Quote: Keith Kaplan

I think another issue that I am seeing that is not included in my past post is that my girlfriend feels he should not growl when she walks by him. but since she has moved in, she thinks he should be like the other two and not growl.

Do you not agree with her Keith, that your dog shouldn't be growling at her....EVER.

If my dog so much as curled his lip to someone i would consider to be my significant other, he would get a correction.

Why would you think that your dog growling at her is something she should accept?
At least that's the way your post is coming across to me.
that your girlfriend is in the wrong for saying he shouldn't be growling at her, but you feel she is expecting too much from the dog.

If I was the girlfriend and the dog was growling at and attacking me, and you weren't taking charge, it wouldn't be the dog I'd be giving my level 10 correction to... You can do this - you've been given the right advice by the right folks, it just has to be consistantly implemented. Good luck with both dog and girlfriend.

Excue me!
If someone was to move in with me, they would either learn how to deal with the dogs or move out. Because the dogs aren't going anywhere and I can't be there 24/7.

Nah,
I'm not mad (though some do think I'm insane), only pointing out what I think is an oversight in what a real 'pack structure' should be.
Providing Keith has a girl friend of majority age, ie. an adult (otherwise that's a different issue), then maybe it's time for the girl friend to step up to the task. And stop just demanding in one direction.

Wendy, some suggestions in the past were to not correct the growling as he is trying to communicate and if that is corrected then he will not communicate and just possibly attack. I would like to get it to where she can feel confident about walking by him and not feel threatened he will lunge and possibly bite. I understand both sides. She thinks he should never growl, some posters suggest the growling is communicating and that it is important not to correct for the reason stated above.

I am going to bring him to further obedience classes starting this weekend. The trainer has experience in personal protection, schutzhund and advanced obedience. She also has experience dealing with aggressive dogs.

When I adopted him, the first night when I was playing with him, he growled and lunged at me when i was playing with him and his bone. I did an alpha roll for about 20 minutes until he calmed down. He was better after that, but as he has aged, it has gotten worse for both of us. I think he has weak nerves and his early socialization and training by his previous family was lacking (I got him when he was almost 1). I am taking this all as a learning experience, but I want to make sure my girlfriend feels safe in our home.

Thanks.

 Quote: randy allen

Nah,
I'm not mad (though some do think I'm insane), only pointing out what I think is an oversight in what a real 'pack structure' should be.
Providing Keith has a girl friend of majority age, ie. an adult (otherwise that's a different issue), then maybe it's time for the girl friend to step up to the task. And stop just demanding in one direction.

I agree completely Randy, she absolutely has to know how to handle the dogs. I was just "hypothesising" (sp?) on if the boyfriend didn't see a big deal about it (which I do not believe is the case here) and didn't feel the need to correct the dog. It was more me making an attempt at humor which fell flat. Hate it when that happens...

I would suggest the girlfriend take the dog to OB classes.

 Quote: randy allen

I would suggest the girlfriend take the dog to OB classes.

That's a great idea. She gets skills and the dog re-learns his pack position.

Keith, that's great you are getting the dog back into OB. The lessons just have to be repeated in the house for absolute consistency. I do agree with Randy's opinion that the GF needs a major role in the OB. The dog must see her as legit.

Takes some courage to post up when you knew you may get some information you didn't want to hear necessarily. Kudos to you, Keith, for stepping up and asking anyway. My bet is that you'll conquer this challenge, and you, GF and dogs will be happier.

I meant to include that in my post, it will be my girlfriend and myself at the obedience class, but she will do the training. I want her to feel comfortable handling him and understand how to properly correct him. PS she is an adult....

I absolutely feel this is a big deal, that is why I am taking the steps to correct the dog and the situation through training and using the advice given here.