Hi:) I was wondering if anybody has any advice on what to do with my bossy 2 yr old... She was spayed after her first heat... At home our 3 yr old lets her boss him around most of the time. When we go to meet ups she will sometimes get into altercations with another dog (sibe or other) because she thinks she needs to let the others know she's in charge. I have called a trainer and am waiting for a call back to schedule an appointment but I figured I would check and see what the experts think;)
It is getting to the point where I don't want to bring her to the park and just take my oldest, but our female is the one who needs the exercise and socialization more.. Thanks in advance for any advice!!

By 3 year old do you mean child or dog?

What type of trainer did you call?  As in, how does this trainer train and what does the trainer use to train?

What type of training have you done with her so far? Crate training? How is she on the walk? Does she have freedom all the time or lots of structure? Can you describe what her life with you is like?

Sorry, our 3 yr old male sibe... I called a training organization that I had heard multiple good reviews from and the woman who would be working with us has experience with northern breeds. I need to ask her about her techniques but while looking on their website I saw no reference to only 'positive training'. My first conversation with the trainer she had said it sounded as if my female doesn't respect me enough basically so would go over ways to gain her respect and then what to do in the heat of the moment if something were to happen....

Lol, sorry (again) I just saw the second half of your reply:/

She was crate trained, but we took the crates out about 6 months ago and now the gated kitchen is their big crate..

She walks well when it's just her, when it's both she NEEDS to be in front.. Or, she walks well by herself as long as a squirrel doesn't jump out in front of us;)

They have freedom to an extent. She's a fence jumper so when outside we have her on a tie out during the day (maybe 10 minutes tops, I stay at home). Once night falls and no squirrels are running the fence lines they can play outside, these outside playtimes are always supervised just in case a raccoon pops up.

Pretty much our days consist of hanging around, she goes to daycare about 1 a week. We'll go hiking by our house (off leash) about once a week also and we go on weekly meet ups to local parks... I try to do a nice rigorous off leash adventure every other day. The in between days are rest/backyard play days :/...

Do you want Positive Only training or are you open to correcting your dog and modifying her behaviors with Balanced training?

I don't want positive only training. Both my sibes are to smart for that;)

Ha, excellent. You, in fact, are the smart one.

I am a balanced trainer and a Husky owner/lover, so here's my take:

-You're taking her to dog parks to socialize and get exercise, but instead, she's getting into scuffles and fights, so neither of your goals are being met.
-She is crate trained, but you don't use a crate
-She walks in front of you because she needs to/you let her
-She reacts impulsively to squirrels or other animals at will
-She hangs around the house a lot, I'm assuming freely and not structured

So there could be a respect issue or a dominance issue, but laid out like this, what is another possibility? What does she have too much of?

To much unstructured freetime?
To much freedom/leniency?

Bingo

I got your PM. I'm on the East Coast right now and traveling back home tomorrow morning. In fact, I graduated from dog training school just tonight.

I can help you for sure, and I would love to do it.

I'll be in touch once I'm back home and we can check in.

Thanks! Congratulations! I always prefer working with sibe owners;)

Have a safe trip, hope to hear from you soon!