agressive toward people

jaye, despite the bickering above, I do know you are trying to do the right thing.  I'm just concerned that you keep everyone safe while you figure this out.
Keep in mind that it might just get a bit better with time.  A new rescue usually takes a month or two or even three to figure out the new place.  Be observant, and if you do seek help from a behaviorist, you can relate the body language you are seeing.
. 

I know I probobly look like a post whore here, but here is another good artical [linkhttp://www.bcrescue.org/fearaggression.html]http://www.bcrescue.org/fearaggression.html[/link]

ORIGINAL: spiritdogs

jaye, despite the bickering above, I do know you are trying to do the right thing.  I'm just concerned that you keep everyone safe while you figure this out.
Keep in mind that it might just get a bit better with time.  A new rescue usually takes a month or two or even three to figure out the new place.  Be observant, and if you do seek help from a behaviorist, you can relate the body language you are seeing.
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one reason why i think it might be his natural chi instincts coming out is because in his foster home and also with us for the first couple weeks, he was fine with everyone.  it wasnt until he started realizing that hes a part of our "pack"  that he started acting out toward other people.  (where he was staying at the foster home he was not given any attention or treated like a family dog so he didnt feel like a member of their, or any, ack).    does that make sense?  just a theory i have about it.

How old is he?  Sometimes when a dog reaches a certian age weird things can come out...

I probobly look like a post whore here

 
Geez, it may be a good thing that the post counts got messed up!
[sm=eek.gif]
 
jaye, the fact that they paid him little attention could have made him think they were in charge.  If you read Jan Fennel's book, you'll see what I mean.  Her "amichien bonding" techniques may be of interest to you.

now im not certain how to tell these things.  but i think (not sure cause i dont know enough about it yet)  that he knows im in charge.  he rolls onto his back or makes some other submissive gesture whenever i come close to pet him or whatever.  he minds what i say.  usually.  sometimes its kinda hard to get him to "come"  when we re on a walk and he wants to go in another direction.  but i stand my ground until he obeys.  i do let him lead somewhat on the leash tho because he has to find the right spots to mark.  sometimes i hand feed him and a make him sit or do something else before each bite.  i always make him sit before we go outside and i and my kids always go through the doorway first.
 
im not really sure how old he is.  hes at least one and probably not more than two.

jake was just neutered on friday, if it made any changes to his behavior how long would it take for that to show?  he just layed around friday evening and yesterday but today he seems pretty much back to his old self so would i be correct in assuming the precedure had no affect other than the intended?

Any behavior changes might take a month or so, depends on his hormones.    It takes about a week to recoup from this surgery, please don't let Jake do any heaving playing or exercising. 

i wont

3-6 months usually for all the hormones to leave the body. It's quite the crap shoot. Sometimes it can change a dog, sometimes it doesn't do anything.
 
As for the aggression you may want to check out this site: [linkhttp://www.tawzerdogvideos.com]www.tawzerdogvideos.com[/link]
 
Look up Patricia McConnell, among others. There dvd's of her seminars. Good stuff. I wish they had more from Bonnie Bergin though. She's amazing.
 
I'd also try giving the little Chi a "bump" w/ a verbal reprimand of your choice. A bump is simply what it sounds like, you're giving the dog a little nudge (gently, yet firmly) w/ your leg (***USE CAUTION AS TO NOT TAKE A BITE. A RE-DIRECTED AGGRESSION BITE CAN OCCUR. USE THIS TECHNIQUE AT YOUR OWN RISK.***) which serves to divert the dogs attention as well as let them know thru the verbal reprimand that you, their leader, disapproves of this behavior. The "bump" is used amongst dogs themselves to communicate the same thing.
Try making the verbal reprimand a made up word or uncommonly used word. VR's like "no" and "stop" are mixed in our own everyday vocabulary too often. This method makes it very discernable.
 
I hope everything works out for you. ANY aggression is unacceptable and must be addressed YESTERDAY.
 
B.B

Jaye, typically nuetering will help with dog-dog agression.  I've not seen it help with agression towards people.  And the others are right, it can take a few or more months for the hormones to get out of his system.

Ok  question that may appear mean spirited but it is not.  It is related to making an honest appraisal of the situation.  If you are truly in charge, the dog will stop a behavior or follow a command while in engaged in the problem behavior.  If he is still harassing people, he has no respect for them. 
 
As to the "chi" thing.  I realize that small dogs have some issues that bigger dogs may not.  However, these behavior occur because the dog's needs are being met.  So if it is continuing, you need to look at the whole situation.  Maybe he needs to be working for his dinner with kids before he gets put away. 
 
The idea would be measure out the daily food.  When the kids come, sit them all in kitchen chairs.  Each has a few morsles of food. 
 
YOU put the dish in the hands of the kid.  The dog is on lead.  The dish gets put on the floor by the kid. Kid puts some food in dish. Kid uses toe to push the dish toward the dog.
 
YOU are standing back from the kids.  Dog on lead.  Dog does not move toward the dish unless the leash is slack.  No cheating here.  Dog eats, you move dog away.  Kid hands dish to next kid.
Dog eats.  As soon as the food is gone, dog goes away, kids play. 
 
With summer starting this could be an option for conditioning better behavior with children.  DO NOT assume this will cover all issues with kids and other strangers.  It is just an option to change attitude when kids come to the house.
 
START WITH ONE KID.  When the dog will be calm and quiet with the one kid for 8 days of ten (in a stretch of no more than 12 days)  add another kid.

Also, jaye, keep in mind that some dogs don't go "belly up" in submission.  Some do it to prevent you from patting the top of their head, or their shoulders - they are telling you they are in charge and it isn't going to happen that you get to put your body parts on top of theirs!
Neutering often helps with dog to dog aggression, not so much with aggression toward humans.  What it can help with is the inattention to humans that results from thinking about male things...[]

ORIGINAL: mrv

Ok  question that may appear mean spirited but it is not.  It is related to making an honest appraisal of the situation.  If you are truly in charge, the dog will stop a behavior or follow a command while in engaged in the problem behavior.  If he is still harassing people, he has no respect for them.  

 
mrv, i didnt see anything mean spirited at all in your post.  jake does  stop the behavior in the middle of it when i tell him no.  if hes snarling and charging at someone and i tell him no, he stops and turns around and kind of cowers.  thanks for the advice about the kids working with him.

ORIGINAL: spiritdogs

Also, jaye, keep in mind that some dogs don't go "belly up" in submission.  Some do it to prevent you from patting the top of their head, or their shoulders - they are telling you they are in charge and it isn't going to happen that you get to put your body parts on top of theirs!
Neutering often helps with dog to dog aggression, not so much with aggression toward humans.  What it can help with is the inattention to humans that results from thinking about male things...[]

 
i didnt know that about the belly up thing, he does prefer to be petted on his tummy, his body language when he does it looks soooo submissive though, he kind of coweringly rolls onto his tummy.   but again, i dont know all that much about it.  he also kind of rolls slowly onto his side whenever i come to put the leash on him.