So we had a whole houseful of people yesterday and the dogs were very well behaved all day as hectic as it was. As it finally settled down a friend of ours, who Alice has not met yet, got on the floor to her and held her in his lap. She was okay for about a second but I could tell she didn't like it, I told him she wasnt' looking to comfortable and he might want to let her go. He said "she is so cute, I just want to cuddle her" and wrapped his arms around her and went to kiss her and she snapped at him. Well he let her go, I warned him.

That is not my concern, so everyone left and we were laying on the couch and I had Alice in front of me and I went down to kiss her little head and she growled and snapped at ME!! Well off the couch from me she went with a firm NO, and I watched her go into Fred's cage and come out, then she jumped on the other couch with Guy but didn't lay down and tried to come back up with me and I told her no again.  Then she laid on floor by herself and looked so pathetic I let her come back up with me and everything was okay. Was the excitement of the day to much for her, I don't think non aggressive dogs become aggressive right? I am not sure how to take this..........

ANY dog regardless of how well trained or how submissive, can become aggressive. First of all, your guest was way out of line and that probably set the stage for what happened with you. It could have been that Alice was tired from the day's activities and simply wanted to be left alone. Oftentimes, after a full day, I will crate my dogs to allow them (to "force" them) to have some down/alone time. Dogs need this, and the only they have of communicating "I want some alone time right now" is by either walking away (avoidance) or snapping. This is totally natural behavior for them, although it's NOT acceptable behavior to us.  (by the way... VERY few bites are not preceded by a growl... it's their way of warning).

There would have been several ways to handle the situation correctly. The method you chose is acceptable... it worked... and I think Alice got the message.

AMEN !!

I could tell from Alice's body language that she wasn't liking it, which is why I told him he should leave her be, I understand why she reacted to him. It was with me that I had the concern. I KNOW they were exhausted tired. I was going to put them upstairs by themselves but they were doing so good and having so much fun running and playing I didn't think I needed to. Live and Learn. I know now to make sure to force them into downtime on such exciting days. I think it was a lot in one day for them and today they are alone all day while we are at work to rest and tonight we are having a pajama dinner party just Guy, me and the dogs. Very mellow. Hopefully things with her will be back to normal because I don't want her to think it's okay to snap, especially at us. She did more than growl she snapped and caught me too, nothing bad but enough to get kicked off the couch.

Thanks, I actually feel better knowing she was tired. For all the books I have read and studied I didn't realize they snap and grown out of tiredness as well. I never want to have aggressive dogs and I really in my heart don't think she is one. I think it was one day and I have myself to blame for my part. Thank you all,  this site really does help in understanding our dogs. I have to go get the books you are all reading too, I am reading Candace Bushell's 4 Blondes right now but after this one I am going to pick up one of those next.