I no he is aggressive in some form, just unsure which it is. he has come very close to seriously biting someone. yesterday would of been very bad had it not been for the muzzle

I agree with JEnnifer that it dounds like your dog is dominant And territorial.

Small signs of dominance can be things like
staring at you (you mentioned this) but when he does it wouldnt be a searching look or like he want to come to you but a very intense stare, with the body stiff. its a little hard to explain.
also if he's allowed on the couch or bed, he wont move or get off when you tell him to, or he may even growl or snap.
going through doors ahead of you (pushing past you, as well)pulling on the leash is usually a dead giveaway if the dog has been taught how to walk on a loose lead but doesnt when you tell him to.

I suggest that you get a prong collar, while your saving. about the trainer, Im not sure that normal obedience training is going to fix this. some trainers cant really handle a dominant dog anyway, if they have alot of other dogs there and when dealing with behavioral issues, you have to start at the core, which is pack structure.
First read the book on pack structure and becoming the pack leader, then read about corrections. Actually, since its free anyway, read all the articles and ebooks that you can you'll start to get an idea of what to do.
You can work on obedience training yourself with your dog, make it fun, not confrontational, but in doing this you can start to establish your self as the Alpha

Oh, If this were my dog I'd start immediatly with the steps that are suggested in the "pack structure" article where the dog starts staying its crate and only gets out for the restroom, excersise and food. also the "nothing in life is free" routine where he doesnt get anything (going outside, getting out of his crate or even his food) without doing something to earn it, like sitting.

And stay in close contact on the forum there are really experienced, the best , trainers here.

 Quote: Sarah Snape

And im in the library alot but it seems the only way you can get a good book is if you order it first, i will see if i can order, ceasers books

And meanwhile, while waiting for Leerburg videos and books from the library, you can listen to podcasts and read articles on Leerburg.com (free).

what is the podcasts? where do i find them? is there a link that i can follow?

IM GOING TO HAVE TO GO TO BED! i can hardily keep my eyes open. its 12;30 in morning here. gotta be up at 7 to wiz dog out for brisk walk and straight back to bed agan! i need a sleep in (better yet a holiday).

Night all

Sarah - ok I understand now.

One thing to remember is that a dog can be dominant and not have much drive, dogs can be dominant by default if the owner just never "steps up" and doesn't enforce pack structure. Dominance alone does not make a dog aggressive - dominance plus drive, sharpness, nerves, handling, and past experiences combine to make a dog dominant aggressive. Dogs can be aggressive without dominance as well.

A lot of dogs do not vocalize. As far as the dog is concerned he is giving clear signals with his body language, he doesn't need to growl. Growling can be situational or with certain people - if the dog learns that growling gets him what he wants then he will growl. Different situation, growling is ignored or overlooked or doesn't get the dog what it wants then it won't growl and just moves to aggression, if lashing out gets him what he wants when growling didn't then next time he will bypass the growling in the same or similar situation or with the same people etc.

Body posture, tail possition, ears, mouth, eyes, these all are indicators of your dogs mood and intent prior to action. This is your dogs language, he is giving you signs. You are seeing these signs .. you described them, after all You know that when he slits his eyes or he loweres his head or raises his head or his ears go back or he gets a kink in his tail etc etc(or whatever you have observed) that he is going to strike, these are your signs, these are what you need to watch for.

Working on pack structure is a must.

I would recommend a DD collar not a prong at this point, as prong corrections for aggression issues have to be extremely well timed to stop behavior and not increase/escalate it. Prongs do not diminish drive or aggression when the dog is already in drive or state of aggression, they tend to increase it. You must catch the dog in that split second of time before the behavior starts. I really suggest the Dominant Aggressive Dogs DVD

 Quote: Sarah Snape

what is the podcasts? where do i find them? is there a link that i can follow?

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

I would listen to the Groundwork podcast, order the Pack Structure video, and get CM's book (Be the Pack Leader) later, when you have more money.

I say it in that order because, like Michelle, I think that you will see immediate steps to take in the videos (and in the podcast).

http://leerburg.com/dogtrainingpodcasts.htm

http://www.leerburg.com/301.htm

And I would also start *today* reading the Dominant Dog articles and listening to the poscasts. You can make changes *today.*

He seems nervous, unsure of himself. Not at all confident. Has he had much socializing?
Doesn't seem to see you as the leader and doesn't feel comfortable BEING the leader.

Michelle - I disagree. By her description of his dominance with other dogs and his behavior with other dogs shows that he is dominant and confident. His forward aggressive behavior towards strangers at the home is territorial - staying in the doorway and not letting them in is "confidence" as he is "standing his ground." His lashing out when someone tries to pet him - this is hard to judge over the internet but she stated the dog is fine if the people stay put and he goes to them.

When the alpha/dominant member of a pack is dealing with strange people or dogs etc it is natural to put the new members in their place. When someone comes up to a dog it can be seen as a challenge, you are entering the dominant members space without invitation, you are upright thus above the dog in body posture, you are reaching to touch.. this is a no-no to the dog and so the dog corrects the person.

As I said it is difficult to gauge over the internet without being able to see the dog but based on her descriptions of his behavior (ears, tail, forward motion, barking/growling, lunging) IMO and IME he sounds territorial and dominant.

A dog that is unsure acts unsure.

well just got back from our walk and i swear its getting worse, even by the day.

we was on our front garden ready to leave any another dog walks past. far enough the other seemed very interested and bruno was near pulling me over, growling and barking. and wouldnt listen to me.

right after i repeadtly told him to lie down because he kept getting up and stood over him, just to make a point, and seemed to take that in. (he is never aggressive towards me)

then halfway down the street a man was waiting in his gateway for his car to warm up and he barks at him and pulls me toward him.

Then on way back a young school girl walks towards us and he gets down low into a predator stalk. he wouldnt again listen to me. and he pulled me towards her at last second.

I am worried now, asing the fact, if something did happen i couldnt stop it because he is too strong for me.

even if a trainer did manage to sort this out with me, its not garenteed 100% 24/7. i couldnt forgive myself if he bite a child.

Thanks for the podcast link? or the reminder where to find it. I was a bit dim *blushes*