Dog aggression problem

[symondneil]

My almost 4 yr old border jack mix has on multiple occasions attacked me, but he has only done this when others are present. Thus far I am the only person he has ever attacked, and I am constantly on my toes to his signals when he is out walking or in the house.

When I finally put my foot down to my husband and said either you follow through with how he has been trained and be serious about giving him boundaries about appropriate behavior he has to go or you and he will. I won't put him up for adoption, and I will have no qualms about putting him to sleep if we can't find a solution.

He prefers men over me, my daughter or any other woman over me if no man is around. We have been able to stop the attacks on me, but I have to watch him around strangers and other dogs, even our other 2. He still gives me the signals when he is on the verge of going off on me, but there are times he will wake up from sleeping and attack without the signs if I am too close to my husband or him.

He seems to know he is doing wrong when he growls or grumps at me. All I do is give him the look, and he backs down, walks to me on his hind feet and gives me a kiss then goes to his crate for a time out. He will harumph and grump all the way over, but he hasn't been told to go there. He has been trained that aggressive behavior gets him a time out there.

I have not been physically attacked now for over a year. I have scars where he has attacked me in the past, and I am super careful when out with him. Hence the halti wearing when on walks or outings.

What have I done wrong, and is there anything more I can do?

I have looked for a pet behaviorist in the area and the closest is a 3 hour drive away and charges 0.50 a mile each way to do the 3 in home visits she insists on. I don't mind spending money to get help, but that is a little out of my range when added to the hourly charge for visits and then the follow ups at her place of business and the gas to get there and back.

My vet reccomended Petsmart, they recommended I find a local trainer but to find one that doesn't use aggression techniques. The non-aggression training exsists, but none are willing to take on this kind of behavior problem.

Any help is much appreciated!