Jake wants to be "Top Dog" and is DENIED!

Jake is deciding that he wants to be "top dog" now.  I guess he is that age where he is going to start challenging us.  If he starts getting really nippy at my hands when I'm trying to pet him, starts biting too hard, I'll grab ahold of his upper/lower jaw, tighten down, say "Don't Bite!" and not let go until he submits (by relaxing, whimpering/whining and begging to be let go, etc).  I used to grab his entire muzzle and hold it shut, but he's strong enough now to easily wiggle out of that if he is feeling feisty.  Usually, however, a "Don't Bite!" command works very well, and he removed his jaws from my hand.  I rarely ever have to go any further than that nowadays.  When he does bite, it is never enough to hurt, of course, but we can't have him scaring visitors like that who don't know how he behaves.

Usually Jake starts to submit almost instantly, or at least no longer than ten to fifteen seconds.  Yesterday I had ahold of him for almost four minutes before he submitted.  Never seen him fight like that...finally he did though, so I let go and we went back to playing...minus the nippy behavior, hehe.

Now I've just got to cure him of his possessiveness...which requires more time than I get with him, I think.  I know how to do it, but I need time that I don't really have.  Perhaps some day when there isn't too much work I'll head up to Tim's and try that.