i will definatley try the food idea with Oz. I was origianally told to try this out from one of our obedience trainers. My biggest concern is that he is still unconfortable around kids (last owners kids just tortured the heck out of him also) and I want him to know and understand that yes, we DO control the food in the house but also be ok with us taking his food away and touching his food. My biggest concern is that when my friends children come over (2 years and under) they don't always understand not to touch of go into a dog's food dish, no matter how close we watch them. I am concerned of him snapping at one of them, even though his dish is empty...I usually remember taking it off the floor so there is no reason for that situation to occur.

When we try the feeding situation, how do we originally get Oz to not eat the food if we are not supposed to have verbal contact with him? Do i sit/stay him or down/stay him in sight of us while we much on the food? If i don't give him a command, knowing Oz, he will think its a freebie!!

I am really fascinated by this. Have you learned all of your information through books? Is there any you would recommend? I am very interested in this. I would like to be Oz's strong alpha wolf...i know he has strong potential in him for many things and i would like to bew the one to bring out those traits.

Also...we take Oz out immediatley when we get up. How would we go about this if we start the ignoring process right from the wake up??
Thanks so much Carrie for all of your advise so far. I could talk to you for ages!!