.  Also, do you KNOW if his food bowl is full when you're not there to fill it??  I smell a rat: I think your wife seriously dislikes this dog and may be contributing to the problem behaviors you're suddenly seeing in a passive aggressive manner.  You need to discuss this because this dog is FAR TOO OLD to rehome.

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QUESTION: I do know his food is full when i am not home and that she does take him out . he has a multi bowl dish so he always has food. MY wife never had a dog so it is  adjustment period for her but she does take him out. she isnt a mean person. i see the destruction right when it happens when I'm away . my dog will actually wait for me to go to work then sneak into the kitchen and destroy the trash. he used to just steal her food but last week i left the room and he stole my dinner. Also all this really started 6 -8 months ago  and my wife is pregnant. do you think that could have anything to do with it. and could you recommend what we should do i'm not going to get rid of my dog and my wife hasn't asked me to but with a new baby coming in march and me leaving in april  for 5 weeks (for school) i don't want this to keep happening . do you have any recommendations .

Answer
Your dog is expressing an extreme anxiety in rank and is attempting to make his "statement" regarding his position in your "pack."  You need a credentialed behavior expert.  Do not, under any circumstances, bring a newborn baby into a home with a Rottweiler who is not under control and is showing signs of temperament and behavioral disorders.  Contact the veterinary school closest to your home and ask for a referral to a person with a degree in Animal Behavior or Veterinary Behavior. Do NOT hire some dog trainer with fake credentials!  Treating this dog incorrectly will worsen the problem and may provoke aggression.