Sam

Question
Hello, I have a 14 month male black labrador called Sam who is neutered.  Since we got him (when he was 4 months) he has always had a problem with food agression.  We have tried everything to get him to stop this, but we still have to hold the bowl while he is eating.  Since the agression got worse, he started standing up to us, if we told him to get off the couch, he snarled and lunged at us.  He went for me a few months ago and bit my right breast, i had to get a tetanus and ive still got a scar.  About an hour ago he done the toilet in the landing outside, he immediately became agressive and refused to let me take him out back because it meant walking by his mess.  So i brought him upstairs and my partner cleaned the mess.  When i took him back out, he jumped on my back and fell down 4 stairs (im also 3 months pregnant) I shouted on my partner and we tried to get sam to go back upstairs, but he wouldnt budge, he then lunged at my partner for no reason and was 'swinging' from his arm by his teeth, he kept biting him then started on his leg, i picked up the mop and hit him on the side and he let go. I want to know if getting him put to sleep is the best option? His agression has been since day one, and no matter what we do, it just gets worse.  Thanks for your time.

Answer
Nobody knows everything.  I am afraid this is an extremely difficult problem, one I don't have the tools to help you solve.  I doubt anybody can help you solve the problem over the internet.  If it is due to poor breeding and poor early socialization, perhaps nobody can really correct the problem.  Putting him to sleep maybe the best option as much as I hate to say so.  

I see 3 things to try first:

1 Go to dog training category here and ask some of the people there for help.  When it is the care and training of a young, well bred puppy, I may be as good as anybody on the net.  Correcting a problem like yours with an older dog is outside my training and experience.  I don't know how successful people are following the advice they get at dog Training, but the answers I read there sound good to me.  

2 Try a private trainer.  You may get the same advice at dog training too, but plus help finding a good one.  There are phonies and shysters out there.

3 Find a Lab rescue to take him.  You may find a rescue near you starting at http://www.akc.org/breeds/rescue.cfm  The rescue people are skilled volunteers that will take a dog and retrain it and then place it in a home where it will be successful.

The most reliable experts are those that know when to admit they are not the ones to solve some problems.