I'm at the end of my rope... (more of a rant)

Caprice,

Try not to apply your emotions to your dog.  Don't use your emotions to figure out "why" your dog is or is not doing something - they really don't think like us its all pretty black and white to a dog.  I beleive that him ignoring you is a good thing for now, accept for when you are being leader and want him to respond.  For your dog inparticuliar, you do not want him to come to you for affection.  Affection should only be given to him when you want to give it.  If he is ignoring you and you want him to come to you, call him - "dogs name and come" if he does not respond do not repeat your self - go and get him and bring him to you.  Once he is there, thata boys and praise and treats. This is where teathering him in the house comes in handy, you can go and get him without pulling on his collar (which may make him mouth you).  I promise that if you continue to ignore your dog he will stop this behavior.  My professor told me once that "If you think your dog is trying to please you in anyway - you are wrong!  Dog's only do what pleases them and gets a response"  Therefore, when his action does not give him pleasure or give him any response he will discontinue.  When he learns from YOU what actions gives him possitive responses like petting and treats - these are the things that he will begin to respond to.  Although I stated to ignore him, this is only when he is doing behaviors you do not approve of.  On the other hand, you must also imploy possitive behaviors as well.  Like sit, stay, come etc.  If you and your family members ignore this attacking behavior you will see results within a week - IMHO.  It is also important not to talk to him while ignoring him and not to touch him (if possible) because they are all responses to his behavior. 

are you SURE he is attacking you? If you haven't had to go the ER for medical help I think it unlikely he really is attacking you. Even small dogs can inflict amazing amounts of damage if they are really serious about harming you.
are you SURE he is not trying to get you to play with him and pay more attention to him, and has no clue how to do this politely?  you pushing back at him can easily be interpreted by him as a play gesture. Jumping up and biting is what unruly puppies do when they want attention. What exactly is happening right before these outbursts occur?
 
I've never found that thinking about leadership or dominance or even much about the dog's motivations to be very helpful. Deal with the behavior. He's jumping up on you and biting at you. You would presumably prefer him to do something else when he wants attention, such as sit politely-- so teach him to sit politely. How is his obedience training? How does he normally greet people? what do you do when you DO notice him sitting or lying quietly? How much time do you spend interacting with him, away from the new puppy, just you and him?

ORIGINAL: mudpuppy

are you SURE he is attacking you? If you haven't had to go the ER for medical help I think it unlikely he really is attacking you. Even small dogs can inflict amazing amounts of damage if they are really serious about harming you.
are you SURE he is not trying to get you to play with him and pay more attention to him, and has no clue how to do this politely? 

 
He is definitely attacking, there is NO play involved.  I spend a GREAT deal of time with Duke both by himself and with the puppy, but this behavior started Way before the puppy came along.
 
We now have numerous scars and puncture wounds from him.  In my opinion, that is not acceptable, for a dog to be drawing blood from a bite.  To be quite honest, if he was bigger, someone would be in the hospital.  There is nothing playful about these attacks, he is spitting and he is really angry.
 
Also, the reason for the attacks is when I have tried to ask him to do something that he doesn't want to do.  This morning he jumped up on the couch, thought that he could hang out there.  I asked him to get "off", (he knows this command).  He looked at me for a second, then got comfy.  Again, in a more stern voice I said "off"!  This time he got up, and I thought "good job me", but then instead of getting off he turned and lunged at my face and bit me.  Then he ran away.  So I just got up, went to the bathroom to see what damage he did and ignored him for the rest of the morning. 
 

I know you said he was checked out medically but if this is totally new and sudden behavior I would get his teeth and ears checked, and a full blood panel too. he may be in some kind of pain, and they really do hide it well.
Caprice we posted at the same time, so how long has he been doing this? You say in the above post long before the puppy but your original post asks can it be because of the puppy, so I am confused, (but that's nothing new I usually am lol)

ORIGINAL: debv53

Caprice we posted at the same time, so how long has he been doing this? You say in the above post long before the puppy but your original post asks can it be because of the puppy, so I am confused, (but that's nothing new I usually am lol)

 
I am confused too!  I meant could it be worse because now he has the puppy and they could form thier own pack - which doesn't involve my husband and I??? 
 
I can't recall exactly when in all started, it was gradual.  But it probably started when he was about 6-8 months old.  It has gotten WORSE in the last couple of weeks, so that could have something to do with the puppy? 
 
I just had him at the Vet a week and a half ago, they checked him all out, got blood tests done, the whole works and they said that it isn't a medical problem, he is really healthy!

Providing you are the leader he will not think of starting his own pack.  He is either the leader of this pack or not and that includes you and your husband.  Teather him in the house.  Instead of telling him to get down! grab the leash and insist he move, if he jumps back up, pull him back down.  Don't let him win the battle - down means down or in your crate.  Your behaviorlist will shed a light - when is he coming?  Remember correcting unwanted behaviors take time, patients and consistancy!  Keep up the good work and don't let him win any battles - ignore, ignore, ignore and be sure to develop activities he can be rewarded for like fetch, sit, stay, down etc.  This will reinforce for him good behavior and unwanted behavior.

Thank you,  the behaviorist is coming in about a week and a half.  I can't wait, it will be nice for someone to see him in action and be able to give me feedback.

This time he got up, and I thought "good job me", but then instead of getting off he turned and lunged at my face and bit me.  Then he ran away.  So I just got up, went to the bathroom to see what damage he did and ignored him for the rest of the morning. 

 
I just wanted to ask, when you are telling him no, are you learning over him??  By the above, in order for him to bite your face from the couch, you would of had to be right?? 
 
