Mufasa has made leaps and bounds when it comes to almost everything that once triggered him, except my (lives with us) boyfriend, which seems to be getting stronger responses. He will bark and snarl at him as soon as he comes home, he is giving him high value treats as soon as he walks in the door(a kong filled with his favorite treats, frozen, then more peanut butter freshly put on). He still will lunge and growl as soon as boyfriend stands up. Boyfriend has also hand fed Mufasa a few times(with my close watch, I’ll have him on leash just in case, but he’s only ever barked when being fed, never lunged) and this is mostly ok, but again, if boyfriend goes to stand up, Mufasa will freak out.

Mufasa is ok with boyfriend when we are on a walk, boyfriend even had the leash, mufasa growled a few times but was mostly ok with it(and the growls were low enough that I didn’t hear them 10 feet ahead).

Sometimes he will seem to relax, mufasa will be laying on the floor nearby, seems completely relaxed, until boyfriend moves AT ALL, then it’s lunge, snarl, and growling, definitely seems like he wants to bite(but he has never broken skin, we are ordering a wire muzzle regardless). Most recently boyfriend uncrossed his ankles and that triggered him.

Mufasa is fine with boyfriend in the mornings, we are all up getting ready for the day, Mufasa is a happy pup, no issues, it is only happening at night, and it is getting more severe, more snarling, lunging further, ect.

Our next strategy will be to have mufasa spend the evenings in his crate(this isn’t punishment, the hope is he feels safe there), boyfriend is still going to give him the Kong, but he will give it in the crate, and remain within mufasa’s sight as much as possible, occasionally tossing high value treats. We will do our nightly walk, boyfriend taking the leash (as long as it’s still tolerated), boyfriend will hand feed dinner, then back in the crate for the evening.

Does anyone have any other suggestions for us?