SAMSON

Question
I HAVE A CHOW/LAB MIX THAT I RESCUED 10 MONTHS AGO FROM THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY STREET. I HAVE BEEN A FOSTER PARENT FOR HIM, THOUGH I NEVER INTENDED TO KEEP HIM. I ALREADY HAVE 3 PETS AND I WAS JUST TRYING TO KEEP HIM ALIVE OR HELP HIM FIND HIS OWNER.
I HAD NO SUCCESS THERE AND I WAS FORCED TO ADOPT HIM TO KEEP HIM FROM BEING EUTHANIZED.
HE SPENDS MUCH OF HIS DAY IN A CAGE (WHILE I'M AT WORK)
HE IS NOT ALLOWED TO ROAM FREE IN THE HOUSE EVER.
HE PLAYS TOO AGGRESSIVELY WITH PEOPLE, SO MY SMALL ANIMALS WOULD NOT BE SAFE AROUND HIM.
HE IS PLAYFUL AND EXTREMELY LOYAL TO ME, BUT HE DOES NOT BEHAVE WELL AT ALL AROUND OTHERS.
HE PLAY BITES MOST OF THE TIME BUT HE HAS AN OMINOUS GROWL TOWARDS STRANGERS AND HE HAS BITTEN MY FIANC'E, NEARLY BREAKING HER HAND.
I HAVE TAKEN HIM TO A PROFESSIONAL TRAINER, WHO COULDN'T EVEN GET HIM OUT OF HIS CAGE.
I HAVE HIM IN A ROUTINE, HE EATS AND GOES OUT AT THE SAME TIMES EACH DAY. HE IS ALLOWED PLAY TIME AND HE HAS RECENTLY BEEN GETTING SOME TRAINING FROM MYSELF, JUST TO KEEP MY FIANC'E FROM HAVING ME EUTHANIZE HIM.
I HAVEN'T HAD A BIT OF LUCK FINDING HIM A FOSTER HOME, AND I CANNOT WITH GOOD CONSCIENCE SEND HIM TO ANOTHER HOME BEING UNTRAINED.
HE HAS A GOOD HEART, I CAN SEE THE GOODNESS IN HIM.
BUT IT IS BECOMING HARDER AND HARDER TO DEFEND HIS RIDICULOUS BEHAVIOR TO OTHERS.
I AM STARTING A FAMILY AND HE IS CAUSING A LOT OF PROBLEMS.
HE DOESN'T LISTEN WELL, HAS A MIND OF HIS OWN.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF LIFE HE LIVED BEFORE I PICKED HIM UP.
HE'S SOMEWHERE BETWEEN A YEAR AND A HALF AND TWO YEARS OLD.
HE APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN ABUSED IN SOME FASHION.
WHAT I WANT TO KNOW IS, HOW CAN I GET THIS DOG TO BE TRUSTWORTHY AROUND OTHERS? IS IT EVEN POSSIBLE?
HE HAS SHOWN THE ABILITY TO BE A GOOD CALM DOG, AND ALSO, WITHOUT WARNING, THE ABILITY TO SEEMINGLY GET AMPED UP AND START BEING AGGRESSIVE. HE'S NOT A MEAN DOG, BUT HE CERTAINLY CAN HURT PEOPLE AND HAS SOME ISSUES.
HOW CAN I GET TO THE ROOT OF THOSE ISSUES?
THANKS

Answer
The key to most behavior problems is approaching things using the dog's natural instincts.  Dogs see all the people and dogs in the household as a pack with each having their own rank in the pack and a top dog.  Life is much easier if the 2 legged pack members outrank the 4 legged ones.  You can learn to play the role of top dog by reading some books or going to a good obedience class. A good obedience class or book is about you being top dog, not about rewarding standard commands with a treat. Start at http://www.dogsbestfriend.com/  For more on being top dog, see http://www.dogbreedinfo.com./topdogrules.htm

Young Labs, which I know best, and other puppies tend to very bad about
biting.  You see a litter of them, and all the ones that are awake are biting
another one or themselves.  I am not even sure they realize that when they are
alone, if they quit biting, they would quit being bitten.  At 3 to 4 months
they are getting their adult teeth, and it seems they spend every waking
moment biting or chewing.  One thing you can do at that stage is to knot and wet a piece of cloth.  Then freeze it.  The cooling will soothe the gums.  Only let the puppy have it when you are there to watch it.  I maintain a Lab's favorite chew toy is another
Lab.  Otherwise they settle for any person they can.  They keep hoping to find
one that won't yelp,  jerk their hand away, and leave.

You just have to keep on correcting them, hundreds of times, not dozens.
Provide sturdy, safe toys such as Kongs and Nylabones.  Avoid things they can
chew pieces off and choke on them.  Keep them away from electrical cords.
Crates are essential for most young Labs and other dogs.