[LolaLaRue]

Hmmm sounds like my male pup, according to my trainer he is dominant, at 8 weeks I brought him to my trainer to be checked out and he too growled when being picked up, so he told be to pick him up everyday 3 or 4 times a day,put him on his back in my lap and feed him, hot dogs, cheese, peanut butter, whatever, so he sees that good things happen when he is dominated, When we went back the next week for our follow up, he doesnt growl anymore and instead of being stiff and having his legs tucked up he is very loose and comfortable and his legs lay flat, this is just one of the many behaviors we do at home everyday. Since he's a baby we keep everything positive, I meet once a week with my trainer for a private lesson and it seems something new pops up everyweek and we address it and things get better,he used to growl when his feet were touched, or his collar, and we would pick up his foot, feed him, and praise for not growling, same with the collar, I would gently pull him forward by his collar towards a treat, in just a few weeks he is a different dog, my trainer is a behavorist and we stay on top of him. It could be your pup just trying to figure out his place in the pack, but my boy is 13 weeks and 40lbs so I am glad I got him started on his training early. I have a female at home who is the exact opposite of him and my trainer jokes that I have extreme polar opposites, he is a very different pup than her and requires much more work, but I love him to death and wouldnt trade him for anything. I could go on forever about the excercises that we do but my suggestion would be to have him evaluated by a trainer familiar with Rotties or working dogs. I would be lost without my trainer, a good trainer is a must, I have him on speed dial!