Background:
My wife and I moved to our current house 14 years ago. We obtained a female
samy a few months later. She was well behaved and friendly. At about the
same time, a neighbor got a female black lab. The two played together
frequently and we often dog sat the lab when the neighbor went on vacation.
When they were about 1 (the dogs, not the neighbor), the neighbor moved and
was going to take the lab to the shelter. We immediately adopted her(the
lab) and she's been a real sweetheart.

The samy died at 10 from lymphoma. About 1 year later, we adopted another
female samy who got along well with the lab. When the samy was about 2, the
lab was slowing down quite a bit so we decided to get a male samy (we love
samys) to keep the female company. Both females are spayed and the male is
neutered. He's 1 year old now.

Occasionally, the male and female get into a really mean snarling and
snapping match but they have never bitten each other and as soon as I tell
them to calm down they do. I hold them part for a few minute and they're
fine. Kind of like a time out. The lab ignores them and sleeps most of the
time.

That's the background. Now for the problem.

We live in a closed off neighborhood of about 30 houses and 50 acres of
wooded lots. There is one way in and out. I have trained the dogs to go into
the woods when a vehicle approaches. They run free and they have never left
the neighborhood. Now please, lets not get into a urinating contest about
free running dogs. It does not violate local or state law and I am home with
them. They come with me or stay in the house when I am gone.

A newly arrived neighbor has recently complained about being afraid of the
male biting her or her dogs( they're miniature somethings, about 3-4
pounds). I've gone over there with him on a lead and he is fine. She pets
him and he licks her hand. He barks at the dogs and they yap back at him. I
can take him off the lead and he behaves the same way. She says he is
different when I'm not around. Obviiously, I can't judge his behavior when
I'm not around. Kind of like the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principal for any
scientists out there. Other neighbors have commented that the male is kind
of stand-offish but not unfriendly. He does seem to have developed a hand
shyness. I'm not sure why since neither my wife nor I have ever hit him. I
have grabbed him a couple of times when he was misbehaving but not roughly.

I have a business in my home and about 50 - 60 people have come over here in
the past 6 months. There has never been a problem. The male and female
generallly run over to the car when it stops and the female warmly greets
them while the male watches.

I've kind of wondered if he's just assuming the alpha role when I'm not
present. But then I've never "barked" or been aggressive around people (I
don't think).

Any ideas? I plan to contact a behaviorist next week