Connie, I don't take anything personal. I asked for help and am willing to take any advice that is given. I will start crate training. I didn't know a dog was suppose to be feed in his crate.

We all really want to make life better for Jasper. I have never dealt with a reactive dog before. I just don't want to make anything worse. Just want to make his life better.

I'm sure I can find some info on crate training on this site.

The point is that the dog is left alone to eat. The crate can make that very simple.

Did you see this question about when he won't come out?

"Remove him from the crate for what purpose? Does it matter? Is it when there is a reactivity-trigger around, or always?"

 Quote: mary weinberg

I don't take anything personal. I asked for help and am willing to take any advice that is given.

AMEN!!!

Don't lose hope, but more importantly, don't lose reason.

Hi Mary and welcome!

Just a word about the location of the crate. You want the dog to feel unstressed and safe in his crate. That may mean moving it to a quiet area of the house, or to an area where he can observe what is going on but isn't right in the middle of all the action. You may even want to consider adding another crate, so that he can have a couple of places to feel secure when people are around.

I'm not clear, is he crate trained or not?

He has a crate, He was crate trained as a puppy to house break him. I keep his crate with the door open in our family room. He spends most of the day in the crate because he chooses to. I only shut the door if someone comes over to the house. So I guess I need to know what does crate trained mean.

Sometimes he will not come out of the crate and I need to pull him out so I can take him outside to go to the bathroom or for a walk. Often when he know's I'm getting the leash to take him out he runs to hide in the crate.

I do walk him everyday. The weather has been so bad in Chicago for the last month. Raining daily, yard all muddy I put the dog on the treadmill. It is one of his favorite things.

He does sleep in my bedroom at night but never on the bed or any furniture.

Crate trained means he goes in, and comes out, on your command.

It's good that he seeks solace there on his own accord, but you need to be certain you can send him there under your direction, and bring him out, as well.

It also sounds like the leash has come to mean negative things to him, so we need to work on changing that, as well.

Perhaps do away with walks for now, and use the treadmill, to build the positive leash association.

Sounds like he's crate trained to me!
The important thing is that he views the crate in a positive manner, not as a type of punishment.

Does he like any type of dog treats? (or human food scraps?)
(to come up with a plan for getting him out of the crate... )

(and Aaron's answer was more accurate than mine...)

How old are your kids?

And what's your daily routine like with him? Sorry for the 20 questions, but it'll help people to figure out the best approach with your dog...

He likes liver treats and I do use cheese sticks and cooked ground beef as treats. If he is very nervous about a noise outside he will not take a food treat to come out of the crate. I only try to get him out to go to the bathroom.

My kids are 18 , 17 and 14. He is great with my kids except yesterday when he went after my son's hand. He also will stand in front of his crate when my son is close to it. It looks like he doesn't want my son to try and go in it ( Which he wouldn't). My son is the only person who won't let the dog go in his room. He feels if the dog won't share his den my son won't share his room.

We get up about 5:30 am THe dog goes out in the dog run to take care of his morning business. I feed him when he comes in. I will say I am guilty of letting the food stay out longer than I should. Sometime between 8:30 - 9:30 we go for a walk or on the treadmill. I try to keep him on for 30 minutes. I usually do some small training sessions during the day. He knows his commands sit, stay, wait, down, leave it. He is not good at coming. He is mostly on his own during the day.

When the kids get home from school around 4, my son will usually play some tug games and chase games with the dog in the house. When my husband get's home he and my 14 year old take him in the yard to play ball. I know the dog could play longer but if he hears a truck or loud car he runs to the door to get back into the house.

I'v been working on feeding him dinner after we are finished. We do not allow him to eat from the table but will put some meat in his dog dish when we are done eating. Since he bit my friend I have put away all toys and the food bowl only comes out for 10 minutes 2 times a day.