Aggressive/Possessive Attacking

hmmm... i'm not sure how to solve this one but i suggest working with a canine behaviorist or something. he's bitten quite a lot, which i think is pretty much a cause for alarm.

Hi RB,
 
It sounds to me like your puper has too much freedom of the house and he is in control of things.
 
My suggestion would to place him on NILIF which is nothing in life is free and the web addy is [linkhttp://www.ozarkdogs.com/nilif.htm]http://www.ozarkdogs.com/nilif.htm[/link] This is a behavior modification to help retrain your dog to understand you are in charge.

A Behaviorist would be a good idea to see what he is being so possessive about and they could give you better insight than I can.
 
I am sorry for responding so late to this thread but just caught it.
I hope the information I provided you helps you out.
 
[linkhttp://www.dogcareadvice.com/index.htm]http://www.dogcareadvice.com/index.htm[/link] Is another great site to help you train your buddy.

Have you had him checked out by the vet to see if there is any underlying health problem that may cause this?

I certainly can appreciate your concern.  What a bad situation to be in.
 
I really can't tell you what you should do.  What I can tell you is what I would do.
 
I have no tolerance for aggressive dogs.  None.  There are too many dogs out there without this SERIOUS problem who need a good home.  If it were my dog and he had bitten SEVERAL times WITHOUT cause, he would be meeting his maker.
 
I am not meaning to suggest that I think you should put the dog down.  You have to do what you think is right.

Thanks to everyone for the advice.  I called the dog trainer I had since she's a canine behavorist and she gave me some good suggestions with keeping him on the training lead and use the lead to correct him to let him no it's not ok and he's not the boss.

we used a water all purpose spray bottle to correct bodi.  we would say no and spray him in the face at the same time.  every time he growls shows possessiveness should be corrected.  bodi is 125 pounds so if he gets to excited and plays too rough i flip him on his back and hold him down untill his is calm.  you need to show dominance over your dog, simply grabing him by his neck and rolling him on his back and holding him there when he misbehaves will work. you must be consistant every time he growls unchecked he becoming more powerful.  i would recom mend watching the dog wisperer on national geographic channel. or reading ceser millans book " cesar'sway" good luck 

i would recom mend watching the dog wisperer on national geographic channel. or reading ceser millans book " cesar'sway" good luck

Never, Never try this at home without a professional trainer who is certified in animal behavoir or do this undertaking without professional help. This is a great way to get yourself BIT by a dog that is out of control and seriously agressive! Dangerous to do on your own.

you need to show dominance over your dog, simply grabing him by his neck and rolling him on his back and holding him there when he misbehaves will work.

 
I wouldn't suggest doing the alpha roll RB. If you don't know what you are doing you could get bit. I would keep on doing what your trainer has told you to do.

Willow was pretty aggressive when she first came.  I used the NILIF method which worked great and I continue with it every day. 

As for the spraying water in the dogs face--A friend of mine's trainer had her doing this so I thought I would try it when Willow barked at the door.  Oh, boy, what a mistake.  It did nothing for the barking and now she hates spray bottles of any kind.  So, anytime something needs to be sprayed near her, grooming spray, etc. she tried to head for the hills. 
 
PS---I agree with Angel, don't try to grab the dog by the neck and flip it onto it's back.  You'll end up with a bite to the face.

Spray bottles don't work on my dog.  When I first tried the water bottle a few weeks ago, he got a little mad since he didn't know what it was.  Then a few strays later he ended up licking the water and he thought I was laying.  I don't have the guts to flip him over.  He's a small dog and very wiggly.  I do grab him by his scruff when I know I won't get bit.  I've seen the Dog Whisper this past friday.  Cool show.

As for keeping him on the training leash, it's helping me control him, but now he won't go up the stairs unless someone get the end of the leash and lead him up.  He recently got nuetered 2 months ago so he had to wear the e-collar and had to be carried up the stairs for 2 weeks since he couldn't see every well.  Now it seems like he expects if he has anything hooked to him, someone has to help him up the stairs.  I try not to lead him up since he's perfectly capable of doing it on his own.  He'll stand at the bottom of the stairs barking until someone comes to get him.  Some times someone does since there's 3 people in the house who work out of the home and we can't have the constant barking. 

