I've got a friend who's having trouble with her dogs biting ankles in the home.

Quick history: Friend has two 17-month-old Schipperkes, both ex-show dogs.  Both neutered.  Friend lives on a smallish boat, permanently docked, with her mum, dad and brother.  Not much room, but hey, they like it :)
They got the dogs, Buzz and Duke, about 3 months back, as rehomes from a breeder in Wales.  Both dogs were raised in a kennel situation, so the whole home thing was/is quite new to them.

There were a few aggression problems to start with, due to nervousness at the new situation I think - Duke, the bolder of the two, barked and growled a lot when anyone except friend went past the wheelhouse (where the dogs slept at the time).  There was some ankle biting as well, but it seemed to have stopped.  I suggested that they completely ignore the barking and growling and praise for good behaviour - wagging bums, quietness and so on; and if either dog tried to nip ankles, that whoever was the nip-ee should freeze in position until any nipping stopped.  All seemed to be going well.  I also sold friend my smaller cage (about 40" x 24" x 26"), which helped a lot - the dogs had somewhere they could retreat to, and behaviour imrpvoed a lot.

Now, the dogs live lower down in the boat, in the lounge area.  They have two smaller cages, still used for sleeping and chilling out in.  But the biting is back.  It's Duke again, and apparently he's gettign worse - friend's mum isn't allowed to walk past the dogs' area with being bitten, and blood has been drawn once or twice; also friend's mum isn't allowed into the dogs' area at all, without being bitten, and they';ve actually pushed her over before (she has MS, so isn't strong at walking).

Friend wanted to know where I got my RC spray collar, so that the dogs could be corrected when they started biting ankles; but I said I'd look round for some help on improving the problem first before I suggest they spend £260 on collars that might not work (or the RC might set off the wrong collar and confuse the dog that isn't doing anything wrong).

So, any ideas?  I suspect it goes back to the kennel days of having a little territory that humans didn't really come into, and it's transferred to their little living area.  For now I've suggested that the mother wears thick wellies and stops when Duke starts attacking her ankles, moving on when he stops, until I can get some advice on the problem.  Friend doesn't have internet, so I couldn't send her on here unfortunately!!  A solution would be great, as there are plans for friend to lodge with me in a year or so, and I don't want my ankles being bitten :D

Thanks!

If i was her when the dog started attacking my ankles i think i'd be inclined to throw a bucket of water over it's head or bang to pans together or drop keys to distract it and then it may associate biting her with the sound or water, in my opinion it does sound like the dog is above his stations.  So she might be better off starting to eat all the time before the dog isn't there an area which the dog can call his own and not where he thinks the highest ranking member goes on the boat.  I know this happens with my westie Luicy if she sleeps in the living room because she's not feeling well the next morning she wont let any of the other dogs in the living room.  I hope this helps abit but she needs to nip this in the bud as soon as because the dog is crossing the boundaries especially if he's nipping humans ankles.  She might have to use a behaviourist.

Warmest regards Susan