Big Paws Only Dog Forums

I love it.  Look at the sweet little furry, innocent face.  Keep those pics.  You are going to need them in the near future, when those cute pics are all that is going to keep you from skinning that little cutie alive.  Puppies.  The only reason most of ours survived was because of those cute little faces.
Kathy

Hey There,
Welcome to the board.  This is a great site and you will meet lots of us pyr owners.  I'm Kathy and mom to the group below.
Kathy

Just a comment here.  Don't base your decisions of a good breeder on the dog's titles, particularly if they are using a handler at the shows.  A breeder showing and handling their own dogs is sometimes a much better indication of a dog meeting breed standards and being an outstanding dog.  A good handler can finish a poor quality dog, just because they know the tricks of the trade, how to camouflage faults, have ins with the judges, etc.  I have seen many winners at shows, that should never even have been in the show, let alone won anything, or ever be bred.  For some breeds, that whole happy, friendly, show persona, that you see in the dogs, is totally contrary to what the breed temperament is supposed to be and should be an automatic fault for the dog.
Kathy

We have an owner of a chi in our neighborhood who takes the dog out, off leash.  I was walking down to our neighbors house and suddenly felt something grab the leg of my jeans.  I jerked my leg up and the dog fell off.  Of course it hit the pavement and yelled.  The owner comes running around the corner of a house yelling, don't hurt my dog.  Are you kidding me?  Put your dog on a leash or don't let it out.  If that had been Jake, the dog had bitten, Jake would have hurt it, if not killed it, if I didn't see what was happening in time.  It's a cute little dog, but not friendly at all.  Just another stupid dog owner.  I am so sorry that this has happened to you and your dog.  There is just no excuse for the stupidity of some people.
Kathy

Puppy stage lasts for different lengths of time, depending on the breed.  My male English Springer was a puppy up until his death at 13.5.  He was still a bouncy, playful, goofy dog, up until about a week before he died.  He was not hyper, even as a puppy, but very playful and mischevious.  Males are usually puppy like longer than females, in my experience.  My pyr is 2 and still gets excited and jumps around like a puppy, from time to time.  If you could watch my IW, Caucasian and Pyr race through the house, out onto the deck, into the backyard and then back, you would think they were all just giant puppies.  The furniture goes flying, if they bounce off of it, I go flying, if I don't get out of the way, etc.  This little cool spell we are having has really energized them.  If you have never been hit, by a 190 pound dog, running and jumping onto the other dogs, you just haven't lived in my house.  Even a glancing blow can be quite painful.  Luckily on tile, you have enough warning to get out of the path of the oncoming steam rollers.  It is rather comical to watch.  They look like huge puppies, playing and tumbling around.  It is very entertaining and we love it, especially when they are grabbing each other by the tail and pulling them backwards.  I wouldn't trade my big dogs for anything. 
Kathy

I take my dogs, other than ChiChi to Petsmart for weights every week or so.  She goes to the vet once a month, to weigh in.  I give them Ivomec for heartworms, based on weight, and since I am such a worry wart, I weigh them prior to giving it.
Kathy

It sounds like you have gotten some great advice so far.  I don't think neutering will help the interactions between you, your room mates and your dog, but then I am not a fan of neutering or spaying.  As far as growling at you.  Is it a real growl/snarl or is it a grumbly type growl.  My Caucasian growls when I pet her, almost like a cat purring.  She does this anytime something feels good, scratching her belly, rubbing her neck, scratching her hind legs, rubbing between her eyes, etc.  It is her happy sound.  I also have dogs that will challenge me over different things.  They are like children and want to push their boundaries.  As long as they do what I said, I don't mind the growling and grumbling along the way.  They growl and grumble at each other all the time.  It doesn't mean anything.  If a lab growled at me, I would probably take it seriously, but for my dogs to do it, doesn't concern me.  They are just vocal dogs and they are all young and full of themselves.  The main thing for you to remember is not to let your dog get away with anything.  He has to obey, even if it means you physically make him sit, lay, come, whatever.  You have to be consistent.  Nothing that remotely looks like disobedience is ever funny or allowed to slide.  It must be corrected.  My Tibetan and my caucasian will watch every move I make.  They are constantly aware of where I am and what I am doing.  They may not turn their head to look at me, but I cannot sneak up on either one of them.  That just means they are alert and doing their job, which is guarding my home and me.  If you are having problems walking him, get a prong collar.  They are the greatest invention ever, especially for dogs that are larger and much stronger than we are.  I would never take Jake out for a walk, if I didn't have one.  He is not vicious or anything like that, but he is strong and if he sees something he wants to check out, he will simply take me with him.  I won't let go and I got hurt a few times.  A prong collar lets the dog correct themselves.  You don't ever pull on it, you simply hold them firmly and let them figure out the rest.  It is a miracle worker.  As soon as I put Jake's on, he becomes the best dog to walk ever and I know I can control him, no matter what.  Max and chichi are find on regular slip chains and Cody is fine with his regular collar, but Jake will choke himself on a slip chain and keep pulling.
Good luck with your boy.  You are on the right track and with patience and consistency will have a well behaved dog. 
Kathy