I'm new here and questions about trianing. First some background. My husband and I have a 7-year old son. We adopted a male cockapoo puppy who was neutered at 6 mos. of age and he went to basic obedience through a trainer. Recently, after he turned 2 years old, he started displaying signs of dominance. From what I gather from Mr. Frawley's list, he is maturing and trying to be higher up in the pack. On 3 separate occassions he has warned by either growling or acting like he would nip at some children -- all instances happened in our home. One time it happened when a little girl was near his food bowl (with food in it), he faked a nip. Another time, he jumped up to lick a little girl's face and I believe accidentally scratched her with his claw which needed to be clipped. The last time it happened while a little girl was petting him on the couch in our home, he growled and scratched her trying to get her away? After reading all of the information Mr. Frawley gives about what the signs of dominance are, I realized that he does a lot of the things listed, like always going out of the door or coming in first, allowed to go on furniture, coming down stairs really fast (always first). Now for the questions. I am keeping him off the sofa now while I am home -- I just say down and make him retreat to his dog bed. No problem at all no guff at all from him! When he was a puppy he was confined to the kitchen and was crated when we left the house. After he turned 1 1/2 I took down all the gates -- he became calmer, much less hyper. He still sleeps in his crate every night. Do I need to crate him now when I leave the house? Or do I leave him loose and catch him in the act of not listening and then correct him? I am concerned he will become extra hyper again, as he is a very hyper breed. FYI: While I am instituting these changes -- making him sit at the door before going out and in, making him wait for me to go in first, keeping him off the sofa with an "off" -- he seems really fine and calm and okay with the changes. I guess I just really needed to let him know that I AM TRULY BOSS. Any thoughts, tips, etc would be most appreciated! Thanks, April <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />