aggressive Cocker

Question
Dear Delores
My Cocker Spaniel, Cash, is about 5 years old.  Our family got him from a rescue about four months ago.  Cash loves my husband and I and our 8 and 10 year old boys, but growls and nips at our younger children (ages 3 and 6).  This is not provoked by the children. Cash has acted that way from the moment they met. He is most aggressive when sitting on the lap on one of us that he likes.  But if my 3 and 6 year old is alone, Cash is more friendly.  We had hoped this behavior would change with time, but I have seen no improvment.  We desperatly love this dog.  Is there any way to stop this?

Answer
Hi Becki,
Cash sees the older members of your family as pack leaders
and the younger ones as beneath him in the pack.  So when he's on your lap and one of the younger children comes near, he disciplines them.  When he's alone with them there's no competition.

Now, what to do?  I need to ask a few questions before I can offer advice.
1.  Does budget allow for an in-house trainer?
2.  What do you do when he reacts this way?
3.  Has Cash ever actually bitten?
4.  Are there specific circumstances (as when on lap) that seem to bring out this behavior?
5.  What commands does he know and obey?
6.  Who walks and feeds him?

And, yes, this can definitely be fixed but "hoping" won't do it :)
Right away, I can tell you that he's no longer allowed on furniture.
Ever!

I hope you do love him enough to hang in and train him properly.
What's involved is teaching him to see all humans as pack leaders and he's at the bottom of the totem pole.  This means a family meeting where everyone understands how important it is to respond to him exactly the same way and not to break the "new rules".
Delores