Another Indy issue

I would say he definitely has some major dominance issues he needs to sort out and probably shouldn't be allowed on the bed (however, I certainly know how hard it is to keep them *off* it when they're soo darn cute and snuggly).  Unfortunately dogs who start taking over prized places like a bed can very easily get out of control because it's hard to get them off of there once they're up without being bitten, but sounds like the comforter idea works pretty well.  I would definitely keep him from being able to get in that situation again for the worry that it could potentially worsen quite a bit if he gets it in his head that his aggression will actually work (make you too afraid of him that you won't be able to get him off)...aggression is never something you can just pretend isn't happening and let it slide/live around it.  If he were my dog I'd start going through some basic dominance exercises with him such as having him work for fun things like being pet or getting his food, and have him wait when going through doors.  Practice obedience exercises with him to get him used to obeying you.  You could even go to the extreme and not pet him at all without having him sit first, but I know a lot of people find that hard to do...I know I do.  One thing I've done with my own dog is to train him to walk behind me on command while we're on walks - not just heel, but a "fall back".  It was fairly easy to teach (just place the dog behind you and give a little pop on the collar and say "fall back" when he tries to pass and be repetitive with it) and I was amazed at how fast he picked up on it - like it was already pre-wired into his mind and all I had to do was activate it.  It's pretty similar to how a wolf pack moves: alpha in front, beta behind, lower rankers behind beta, etc etc.  I really only taught it to my dog to keep him from charging ahead of me to bark at other dogs we pass by, but I've found it does wonders to help enforce dominance. 
 
Don't let this get out of hand!  My boyfriend's family has a JRT who is the most aggressive dog I have ever seen, and I believe his problems probably started similar to your situation except that Dave's family let Merlin boss them around and now you can't pet him at all or else he'll bite you (unless he comes up to you to be pet, and even then he still may bite).  I don't mean to scare you, just a little warning not to let it progress any further than the initial stages where your dog is at.  Good luck []

The thing is, Mikaela, we practically never let him up on the bed.  He actually has hip problems, so he cannot get up alone- his butt must be lifted up.  So keeping him off the bed is no problem.  It won't be happening again.
Of my two dogs, he is actually the most obedient.  He just turns into Mr. Hyde at bedtime.  I have been avoiding the aggression issue by luring him to his crate at night. 
I often wish I could crawl into his head to see what he is thinking.....
 

Hmm, that is bizaarre if it's only that one particular time.  Could he possibly have had a negative experience related to being crated somehow?  If he's a shelter dog that could make some sense or if he was put in there once after being punished.  What about when you crate him during the day - any signs of apprehension at all?

He is a rescue that we took in when he was almost six months old.  I'm unsure if he was kenneled a lot before we had him.  He has no problem being crated during the day.  In fact, when I'm home he'll often go into his crate to sleep on his own. 
At night he balks and snaps.  Go figure!

This is a complete shot in the dark, but is he afraid of thunderstorms?  I keep getting an image of a dog being put in a crate for the night and then panicking at thunder/lightning.  Maybe even if he had an accident once in the night and had to sit in it until morning.  If something like that happened to him during the night once that could potentially cause him to act that way.  erhaps you could try "mock" crating him at night a few times before actually putting him in there for the night.  Maybe crate him for a few minutes and then let him right back out again?  I actually don't know how well that would help, but I'd think that at practicing 'non-aggressive' crating at least would be beneficial.  Maybe have him eat his dinner in there at night?  It's a little hard trying to figure out how to solve the problem without knowing what's causing it...   : \

Could he be in pain? You mentioned a hip issue. I know that with horses that have joint problems, they become much more stiff when confined, and it is generally best to let them be in an area where they can move around as much as possible. Maybe he assocoates going into the crate at night with being in pain (I'm assuming he is in there all night) and therefore would rather not go in if he can avoid it. Having a very food motivated dog I know that many of them will do just about anything for food--the lure of the treat is enough for him to ignore/overlook the pain factor, but without the food to distract him, he focuses on the pain issue.

IDK, I'm not a dog expert, but it could be a possibilty?

