Linda,

I'm so sorry to hear of your loss. I'm sure it has been a hard situation for your and your animals. It sounds like the dogs considered your husband the alpha member of the family (pack). With his passing and I'm sure your grief, I think the older dogs saw the need to fill your husbands role as the alpha members of the pack. As alpha dogs, it is there job to protect their territory (the home) and other pack members (you). Given their size, they can't really immediately confront potential invaders or threats so they tend to sneak up or move quickly to nip and scare them off.

There is an easy solution to this but you need to take control of the situation. As soon as the dogs see you as the alpha member of the pack, they will relinquish the roll of protector and stop nipping and guarding their territory because it will be YOUR territory and your job to defend it and your decision who is allowed into your home. Now they will still help protect the house, but only if you indicate it is necessary and then they will help YOU protect it.

The easiest way to take back the alpha position is obedience training. I'd start with the two nippers as they are the alphas currently. Once they are obeying all your commands the other dogs will fall into line as well. I suggest that you enroll them in an obedience class at a minimum. Before you can get into classes, I am including links to a couple of other sites that teach some good methods of training. Be sure and read both.

http://www.sibes.org/sdo/index.asp~m=article&name=sdo.id.A000232

http://www.luckydogs.info/pdf/Teaching-the-basic-commands.pdf

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The following site is helpful. Be sure and click on the link to the left on obedience. and links on subsequent pages leading to detailed instructions.

http://www.schutzhund-training.com/training_theory.html

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Training works best if you train at least 30 minutes a day (two 15 minute sessions). I would start making your dog work via the Nothing in life is free program (NILF). It is outlined below.

http://www.pets.ca/articles/article-dog_nilf.htm

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I know this is a lot of time to devote toward training dogs, but when someone knocks on the door and you can tell your dogs to sit and stay and all 5 sit patiently when visitors come in the door, you will be so proud of them that you won't regret one minute of the time you devoted to training.

You will also want to keep a leash on the alphas at all times initially to grab if they should disobey. I think you will be pleasantly surprised at how well your dogs do with training. Dogs like knowing what is expected of them and they love the little paper thin slices of hotdogs that I use for treats while training. Give this a try and see how it works for you.

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In addition, if the situation is not improving using the techniques on the previous website, you may have to consult a professional behaviorist. You can usually find a behaviorist by asking your Vet for a recommendation or you may be able to find one using the following site.

http://www.apdt.com

For nipping at the pants legs and ankles, visitors need to adopt an exaggerated walk with the heals coming up on the back swing. If they walk in this manner, when the dog gets too close to their feet, they will end up getting the shock of a heel coming up and possibly catching them in the jaw or chest. Since the person is just walking, it will surprise them. It usually only takes a few times before they stop jumping at the ankles or biting them.I think you will find most people willing to help.

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If you have someone they try to do this to on a regular basis, this person could be elected to help with training allowing you to work with them several times a day when you know they would normally do it. Once they stop ankle biting, reward them with tasty treats and praise. For each person he doesn't do this to, reward them. He will learn that strangers mean treats and are a good thing and that should help stop the biting.

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I hope this information is helpful. If you would like any additional information or have more questions please don’t hesitate to press the reply to expert or continue conversation button.

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Since there have been recalls on certain foods, please check the following site to be sure the food your animals eat is not affected. If it is affected, contact your vet as soon as possible. Have your dog seen if they have any symptoms.

http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/SafetyHealth/RecallsWithdrawals/