Charlie- Chihuahua

Question
About a month ago I adopted a male chihuahua from a shelter. I was informed that he'd been rescued from a puppy mill and he was two to three years old. In Charlie's behavior I could observe that he had been neglected and was frightened of not only my family but everything in his surroundings. He'd spent two weeks at a foster home where he had shwon some improvement however, once being returned back to the shelter to be neutered once again became a shy fearful dog. Over the time that I have had Charlie, he has improved significantly, he likes to play with other dogs and myself as well as my mother. However, he seems to have aggression towords men. After two weeks Charlie began becomming vocal and that included both barking and growling. Since, he has chosen to growl and nearly attack my father and boyfriend on several instances. He shows a fondness for my boyfriend but only after spending 10 to 15 minutes with him EACH time he is intorduced to him. Each time he is around my father or boyfriend he not only barks and runs away but if they attempt to touch me in any way Charlie growls and stands as if he's about to attack. I understand that this is an issue of fear and I plan on taking him to training lessons within the next month or so but seeing as he snapped at my father for trying to pet him (while I was at work) I can't have him behaving this way in my house. I was wondering if you have any suggestions for modifying this behavior until I can see a trainer. He's a really good dog and I don't have any problems with him other than his disrespectful treatment of the owner of my house.  

Answer
Your dog has a strong fear response toward men (as you know), most likely a combination of the miscreant man who ran the puppy mill and the animal control officers.  He has been with you only a month; frankly, I'm surprised that any adoption agency worth its salt would let this dog go into a home with multiple men, especially one where there's a great deal of social interaction with men.  But I guess beggars can't be choosers; the dog is obviously failing, however.

Your boyfriend and father need to IGNORE THIS DOG TOTALLY.  Coercing interaction or attempting to force interaction is worsening his fear.  He is defending himself the only way he can: running, or standing his ground to fight.  He is not being "disrespectful", he is demonstrating the result of human beings who treated him as an object (puppy mill owners), neglected and abused him, and created a situation that will require months of rehabilitation.  Talk to your father; explain the situation and ask him NOT TO INTERACT WITH THIS DOG unless the dog approaches him.  This WILL happen.  The dog is obviously able to overcome his fear, but forcing it will work exactly in the opposite direction of what you intend.  If the dog responds with aggression when a man (your boyfriend, father or any other male visitor) attempts to interact with you, turn your back on the dog and walk away quickly.  Do this EVERY TIME.  If he persists in growling, walk out of the room and put a closed door between you and him (for a count of ten), then return to the room and start over.  To initiate this, do a few setups over the course of several days.  Ask your father to approach you (while you are prepared to walk away from the dog quickly) and react immediately to any aggression the dog demonstrates.  He should quickly learn that you remove yourself when he demonstrates this behavior.  Meanwhile, you really need the intervention of an experienced behaviorist to help you socialize this dog and adapt him to your family situation.  Just any dog trainer won't do; group obedience lessons may even worsen this dog's problem, since there will be men in the room and the trainer might be male.  Be careful who you hire; ask for references (and check them); make certain the trainer understands the unique needs of a dog that has been subjected to serious abuse and neglect.