Ok, getting involved now.

As someone who is new to training dogs, but did grow up with them already trained, it seems very few people actually know how to train a dog and specifically the breed they have. We did an awful job with out first boy out of ignorance, yes we loved him, but could have done a better job. We are now making sure we are doing a better job with a new dog and that means asking those who know what to do. Those who we ask are registered dog breeders, one who trains his dogs for trails, along with a full on dog trainer.

We were amazed some of the things we did not know, especially with the whole "place in the pack" stuff. Any dog needs to know its place and whilst we think we are being loving and caring owners, we could be completely confusing the poor dog. For example a dog who sleeps with you will think that is top of the pack. Often what we think are attacks based on protection are attacks based on the dog keeping itself alpha dog. Their placement in the pack needs to be consistent. Yes, love it, but not to the point where it thinks that it is the top dog. With the larger breeds it is just a disaster waiting to happen.

I believe, from my own experience and of what I have read, is that there are a lot of people who think they know what they are doing with dog training, but really don't. Time for owners to be licensed and sit a test before owning a dog.
It's amazing, isn't it, when you learn what to do from a behaviourilst? We felt like the biggest idiots when we first worked with one (pup was three months old) and then when we worked with the second one, we learned so much more. Just a simple thing like letting the dog sit beside you on the couch is interpreted to the dog that he/she is your equal. Same with sleeping on the bed. Same with eating their dinner first. We found the whole learning absolutely fascinating and it will be something we both have with us through all the dogs we will ever be lucky enough to have in our lives.