The other thing is when I scold him, he shows his teeth and growls at me. He has never done any more than that and I have been told that is the Spitz in him. He is a loving dog otherwise and by my side all the time. I just wish I knew what to do to control these 2 problems.

A: "Spitz" is an old-fashioned name for the American Eskimo Dog breed. While some dogs of this breed have had temperament problems due to poor breeding, they can be sweet and wonderful dogs. In fact I had one myself who was a dear heart for all the years I had her. Shelties are usually great dogs too. In neither breed would snarling and growling at the owner be expected and of course it is not acceptable.

Both of these breeds have a sky-high excitement level and love to bark. They often bark for fun, rather than for any real reason. When someone arrives, a dog has an instinctive "greeting ceremony" that often causes problems for owners with barking and jumping up on people. So your dog is getting a double whammy from his genes for barking as well as his instincts for greeting.

The solution is to teach the dog to do something else--some acceptable behavior that burns up that energy. Both breeds in your dog are highly trainable. You could teach him to sit and greet guests politely if you have enough patience. However, it may be faster and easier to teach him to bring his ball or another toy for people to throw. If they don't want to throw it for him, you can do it. This would keep his mouth busy and also engage his over-energized body in a harmless outlet. My Eskie used to make funny noises when carrying a ball in her mouth, which resulted in my nicknaming her "Woo-Bear"!

A couple of things may be triggering this snarling/growling behavior. One is if you back off when he does it. You would by your behavior be telling him he has found the correct way to register his preferences with you. To change that pattern of behavior you will need to work with a trainer or behavior specialist in person. Your veterinarian may be able to recommend someone. Challenging a snarling dog can get you bitten, so you want to make sure this is done correctly and safely, for both you and him.

Another thing that might be triggering the snarling is too much restraint and not enough training. Restraint can make a dog feel more defensive. If this is the problem with your dog, the solution is training him to obey your commands without you having to put hands on him. Then instead of scolding him, you end by praising him for obeying you. It turns the whole situation around into exactly the right type of handling for a dog like him. Your answer would be to develop some sophisticated training and handling skills to match the extremely intelligent and trainable dog you have there. At 8, he is not too old to enjoy learning, provided he can still move around without pain.

Look for a trainer or behavior specialist who has experience with extremely sensitive dogs because that is the kind you have. Excessive force could push him over the edge, especially coming from a stranger. You want someone who will instruct you on how to handle your dog and let you do the handling. That person needs to be just a buddy to the dog, not someone he will perceive as a threat.

Both breeds in your dog have the potential to become fearful and defensive if handled too harshly and that could turn your problem into something much worse than it already is. Remember he is your dog and you have the right to stop the training at any point you are not comfortable with it.

Working with this dog in the right way can be a wonderful learning experience for you, so I hope you will pursue it and find exactly the right person to help. I would also recommend the book, The Canine Good Citizen by Jack and Wendy Volhard, for a gentle training program you can try on your own and a wonderful explanation of dog drives and personality.