If things have all been fine until now...I would suspect that it is a 2 yr old dog going thu maturity & TESTING you in every way possible. Which is very often the case especially with stronger breeds.

You stated that this is an intact male. That can often up the anti, so to speak in the testing of a dog entering maturity.

He is telling you that if you don't take charge of things, he WILL. Leadership skills need to be reexamined & you must be taken to task on making sure that you back up any commands that you give. He has now leaned that he can push your buttons & yes, SCARE you if he growls & refuses to go in his crate etc. He has learned that you will just put him back outside & leave him alone & not ask him to do anything. He can have the freedom to do as he likes, even if it is in a 20 x 20 kennel. He WINS!!!

NIFIF is a very good place to start, as Tracy said. I would also really up the exercise alot, as tired dogs will often be less interested in testing the system as much.

I would do multiple upbeat positive reward OB training sessions a day.

Be VERY consistant always in what you ask & expect. Give the dog leadership & guidance in what you are asking him. Isolating & exileing the dog is not the answer.

Sounds like you have taken on alot, maybe too much, with an additional dog in the house. This dog makes 3 right? That's alot of dogs that need to be kept up in training (training is a constant ongoing process) & exercise...besides having a young family & a job.

If you don't change this very soon....growling at you will be the least of your problems with this dog.

Thank you for all your advice, I am committed to getting this under control. My husband handles all of the training of his GSH, our Min Pin is blind and just enjoying the remainder of his days kicking it in the back yard, my dobe is my only charge and I will up his excercise although he is in a large enclosed kennel, within our large enclosed back yard, gets walked daily and generally after a 1/2 hours doesn't want to play catch with the kids anymore, I'm not convinced that exercise is the issue, but will up the anti in addition to starting our basic obedience training over again just as a refresher, making sure that he knows that I am the master of his world.

Not "the" issue -- but "an" issue.

Structured exercise is always a good thing. It does sound vague, but a hyper dog from underexercise is almost like adding a layer to get through in training and structure. The wiredness of underexercise is very similar to the effect of a sugar rush on kids (and adults!).

I don't count being alone in the back yard at all. Waiting for something to happen in a yard, regardless of size, has no value in my exercise plans. Catch and fetch, though, especially if ended before it becomes boring (I always end training, games, and everything else good while the dog is still ready for more .... always on a note of "yay! this was so awesome! I cannot wait for next time!", similar to ending all training sessions on a command that I know the dog does well and will earn a marker and reward before we end the session.

And I like your plan to revisit basic ob. This "master of the dogs' world" does refresher ob marker sessions forever, along with new stuff (even tricks!) to masker marker training always one of the dogs' most beloved events.

NILIF, as mentioned, would be a huge and immediate part of my multi-pronged attack on the issue.

Please let us know how it goes!

These would become my daily mantra:

 Quote: Anne Jones

.... making sure that you back up any commands that you give. He has now leaned that he can push your buttons & yes, SCARE you if he growls & refuses to go in his crate etc. He has learned that you will just put him back outside & leave him alone & not ask him to do anything. He can have the freedom to do as he likes, even if it is in a 20 x 20 kennel. He WINS!!!

NIFIF is a very good place to start, as Tracy said. I would also really up the exercise alot, as tired dogs will often be less interested in testing the system as much.

I would do multiple upbeat positive reward OB training sessions a day.

Be VERY consistant always in what you ask & expect. Give the dog leadership & guidance in what you are asking him. Isolating & exileing the dog is not the answer.

You are wise to recognize that action is needed, and this post pretty much gives that action-plan.