We Have A Battle Of Wills Going On...
 

and she's as determined as I am to win it! I good really use some help with this. Lately, Abbie has been getting a little too aggresive when we play. She loves to retrieve and she's great at it, she runs for it and brings it back and drops it, but if I don't grab it fast enough, she'll "bump" my hand with her nose,hard, and then when I go to grab it, she'll grab at the same time and she's chomped down once too often. She does the same thing if I'm weeding. She'll grab for the weed as I go to grab for it and she's drawn blood twice! We just put mulch down and it's a red mulch that I don't want her chewing on. If I see that she has a piece, forget trying to get it away from her. Last night I lifted her slightly off the floor trying to get her to drop it and she wouldn't. I tryed pushing in on her lower jaw to get her to release...nothing. I finally had to give up and she won. NOW when I tell her to sit, she refuses, even for water and food. It's obvious she wants it, but refuses to do what I say. The only time she'll sit reliably is if she wants me to throw her toy, which is ALWAYS and she knows I won't throw it unless she sits. (I just started that due to the grabbing issue) Sorry for the long post. Any suggestions?

When Pip brings her toy back after I've thrown it, I tell her to 'let go'. If I don't do that, the tug of war is on! I let her play tug for a while then I tell her to let go, and only then will I throw it. Maybe the same thing would work if she had something in her mouth, I'll have to remember to try that, coz she's always picking up something!

As for your girl not sitting for food and water, I'd offer her the food, along with the command to sit, and if she doesn't sit, make her wait a bit longer. The water should be down for her always regardless. You might need to re-establish the fact that you're alpha and not her.

Sounds like she needs to go back and do some leash work.

If she has something in her mouth, use BOTH hands to pry it open. One on the top jaw w/ your thumb and index finger going in behind her canines and the other hand on the lower jaw grabbing right behind the lower canines and just PRY it open. No doubt she's got strong little jaws, but what you remove from that mouth of hers might one day save her life.

If she charges your hand tell her "No". Or does she not know what that word means? If she does and she doesn't stop the first time you tell her to, there needs to be some sort of reprimand/consequence. Don't let her take advantage of you like that, it'll only get worse and lead to other issues-but you're already noticing this yourself.

I was hoping you would see and respond to my post. Thank you. She does know the meaning of the word "No". I don't use it alot with her because she's always had great behavior. About the only time I use "No" is if she starts barking at me from excitement (usually "no bark!") if I'm not throwing her toy often or fast enough for her liking or if she brings a toy to a guest because she wants THEM to throw it. I wouldn't call what she does charging my hand, rather charging the toy or weed or whatever that I happen to be holding. She just sometimes GETS my fingers. She just sort of goes wild, barking and grabbing at whatever I pull even grabbing it from the ground and shaking it so much so that I don't let her out now while I do gardening. She has just as much tenacity when she's holding a piece of mulch. It's like she's not even hearing me...she's in her own world. OTHERWISE, she's great on walks, very affectionate with everyone, friend and stranger alike, never runs from me, USUALLY comes when called. She knows sit, stay, come, down, wave bye-bye, and will usually do them on command. It's just lately she's started to challenge me. I don't want to do the wrong thing because I want her to always trust me. I hate to take the retrieving away from her because she doesn't really play any other way but I can watch her change from this sweet little girl into a monster dog. Her lower jaw quivers, her eyes get really big, every muscle is tense. She's not having fun...she's on a mission. Thanks for the advice. I really appreciate it.