Mike,
Thanks again for the response and I really appreciate the feedback you have given me. I hope you did not take my reply as a critique of the techniques you're using as I don't intend to. I've read and tried all different kinds of things. I guess what I need to do is really be consistent and stop confusing the dogs.

I'm referring to the "behaviorist" as the guy I hired to help me out with the aggression issues. Not sure what a proper behaviorist consists of, but that is the title he claimed. I would also like to explain that the Girlfriend has been around since I first adopted Oliver. Oliver listens to her just as much as he will to me. I wouldn't be suprised if there's a "deeper" bond between them since I work and go to school so I'm not around him as much.

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Hi Connie,
Not to dwell on the past, but when we first adopted Oliver we didn't have a crate. He slept on the floor and once in awhile would sleep on our laps. He would often fall asleep, then wake up suddenly and give a growl. He'd look up at us and either of us would say, "it's okay" and he'd go right back to sleep. Later, we were told countless times that dogs should not be falling asleep on your lap. So, we stopped this. One specific incident I remember well was when he was sleeping right next to my feet as I was sitting on the couch. He had been in the house all day playing around with a ball and I guess he got tired and wanted to sleep. He was actually sleeping on my foot. I went to get up, and his immediate reaction was a quick growl and a bite. Luckily, he didn't touch me, but could've easily done damage. It's never an excessive attack, just an immediate growl > attack. As soon as I said "No!" he stopped and went back to sleep.

I've checked his hearing and eye sight (as suggested) and he is just fine. Vet says he's very healthy.

Now since he doesn't sleep out of is crate anymore, I feel like he's more reactive to sounds. Where as before, I feel that he was reactive to movements.

When we leave the house, they are in separate rooms. Oliver is crated, and the other guy is in a pen in another room. However, at night, when we're all asleep, Oliver is crated in the room and Spot is beneath the bed. He doesn't really ever come out from under the bed, so I wouldn't say he has access to Oliver (whom is crated). The only way Oliver (the crated dog) can see Spot is if Spot goes directly in front of his crate, which is very rare. Spot is about 10" tall so it's nearly impossible for Oliver to see him when he's sitting in the crate.

I know what NILIF stands for, but have not read into it too much. Though, I'm looking into it now..

I again want to say thank you to everyone for all the helpful information that has been shared.

I really want to make it clear that I am not at all criticizing anyone's techniques or information they're giving me. I am very interested in everyone's opinion and am trying to learn what fits best for me.

I don't mean to "attack" anyone when I reply, I just want to explain what / why I've been doing the things I've been doing.

Again, thank you!

 Quote: John Nguyen

Thanks again for all the replies and helpful information!

I totally understand what you're saying by not correcting him when in the crate. I actually live in Davis, CA but am from San Jose, CA. I'm back in the Bay almost every weekend so a trainer in the South Bay may actually work for me. Do you have any recommendations?

I do...I guess the question is - are you looking for a trainer for your current issues and any that arise in day to day behaviors or a trainer who also does dog sports? Are you going to be do anything with Oliver other than your basic family thing (walks, out in public, etc...) I have found there is a vast difference between the two, and trainers who are really into sport dogs don't necessarily know how to handle behavioral issues. Also, do you think Oliver tends to have dominate dog issues or do you think he has been confused by your training skills and the trainers who have tried to help in the past? I ask these questions because a lot of dog issues can be fixed quite easily when the owner is trained, unless the dog is really into being dominant than you it requires a whole different mindset. Let me know and I can recommend trainers I've had experience with. Oh, and would you prefer someone close(r) to you than SJ or it doesn't matter?

John,

No thin skin here. I probably sound like one miserable fellow.

Mostly I use sounds and gestures to work with the dogs. But I do have the alpha side.

I have nothing against behaviorists but advice is reinforced by attitude, in my opinion.

 Quote: John Nguyen

.... Not to dwell on the past, but when we first adopted Oliver we didn't have a crate. He slept on the floor and once in awhile would sleep on our laps. He would often fall asleep, then wake up suddenly and give a growl. He'd look up at us and either of us would say, "it's okay" and he'd go right back to sleep. Later, we were told countless times that dogs should not be falling asleep on your lap. So, we stopped this. One specific incident I remember well was when he was sleeping right next to my feet as I was sitting on the couch. He had been in the house all day playing around with a ball and I guess he got tired and wanted to sleep. He was actually sleeping on my foot. I went to get up, and his immediate reaction was a quick growl and a bite. Luckily, he didn't touch me, but could've easily done damage. It's never an excessive attack, just an immediate growl > attack. As soon as I said "No!" he stopped and went back to sleep.

When else?

What were these incidents:

... He's crated when indoors because he has tried to attack humans before. He has bit my girlfriend before and has tried to bite me a few times (when falling asleep, not in his crate).

When my girlfriend had gotten bit, it was coming home from a long walk. Oliver came in and began chewing on something he was not supposed to. She gave him a firm "no" and he looked at her, growled, and nipped her arm. Again, he immediately stopped when I said, "No!"

Another time was with my grandparents who Oliver actually knows quite well. He gets along with them just fine and actually seems to be really excited/happy around grandpa. First incident was when Oliver was playing outside and both my grandparents were sitting down on a bench. Oliver ran up wagging his tail and Grandpa pet him. Grandma was "baby talking" him and went to pet him when he immediately bit her arm. My Grandpa firmly said "no!" and he immediately stopped.

He has even tried to bite grandpa, but luckily could not. Oliver was loose in the kitchen (no food around) and grandpa was playing ball while watching TV. Grandpa was paying more attention to the TV and without any warning (no barking for attention or growling), Oliver lunged up to bite him.

All bites didn't break skin, but left a good bruise/mark.

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Tanya,
That would be great. My main focus I'm trying to resolve right now is his aggression issues.. however, when I first got him, I was hoping to work on off-leash reliability and going cycling with him. In fact, he did quite well when he was younger, but when I first noticed the aggression, I stopped letting him off-leash in public. He's much more nervous in public and I wouldn't trust him off-leash now (both running off and/or being aggressive towards others).

I personally think that when I first got him, he did have a few dominance issues, but I also think that I've confused him and in some sense made it worse.

Location is not an issue, especially if there's a great trainer in the San Jose area that you recommend. Though, I've always been afraid that if the trainer is not able to analyze his living environment, he/she will never really be able to see the specific issues we are having.

Hi John,

I PM'd you...

good luck!