I think he probably perceived that position as some kind of threat.  I know learning over a dog is very dominant to them.  DH got growled at by Willow a few times when she was on the floor and he leaned over her when she first came here.

Oh, God, sorry the above is all messed up, quote went crazy on me. 

Caprice        I'm very sorry you are having so much trouble with Duke and his behavior. It must be very frustrating and confusing trying to figure out why? I know the hardest part must be ignoring him and being so strict with him, since he's been King of the house for over a year. I can't remember, but didn't you get Duke from a shelter or something else? Eventhough he is physically healthy according to the vet, he may have some psychological problems due to his genetics. I hope the
Behaviorist can figure things out and give you some answers. Good Luck 

I asked him to get "off", (he knows this command). He looked at me for a second, then got comfy. Again, in a more stern voice I said "off"! This time he got up, and I thought "good job me", but then instead of getting off he turned and lunged at my face and bit me. Then he ran away. So I just got up, went to the bathroom to see what damage he did and ignored him for the rest of the morning.

 
Well, it appears that biting is getting him what he wants, which may be that you disappear and let him stay on the couch.  This is a dog who would be trailing his leash in my house, and if necessary, wearing a muzzle.  If I issued him an "off" command that he has heard, and understands, I would simply use my leash to gently enforce my wishes and take him off the couch.  I would not allow him on any high places, like couches or beds, and I would suggest you get behavioral help pronto from a pro. 

Thank you so all so much for your advice. Willowchow, I did lean over top of him, so that must have been what triggered it.

Cynacam, Duke was born in a Puppymill, and I think that has a great deal to do with the way that he acts. We have reallized how Duke has never really trusted us. He didn't have any human contact until he was rescued from the puppy mill, so he has always acted scared of everything and always wanted to do his own thing. It is so wierd seeing the difference between the way Duke was and the way Daisy is.

We had never Crated Duke. I am not sure why, life would have been soooo much easier! (We crate the new puppy and it is amazing!)

Yesterday we went and bought a crate, and last night was the first night that we were really strong and did not let Duke up on the bed at all! We didn't force him in the crate last night, just made him sleep on the floor. But we woke up in the middle of the night to find that he had gone into the crate, on his own, and slept there!

Anyways, today was a really good day! No bites, and only a few growls! It was really wierd, but I think that it might have made a slight difference! He even listened to me when we were outside.

Thank you all so much for all of your support. It means so much during this tough time![]

You know what I think would help?

The Other End of the Leash.

It'll help you understand body language, and how to hold yourself, so you aren't intimidating, or somehow triggering Duke.

ORIGINAL: caprice


Also, the reason for the attacks is when I have tried to ask him to do something that he doesn't want to do.  This morning he jumped up on the couch, thought that he could hang out there.  I asked him to get "off", (he knows this command).  He looked at me for a second, then got comfy.  Again, in a more stern voice I said "off"!  This time he got up, and I thought "good job me", but then instead of getting off he turned and lunged at my face and bit me.  Then he ran away.  So I just got up, went to the bathroom to see what damage he did and ignored him for the rest of the morning. 

 
That definitely says to me that he thinks he's alpha. Usually people get bitten by alpha dogs when they do something the dog doesn't like- including making them move from furniture, touching their feet, petting the top of the head or neck, leaning over them, etc.
 
You're doing good with the NILF, but what I would advise is that he not even have the chance to get on to furniture. To really  know where he belongs, and how much he controls in your house, I would have him tethered to you or crated for at least a few weeks. Having him on a leash will keep him from having access to things like the furniture and puts YOU in control. I would also practice some long down stays (working up to 30 minutes). I would stand on the leash if you have to and make him stay down until you give the "okay" command.
 
Definitely expect the behavior to get worse before it gets better. He's been allowed to control you and views you as a subordinate that is overstepping your bounds. The best way to turn that around is to control his resources (food, toys, etc.) and also his environment- on leash or in a crate.
 
Also, I would make sure that he is never even allowed in your bedroom. He needs to sleep in his crate in a completely different room.

all this "alpha" crap is complete garbage. Alpha dogs never ask subordinates to jump off the couch or try to handle their toes.  The more confrontational and "dominant" you get with him, the more he will bite. Dominance to dogs ONLY means that the dominant dog gets first pick of the resources. If you and the dog walk into the room at the same time, and you are dominant, the dog will politely wait and give you the chance to pick the best seat- the couch. If you don't take the couch, by dog rules he is allowed to get up there. And the PRIMARY RULE OF DOGS is one of possession. Once a dog has possession of something, it trumps dominance status. You'll never see a dominant dog forcibly displace a submissive dog from its sleeping spot. Submissive dogs can and do growl and snap at dominant dogs while guarding their possessions.  Humans aren't really very fond of most dog rules, so you have to make an effort to teach the dog human rules.
 
Your dog probably thinks you are rude maniac. Here he is, in possession of a good spot, and you come up and make a noise at him, then you lean over him and are clearly about to attack him, so he defends himself and flees in terror.
 
If he didn't jump off the couch when you asked him to, it means he doesn't fully understand the command. It sounds like he often doesn't understand your requests. Then you move in to "enforce" your commands, so he defends himself. NILIF is supposed to be a pleasant, non-violent, non-confrontational positive program. No corrections, no angry tones. If the dog wants something, he has to do as you ask-- and it is your responsibility to make sure he understands your requests. It's best to approach it as if it were a fun game.  Look what I have! if you do X you can have it! wow! you did it! here you go.
 
and yes, you will need to manipulate the environment at first so that he can't engage in bad behavior such as leap onto the couch. If he has the opportunity to get up on the couch, smack yourself in the head for messing up, and lure him down in a non-violent fashion.