My dogs aggressive behavior

Question
My dog, Fenway, is a 16 month old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. We purchased him when he was 4 months old from a pet store. Anyway, he is the sweetest dog, always wants to be snuggled up to us, in our laps, sleeping on our heads, etc. However, he has an issue with aggression. The two times it occurs is when you are scolding him/trying to pick him up and move him to where you want him to be and when you try to take something out of his mouth. An example on the first would be that if he sneaks into our room (we keep his bed in the hallway because he snores) and he will go and lay down in a small space between the bed and the dresser. I will try to pick him up and he snaps at me (we since keep the bedroom door closed). Or if he's done something wrong and I'm going to put him in timeout (in the crate) and try to pick him up he does the same thing. Another example is when I say "come" and he doesn't and then I go to pick him up he tries to bite. Lastly, if he has something in his mouth and anyone tries to take it out he growls and snaps too. I am worried that he may one day bite me or my neices. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Answer
It does not sound to me like Fenway is being aggressive.  It sounds as though he is in charge, and correcting YOU for breaking HIS rules.  I have added links to some pages on my site for crate training as well as being an effective pack leader.  The other thing I would strongly recommend is joining an obedience course in your area.  Be sure to find a trainer who uses positive methods, and can teach you effective and humane ways of correcting your dog.  If the class requires you to start off with a choke chain/slip collar or prong/pinch, run as fast as you can to the next trainer!  You should be able to work your dog with reliable techniques that do not require a training with such force.  They should be the very last resort, and I doubt if you are at that point.  

Here are the links I mentioned:
http://www.jumpinjacs.com/Home/crate_training.htm
http://www.jumpinjacs.com/Home/leader_role.htm
http://www.jumpinjacs.com/Home/class%20handouts/Master%20the%20walk.htm

Keep persevering and you will have the dog you want,
Erica Slomka
Jumpin JACS Dog Training
We Train YOU To Train Your Dog

visit us on the web at http://www.jumpinjacs.com