Goldendoodle Aggression

[Dawn]

I am new to the community and am starting another discussion on Goldendoodle aggression.  I saw a string from 2008 (posted by another Dawn :)), but wanted to start anew and with a different premise (the prior string asked whether to get a Goldendoodle -- we have one and need to fix a behavior). 

Our Goldendoodle, Guinness, is almost 7 months old.  He is usually very sweet, but whenever he has to do something he doesn't want to do or give up something he wants to hold onto, he growls.  If it goes to the next level, and he is forced to do something or give up something (for example, I might pick him up to take him to his crate or pull him away from the mud puddle he wants to jump in or take away the pine cone that he is about to swallow), he mouths or bites.  I have been bitten 3 times where he has punctured my skin.  The biting behavior has definitely been directed at me rather than my husband, but the growling has been directed at both of us.  In public, Guinness is a bouncy, floppy, people-loving dog, so I am not worried about him biting anyone when we are out and about.  The behavior definitely rears its ugly head when we are in the house or out alone.

We are looking into having an in-home behavioral specialist come to our house, but any thoughts from this community would be welcomed.  We do not have kids yet, but hope to in the future, so I want to stop this behavior before it becomes a real problem.

Thanks,

Dawn

[a.k.a. Rodney]

Appreciate your post...sometimes I wonder if I have the only "Difficult Doodle"
She is pretty much as you describe Guiness...but she is just 5 mo. And has never really punctured my skin. I did phone my behaviorist & managed to "coax" a video of DerbyDoodle in action..sort of
He labeled it "play" behavior & explained she's not entirely sure what's acceptable. Not so sure I agree with him on this one. She does retreat as I get strong, but cops an attitude like" you're really not going to make me stop this !" Lays down, grumbles, and snaps at the air a bit. I don't like this at all, but willing to play it out and see where it goes.. He suggested to rely more on the "ahh, ahh, ahh" that she knows for sure what that means. Have to say it seems to resonate with her...TODAY, at least!!