Thank you Sandy for understanding where my question is stemming from and for helping me to "refine" my thinking.

No bones, no issue. Problem solved. This is great. For now. Although I *do* want to work through this issue at some point.

I can understand the need to address this, and *will* as soon as the time is right. I'm just wondering if now IS the right time, given he is still growing, changing, etc.

It did even cross my mind to wait to address this until he is 2-3 years old.

I did incorporate ob into feeding times. In December, before we left for CA, he was in a platz and broke it to jump up after the bowl in my hand prepping at the fridge. Food went up and he went to crate. I then fed him with a makeshift DD collar on and he ate right at my feet. Growled once but shut up. However, did not have time to proof it, as my mom's safety was my concern, so I tapered dog to kibble over that week.

As for feeding in crate, he shows no signs of aggression and in fact, I feel confidant that he will continue this when I switch him to raw. I have a young child and feeding dog in crate seems to me to be the safest route. He gets his privacy, we get ours at mealtimes. Fair is fair.

I do appreciate the discussion here.

Oh, and Al, I have discussed this with Will (and some others), I'm just "tossing it to the board" for further discussion and thoughts. In my past, I likely would have handled this with a heavy hand too, (and prolly wouldn't be analyzing this or even thinking another thing about it at all!!!)

My opinion is that if at some point you do want to address it, to wait until he's older so he gets lots of time between now and then to get it ingrained into his head that YOU are the boss. He's less likely to challenge you if he has more time under his belt, if he challenges you at all at that time.