I have purchased and watched the 8 weeks to 8 months and basic dog obedience DVDs. I have read much of the site and learned quite a bit. Naturally, I found this site after purchasing a puppy from a person who placed an ad in the local paper. The puppy is a male half German Sheppard and half Chesapeake Bay Retriever and was brought home at 8 weeks. He has taken well to his crate and learns very fast. He can “down” and “sit” but I don’t have a long line yet to teach him the recall. He is a pretty mouthy dog even for a puppy. I have a 4 year old whom it seemed he thought of as a sibling. After a little work with the two she can now tell him no when he starts playing ruff and he will obey. He has never been in our rooms or on our beds or furniture and have avoided the other things that might make him feel dominant in some way. The problem that has prompted this post is that he is aggressive with food and he warned off a 12 week old lab that was playing with his toy and then took control of all toys. The food protection thing has been going on for 3 weeks and I have tried to be there when he eats and pet him while he is eating. The last time he growled when I was near him when he was eating I made him eat while my hand was in his bowl the whole time. I am willing to work with this dog and spend the time to teach him to “be nice” around food and other dogs but having children and friends with children cannot have a dog that exhibits this type of behavior. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

If your pup is protective over his food then it is a good idea to hand feed him or to hold the bowl while he is eating, like you did do. He has to realise that it is you who is in control, not him. also a commmon mistake is to take the food bowl away while he is still eating, this can lead to a dog protecting his food cus he thinks it might be taken away. About the toy thing with the lab, that is perfectally natural, so you shouldn't leave dogs together with a toy, its looking for a fight, just think about two baby's together with a toy, one always ends up crying.
Good luck with your pup <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />