Alpha dog problems?

Question
For starters, thanks for your help as I do not know who else to
ask. We have a lab mix dog, Sarge, about 5 years old. He was a
stray until we adopted him. He is friendly, lovable and bright.

However, he cannot attend "doggie day care" because of his
behavior with other dogs. He challenges them and gets into
fights. And most recently, he is beginning to scare me.

He was blocking my way on the stairs a week ago and I went to
move him and he bared his teeth and snapped at me. He did not
touch me though. This has happened two other times when I
wanted him to do something that he did not wish to do. Also, a
while ago, he did this to a guest in my home.

I am getting nervous about this dog. My husband has not seen
these thing happen and thinks that I have done something
wrong and defends the dog. I do not think that this dog should
ever be around young children and insist that he should be
banned from family gatherings with the grandchildren.

My husband thinks I am nuts. Is this a problem or am I really out
of line somewhere here?

What can I do to "civilize" this dog? We have "trained him" i.e., he
comes, sits, doesn't jump on people, etc.

Also, I am a painting expert on allexperts.com and understand your
problems with time but appreciate any advice you can give me.

All Best,
Karin Wells
http://www.KarinWells.com and
http://www.oilpnt.com

Answer
KAREN
YOU HAVE TAKEN ON SOMEBODYS ELSES PROBLEM WITH THIS DOG NOT BROUGHT UP PROPERLY FROM A PUPPY. HOW SAD FOR IT IS NOT THE DOGS FAULT EVEN THOUGH NOW IT IS AND UP TO A HUMAN TO CORRECT IT OR PUT HIM DOWN FORVER.  DUE TO HUMAN ERROR OF IGNORANCE IN RAISING A PUPPY INTO A SUPER ADULT THIS DOG IS NOT THE DOMINANT ONE OVER A HUMAN AND WHEN HE WANTS IT HIS WAY HE HAS FOUND TO BEAR HIS TEETH AND THREATEN OR EVEN GO TO FAR AS BITE FOR HIS WAY.

HE KNOWS NO OTHER WAY AS HE WAS NOT TAUGHT THE NICE THINGS IN BEING A GOOD PUPPY TO BE A SUPER ADULT, JUST LIKE MINE ARE AS I TOLERATE NO NONSENSE IN BICKERING OF BITCHES ONCE IN A WHILE I STEP IN AND GET CONTROL OF A SITUATION OF SOMEBODY NOT SO HAPPY I QUICKLY CLEAR THIS UP WITH BODY POSTURE AND MY VOICE AND GRABBING THE HAIR BACK OF THE NECK, RAISING IT WHILE PINCHING IT AND LOOKING INTO MY DOGS EYES OR FACE, I SAY A STERN FIRM NO NO I WILL NOT HAVE ONE MORE SECOND OF THIS SHIT, HEAR ME.....STOP NOW OR ELSE.  I MEAN IT!
THIS IS MY WAY AND I AM OLD OVER 66 AND CRIPPLED WITH ARTHRITIS BUT I HANDLE 5 FEMALES AND 2 MALES AND I AM IN FULL CONTROL, MAINLY BECAUSE I HAVE A TEMPER THAT THEY WILL LISTEN OR ELSE, I JUST WILL NOT PUT UP WITH A NO NONSENCE BITCH OR DOG OF ANY KIND.   I MAINLY BUY PUPPIES AND RAISE PATTS WAY INTO GOOD ADULTS BUT SOME DAYS THEY HAVE A BAD DAY AND I AM THERE TO STEP IN AND CORRECT THEM WITH HIGHLY STERN CONTROL.
PUT A MUZZEL ON THIS DOG WHEN WORKING WITH HIM OR OUT IN PUBLIC, USE YOUR POSTURE AND VOICE WHILE THIS IS ON TO CONTROL OR TEACH HIM AND SEE IF THIS WORKS AT ALL.  THE ONLY OTHER THING IS THE SHOCK TRAINING COLLAR AT WWW.DRSFOSTERSMITH.COM AND I HAVE USED THOSE IN PAST YEARS ON STUPID DOGS THAT TAUGHT THEM WHAT I WANTED IN FIVE MINUTES.  THEY WORK, STING THEM WHEN THEY MISBEHAVE THEN WAIT FIVE SECONDS AND CALL THE DOG AND PITY AND LOVE IT FOR IT DOES NOT KNOW WHERE THE PAIN CAME FROM ONLY AT THAT POIINT AND TIME, IT CAME AND U FIXED IT.  SO IT RUNS TO YOU AND LEARNS YOUR THE RESUCE.
TRY IT FOR LAST RESORT.

KIND REGARDS
PATT
WWW.SCHREKNHAUS.COM