I agree with Steve.

I started to type about pack structure, dominance, etc., but stopped. Sudden aggression to the handler (or perceived as sudden by the handler) needs an expert to evaluate him and your interactions with him, I think. The likelihood that this has been in the making for some time and unnoticed makes an eval by expert "outside" eyes a good idea.

JMO.

I think it's good that you are asking and understanding that you must address it immediately.

 Quote: Karla Armendariz

The only aggression I have seen is with my daughters male yorkie, which the yorkie instigates. We now keep them separate

That's a wise decision.

Totally agree with keeping those dogs separate.

Have you done anything else (aside separating) when the yorkie instigates things? Any corrections?

I scold the yorkie and remove him if I witness it. However, today, my daughter and her husband are fencing off an area for the yorkie...so he will have his own yard to go into from a side entrance...I told them that I believe this interaction is responsible for this behavior and it can't be tolerated any longer. Again, the yorkie approaches Jonah in the run or crate...wherever he was put for the time the yorkie went out to do his business...Jonah could care less about the yorkie.

Another question, would neutering Jonah at this stage help at all? He just turned 3 in December, and being that he is still intact, I wonder if that makes it worse. I have no problem neutering him if it will help him.

Jonah and the yorkie both need to have some training. You need to get someone to consult with you sooner than later. Karla if you can I'm hosting a Roni Hoff seminar here in Las Vegas May 3rd and 4th and I see you are in california and sa short drive to here. It would help both you and your dogs to come. This is a working seminar were you can work on the issues you are having with 4 trainers there to guide you.

I wish I could Steve...but there is just no way I could swing that on short notice.
Sounds very interesting though...how would I find out if she is coming anywhere near here in the future?

 Quote: Karla Armendariz

I scold the yorkie and remove him if I witness it. However, today, my daughter and her husband are fencing off an area for the yorkie...so he will have his own yard to go into from a side entrance...I told them that I believe this interaction is responsible for this behavior and it can't be tolerated any longer.

I think they have to be separated AND that you and your dog need professional help. If I am reading the posts right, then laying the blame for your dog growling and hackling at you on the small dog who is not present at the time is way overlooking a bigger picture.

Good things that you're doing to separate the dogs, though.

JMO.

I agree with you Connie...I know we need help from a trainer. Now, the trick is finding one in the area that really knows what he/she is doing.
There are tons of clicker trainer's out here...none seem to believe in ever correcting a dog though...
There is another trainer I know...although I'm just not sure how he would be in this instance...he worked with us on the basics with Maggie...but I remember him telling me once she had a temperment issue when she was just a puppy...I didn't agree with that evaluation...so I'm not sure I would want to use him for this.

I've dealt with many highly food aggressive and kennel aggressive dogs all adults . The thing to remember about this is these 2 behaviors are related to the dogs survival instincts . Because these 2 behaviors are usually deeply set in adult dogs they are very difficult to deal with directly . IMO sometimes this is a dominance related issue and sometimes it's just a strong automatic instinctual survival reaction , nothing personal , dog just wants to get his food to survive .

I'm a K9 Handler and handle a VERY rank , handler aggressive and food aggressive GSD . I used to be a trainer in my K9 unit until my divorce and I needed more time with my kids. With my dog I tried months of hand feeding progressing to putting food into the bowl while holding it and allowing him to eat out of it while I held it , to putting the bowl on the ground and bit by bit putting food in the bowl . He was fine when I had the food and he knew he had to be calm to get it . As soon as I progressed to putting the full bowl of food on the kennel floor alone it only took a couple of days for him to revert back to his food guarding . It wasn't a suprise to me I did it more in hopes that it would improve our relationship related to his handler aggression . He came to me as a 2yr old handler aggressive dog . I was hoping it would solve his growling but knew it was a long shot .

My routine now is alot like yours and many others here . Put the dog in a down or sit , put his bowl of food in his crate or kennel ( I use both )release him from his sit/down and leave making sure nothing comes around him while he's eating . Return when he's done and remove the bowl . The whole time he's growling and slobbering .

Now with my dog I believe it's related to both dominance AND a strong survival instinct. Be cause I choose not to deal with these 2 behaviors by trying to extinguish them doesn't mean I'm allowing him to dominate me . I simply choose my battles . I deal with it by making sure he has a secure place to eat and noone gets around him while he's eating . I handle his dominance by doing consistant obediance , calmly and consistantly correcting disobediance right away not after multiple commands . I also don't allow him to get away with dominant behavior once he's away from his kennel .

My point in all this is you can deal with these 2 issues without having to extinguish them and still be the pack leader and have a very well behaved obediant dog . Mine is very controllable on the street and also does very well in competitions .

My advice is try the hand feeding advise others have given . It can't hurt but if it doesn't work . Go back to how you were presenting it and make sure the dog is allowed to eat in peace . Then make sure you maintain his obediance and good behavior away from the food and kennel . Qualified professional help can't hurt at this point but I would for sure get help if his behavior get worse away from the kennel . Also make sure you behavior hasn't change because he growled at you . He could easily pick up on your fear and get worse . Continue to be calm and consistant in your handling of him and don't take it personal and let it effect your relationship with him .

As for having him fixed . Usually in my experiance having an adult dog fixed has very little effect on his behaviors since they are all pretty much set by then .

Thanks for your feedback Jim...it was very reassuring.