I tried controling him with the leash yesterday and it was stressful for both of us.  I put a bone in front of him...the one he'll growl and bite people if they comes anywhere close.  He tried to attack my feet, but the leash won't let him get close to me so he attacked the leash.  He slowly started getting the idea of sitting and not growling when I got close to the bone.  I know he's no where near being off the leash yet.  He's also getting better about someone wiping up his water drops.

OK, I'm not understanding how what your doing with the leash is going to help with this food aggression.  I'm not a trainer but my chow is pretty aggressive with food and resources that she considers to be valuable. 

I'd stop putting the bone in front of him and doing this thing with the leash.  I'd look into teaching him "drop it" and "trade" for the future.  But, right now, I'd completely avoid the bone and any other item that sets off this behavior.  Unless you are going to let him have it and leave him with it until he's done. 

The reason I'm saying this is because I think you are going to get bit eventually.  This isn't something that is easily fixed and you don't want to "test" the dog by showing the bone, etc. 
 

He tried to attack my feet, but the leash won't let him get close to me so he attacked the leash

 
That's misplaced aggression, my dog redirects onto her own tail and sometimes the door.  Be very careful, if someone else is standing next to you, they are going to be the target. 

My oldest Tzu, Ziggy, used to be a tad bit aggressive. Not anymore. I used the alpha roll on him with success. I am a firm believer in gentle discipline but had to get a bit more stern with him. But a behaviorist would be an excellent idea for your Apso.

I did the bone once because I want to give him that bone.  He's fine one week with the bone and eats it all, then when he gets the exact same bone again, he because all possessive.  I found out it's only on certain bones that he does that.  My trainer told me to set him up, but when I tried to set him up with the chap stick, he didn't want it anymore.  I don't set him up with his dog food.  He's really good about that.  I'm still in the process or teaching him drop.  The problem with trading is that it doesn't matter what I trade him for, if he sees me picking up something that is new and thinks it's his, he will attack.  I've always tried trading it for a cracker or some treat to get him into the other room, but he's smart.  He walks away a few steps then runs right back to it or he takes it with him.  Drop is a command that he still is having trouble with.   

The trainer taught us to pop the leash.  My dog understands when I pop the leash that it means sit.  He does it well when he's calm.  He listens to me a lot better with the leash on and with the pop.  You don't pop the dog.  You pop the leash which signals the dog.  It's more about me being the ack leader and not him.  He's gotten better since the classes in January. 

There was a piece of lettuce on the floor that was dropped by accident just now and I saw his tense posture. He wasn't growling or biting yet.  I just got ahold of the leash and lead him away.  The leash works for me to keep him at a distance.  It's also a way I can now gain control over him when he does go into his attacks.  My trainer also suggested on flipping him over and that I'd probably have to wear some gloves.  I might try it once the bruise on my arm goes away.   

My trainer also suggested on flipping him over and that I'd probably have to wear some gloves. I might try it once the bruise on my arm goes away.

 
I am not a trainer or a behaviorist - however, I am the owner of an aggressive dog.  I have tried various techniques, and the ones that work best are the ones that do not entail aggression - as one trainer put it, "aggression begats aggression."  I recommend you do not do the alpha roll, even with a small dog like your lhasa.  Instead, first focus on teaching your dog that everything in your house is yours, not his, even food that falls on the floor.  Regain control of everything on the floor, including his toys and your items.  Don't leave his toys on the floor. 
 
Then, with his leash on, try bringing out a few of his toys, but make him earn the right to have one - he must do a trick he knows first like "sit," "shake," whatever.  Once he has the toy, let him play for a few minutes, then pick the leash up, ask him to sit, praise him and offer him a treat, something yummy.  When he drops the toy, which he will probably do when you offer the treat, praise him for "give or drop it" - whatever words you use for that command.  Don't try to grab the toy.  If he doesn't give up the toy, take and attach his leash and walk him over to where he can't get underneath something and ignore him.  If the item is not important to you, it won't be as important to him.  If you have to pick something up until he gets the drop it/give command really well, take him out of the room first.  You don't want to get bitten again!

ORIGINAL: JaneyB

My trainer also suggested on flipping him over and that I'd probably have to wear some gloves. I might try it once the bruise on my arm goes away.

I am not a trainer or a behaviorist - however, I am the owner of an aggressive dog.  I have tried various techniques, and the ones that work best are the ones that do not entail aggression - as one trainer put it, "aggression begats aggression." 

 
 
im not sure i agree with that.  it might be true for people but dogs understand agression, thats how they work things out.