Our chessie is 4 1/2 yrs old now. When he was between 6 mos. and 1 1/2 he decided to fight me for second in command in our house. My husband was the "pack" leader but Gus thought he could take me down and become #2. He would lunge at me, snarl, growl, snap and bark thinking it would bring me into submission but I was not afraid. At that age I could still make him submit with grabbing his collor and hauling him into me with some scary talk and a firm grip. I didn't scream at him or hit him but I tried to treat him like another dog would (minus the biting! ) I held him until he submitted to me and over time he stopped challenging me. He now respects me and I can get him to obey with just looking at him. I think I loved him so much I just wanted it to work out. I got great advice from breeders and owners alike that all said how it was a normal thing and to hang in there. It was well worth it. The best advice I received was to stop thinking of Gus like a person. He's a dog and in nature their packs have certain behaviours to bring everyone in line. Mother dogs grab their pups, hold them down and teach them to behave but they told me to do it while the pup was young enough I could still grab him and wasn't going to lose an arm. Gus is an excellent dog now. It was only a few months out of such a great 4 1/2 years. I hope this helps you some.