Nipping Beagle/Alpha Roll

Question
HI, I have a 1 1/2yr old neutered Beagle Max he was purchased from a Pet Store at 4months old. Recently he has started to "nip" at us (us being my husband, daughter (8)and myself). I have been implemeting the NILF program for some time now as I suspected he had some domience issues early on (peeing on our bed for instance).  He has never been allowed to sleep in our bed and until recently (aside from usual Beagle Behavior) we have not had any issues. He is crate and obiedence trained. His recall is poor...He resides with our 3yr old spayed Sibe Dakota who we rescued about 9 months ago, they were attacked by another dog while I was walking them about 5 months ago (nothing serious hole in Max's ear) and it seems since then Max's behavior has gotten worse.
Now to my situation/question his nipping has become very unpredictable, before it was trying to get him off the couch or something like that, now it is just random.  I have been having a trainer come to our house now for about 4 weeks her technique is the "Alpha Roll" we are supposed to roll him whenever he nips at us and at random times in between appointments as well.  He did not want to "submit" at all for the first few appointments (and bit the trainer) he now will roll almost everytime with the roll command. But now he is nipping at people that come over to the house whereas before he was a lover and just wanted you to pet him. He has NEVER nipped at anyone that has come into the house, this makes me think he is getting worse and not better?  What do you think? Do I need a different trainer? Should I suggest a different method to the trainer?
We are at a loss, I cannot have an unpredicable dog like this, we love him dearly, but my daughter, nieces and nephews safety come first, we also take the dogs camping with us and our very concerned there as well, please help!!
Is there hope for Max?

Answer
Hi, Cheryl,

First of all, it is becoming more widely acknowledged that the "alpha roll" is NOT something that is effective.  People used to rationalize that this is how one dog disciplines another.  The truth is, the ONLY time an alpha roll is done by one dog to another is when the dog is intending to kill or do great harm to the dog being rolled.

What people are confusing with the alpha roll is the rollover that dogs do in submission to other dogs and people.  

The big difference is that in one case, the dog is BEING rolled, in the other case, it is rolling over OF ITS OWN ACCORD, WILLINGLY.

I'm not surprised the trainer got bit, and if you and your family continue, don't be surprised if you are bit as well.  In Max's mind, you are executing a very threatening, harmful maneuver on him.

It wouldn't surprise me if he's nipping out of frustration; he probably feels very vulnerable and threatened.  The attack by the other dog, I'm sure, did a lot to make him fearful, and now he may not feel safe and secure inside his house as well.

As far as the trainer, that's entirely your decision.  However, if you would like the names of some other trainers in your area, send me your city, state, and zip code.

So my first suggestion is to stop the roll.  You can just as effectively demonstrate your authority over him in a number of other ways.

1.  You say he's obedience trained?  Put him in a down (a submissive position) and insist that he maintain it for increasing lengths of time.  If he gets up, put him back down.  If he resists, put a leash on him, put him in the down, and put your foot on the leash close enough to his collar that he won't be able to get up.  What usually happens is the dog tries to get up, his back end and maybe the front legs go up, but his head is pinned to the floor by your foot on the leash.  Let him stay like that until he gives up and lays back down.  Then PRAISE!

I'm including some other documents to help in understanding dominance, aggression, and how to establish leadership.

http://www.marinhumanesociety.com/Behavior/Handouts/PEP.pdf
http://www.ddfl.org/behavior/dominance.pdf

http://www.marinhumanesociety.com/Behavior/Handouts/Aggression.pdf
http://www.marinhumanesociety.com/Behavior/Handouts/PossessionAggression.pdf
http://www.marinhumanesociety.com/Behavior/Handouts/PreventingAggression.pdf
http://www.marinhumanesociety.com/Behavior/Handouts/DoorbellAggression.pdf
http://www.ddfl.org/behavior/dog-agg.pdf
***http://www.marinhumanesociety.com/Behavior/Handouts/DifficultDog.pdf

http://www.marinhumanesociety.com/Behavior/Handouts/StupidMommy.pdf