Who's the Boss and When?

I went to sit down on the couch the other day and Jasper would not move over.  Not even one inch.  You ever have a dog like that?  I reached to pick him up to move him and he gave me one of those "Don't try it!" looks.  He is not beyond a little nip once in a while and I'm not talking "alcoholic beverage" nips. 

So I am stuck with do I let Jasper have the couch or not....Hmmm....don't want to get bit but don't want to let him get by with this behavior either.  Is he being a brat or is something wrong?  

I look around the couch to see if a favorite toy is the problem.  Nope.  But then I find a least favorite brother named Bowin quietly hiding on the side of the couch waiting for Jasper to jump down so he can ruffle his fur a bit!  Okay, reason for the nasty look from Jasper found!

So off to get the squirt bottle, which is never where I left it.  I swear the dogs hide it!  

Bowin sees the squirt water bottle and decides he will find another dog to give his attention to.  Good decision Bowin and trust me, he doesn't always make good decisions!

Soon as Jasper sees a clear path, he jumps down from the couch!  Problem solved!

But what just happened?   A few things actually....

For Bowin it was reaffirmed for the millionth time that the water bottle is a formidable opponent and generally wins.

Jasper saw that mom really is the pack leader when he watched me make Bowin move.  He learned that I can protect him if needed and so he knows he can trust me.  He also saw that I will follow through as, even though I felt sorry for him, I still made him get off the couch!

---