Hello there []

Having nothing but your few lines, I feel quite safe to say that this cannot be assessed as " major dominance issues" (and you guys already got away from that explanation yourself I belief). There is close to nothing that hints at a dominance issue. For dogs to act aggressive when crated (if they are not properly crate trained) is quite common. In fact, there are dogs that will fight tooth and nail to not be crated, and they often are anything but dominant. Secondly, the dog - even according to your own description - showing clear fear signals (tail tucked, looking at you startled) also points in quite different directions. Lastly, dominance issues would show themselves in all sorts of situations, not just in those at bedtime.

Now, the first thing you might try is starting not to crate your dog for the night. There is actually absolutely no need for it in most cases. If you insist on crating, make sure you crate him for very brief periods several times in the evening, treat him inside, let him out again. Do this also very close to bedtime. The idea is, that the dog never knows for how long he will have to stay in the crate (meaning, he should also not see from your bedtime preparations when its time to stay in there for such a long time). One guess is btw, that he simply does not like to be jailed in there for such a long period... as I said, maybe try without the crate.

There is also nothing wrong with calling your dog on your bed. Teach the dog to go up onto the bed and back down from it on command. It is like training anything else (that you train a dog to bark on cue does not mean he is supposed to bark all day long; actually it is usually taught to achieve quite the contrary - to control his barking). If a dog is settled for rest, and then called off of something, they often look startled and a bit confused, and to me it always seems as if they are thinking "what the heck do they want from me now??". Given that state of mind, you suddenly giving commands, then grabbing them, often is seen as a sudden aggression on your part (you see, a dog does not have a concept of 'obedience'; a dog does what works for a dog, and as he is not taught that he should only be on the bed when you allowed it, and come off of it when you say so, he has no clue really that he is quite disobedient - remember: dogs do not generalize well). So in a situation like this, where the calling off does not work right away, you could shift gears. Go over, pat it a bit, make it roll over, in other words diffuse the situation, engage the dog in some short playlike encounter, and you will get him off without trouble.

Finally, with the dog having hip problems, there really seems a good chance that he is simply worried about pain - you see, if you ever had aching joints, you noticed when they ache most? Right! At the end of the day. [] I get grumpy when I hurt. So might your dog.

Good luck []

I am not sure...  to me it sounds like it could be any number of things, including all of those already mentioned. 
 
It seems to me that the real question is, does Indy not want to go into the crate at bedtime because Indy is in pain or because he doesn't want to do something that he doesn't feel like doing. 
 
And, if the answer is not pain related, the question remains - what do you do in a situation like that, where you can't back down, because the dog needs to learn that doing what you want is not optional, it is mandatory, but you are not sure how to get the dog to comply because the dog could snap or bite... 
 
Do you lure, bribe and beg; do you physically (not by hitting, but by physically manipulating) make the dog do what you say, even at risk of an aggressive reaction, because you have to make your point???

do you physically (not by hitting, but by physically manipulating) make the dog do what you say, even at risk of an aggressive reaction, because you have to make your point???

 
Well, Cesar Milan would!  But, I think what you're doing is fine Leslie, it's safe and he's going where you want him to. 

I agree with keeping him off the bed, that one he needs to earn.  I don't think doing NILIF with him would hurt either.  He sounds like Willow, she'll test things out, see what she can get away with even though she knows what she nees to do.  If I give her an inch, she'll take a mile. 

ORIGINAL: schleide
And, if the answer is not pain related, the question remains - what do you do in a situation like that, where you can't back down, because the dog needs to learn that doing what you want is not optional, it is mandatory, but you are not sure how to get the dog to comply because the dog could snap or bite... 
Do you lure, bribe and beg; do you physically (not by hitting, but by physically manipulating) make the dog do what you say, even at risk of an aggressive reaction, because you have to make your point???

 
Thanks...that's what I was trying to ask...Should I avoid the situation, or meet it head on to stop this behavior.  I have been avoiding it for the last few months with no problems except the recent bed issue.
 

Leslie, I think what you're doing is fine. 
 
Unless this escalates further, then you may have to do something different.

Thanks Lori!
Hearing the progress you've made with Willow, I always welcome your imput!

Perhaps you could keep a longish leash on him--that way, if yo do need to remove/move him you can do so safely...