This sounds like the problems I have been having with Samson.

Scruffy was my dog before I got Samson. Both were about 8 when Samson came to stay. Within a year, Samson asserted his dominance and became alpha. No problem for Scruffy or Bear (now at RB). Samson slept on the bed with me and was treated as alpha. Scruffy had a leg removed so he couldn't jump up anyway. Samson left Bear alone; Bear was a senior citizen and was blind so he got special privileges.

When Bear died, Samson became very protective of me. He would growl at any dog that came into the same room he and I were in. No yelling, squirting or restraining would get through to him. If Scruffy came through the doggy door, Samson would attack and pin Scruffy to the floor by his neck.

About a month ago, I kicked him out of bed. Literally. It was as hard on me as it was on him. For the first week, I put him on a leash. There were a lot of interruptions to my sleep, but he inally got the message that he had to sleep in HIS bed, not mine.

Bottom line, he's not growling at Scruffy as much. I think he had to realize I was alpha to him. He listens better and he's not as cocky in his general attitude. And I actually caught Scruffy and Samson sleeping on the same loveseat last night.

Does this sound like Duke at all?

Mary