Hello everyone, just wanted to give an update. Quite a bit has happened. But shed no tears, I will not be putting Tucker down. I made the commitment to keeping this dog alive and giving him his forever home, and I intend to do so - just as I said I would.
With that being said, this is what's been done. I pretty much put feelers out everywhere I could. My first attempt, and most fruitful thus far, was to contact a VA CDTI, who referred me to Martin Deeley (a personal friend of CM), who didn't put me in touch with Cesar, but he referred me to George ****rell (also a personal friend to CM), a local guy who also trains dogs and is quite accomplished with 33 years experience, third generation, and has seen 17,000 dogs. We met a week ago to review some training issues and his opinion is that there is nothing wrong with the dog that cannot be controlled. But due to his unpredictability, needs to be trained and barriers need to be erected with other people around (crate & muzzle). Tucker is responding well to the training exercises, but he's no spaniel or lab and it's taking a while to get him to where I want him. I'm currently working with a lead and a plastic pinch to get him to walk properly and to sit and to base his every move on me and what I tell him to do. Every day it's 2 steps forward, and one step back, but that's 1 step of progress every day. The focus is to keep Tucker working for me rather than making his own decisions. George and I meet again in another week and I've enrolled Tucker in Saturday classes that start in June that my wife and I will attend with Tucker.
Prior to meeting with George, I had contacted Sean Hawkins, the head of the Cesar and Illusion Foundation, and have emailed several times with him. I also was able to track down the director (Jim Milio) and the producer (Sue Ann Fincke) of The Dog Whisperer. I got responses from Sean and Jim and both gave some good advice, including getting in touch with Cheri Lucas, one of CM's students. I have had some email exchanges with Cheri also. But I don't think it's going to be necessary. Tucker just needs solid direction provided by the training and the temporary barriers should keep any further bites from occurring.
I also had Dr. Jean Dodds personally read Tucker's thyroid panel (after having my vet interpret them) and I feel her take on it is the one and only take, and Tucker has normal thyroid levels. Tucker's chemical panel was normal as well - so the fact that there is nothing physically wrong with him has been confirmed.
The behaviorist, Dr. Kathrn Meyer, has kept in touch with me and knows George ****rell as well. She was at first a bit put off by my having contacted him because of his extensive use of electronic equipment to train dogs. However, she was quite pleased that George was able to properly assess that electronic equipment was not the best option for Tucker's temperment. She and I remain in touch and will explore medication once Tucker's training progresses and the need will be revisited. Doggy Prozac is on the table, but since Tucker's lifestyle is changing drastically, she want's to wait prior to trying anything further in fear of any drugs having a negative effect due to their potential to increase aggression during the initial period of the drug use.
My wife and I still feel that should be manage to get pregnant, that Tucker might not be safe to have around a child given their unpredictability once the child starts to become mobile. We also don't want to crate him 100% of the time nor do we want him to spend the rest of his life behind a muzzle. Therefore, in the interest of Tucker and my wife and I, my mother has agreed to take Tucker when that point in time arrives which, at best, wouldn't occur sooner than 9 - 10 months since we're not currently pregnant. 
My mom lives alone in a loosely populated area and has seldom visits. She too has committed to meeting with a trainer there and working with Tucker in order to maintain control of him once he's in her hands. The setup at her house allows Tucker free roam of the house and fenced area and he can be blocked into any one of the areas should she have visitors. She lost her husband about 1.5 years ago, so it would be good for both of them (Tucker and mom). My family has really rallied behind me and my cause.
With regard to the lady living with us, we made great leaps in progress regarding preparing her home for her to move back into. If you are just joining this thread, she was an extreme hoarder, is an alcoholic, smokes constantly and suffers mild dimensia. She set her house on fire with cigarettes and had nowhere to live and noone to take care of her, so she moved in with my wife and I in our small condo. She cannot properly comprehend the rules of the house (don't touch the dogs) and will not leave Tucker alone and therefore has been bitten twice. She just doesn't understand. (Keep in mind that Tucker has NEVER outright bitten anyone, he only reacts to situations where people reach for him) Once she found out that he might have to go away, she has found a new respect for the rules as she loves him also. She has given Tucker his space in the interim and no more incidents have occurred. Just this weekend I met with painters and cleaning folks and this part of the work could potentially be completed in the next 2 weeks, opening our home a bit and relaxing the apprehension of another 'occurance'. Keep in mind that we work 10 hours a day during the week and even spent our 1 year wedding anniversary working on this house that she will be relocated to (she has two, one burned and is soaked from firemen and is full of mold now along with ceiling high hoarding mess and the other WAS piled to the ceiling with junk and trash - hoarding mess. We are cleaning the one that didn't burn for her to live in temporarily until the one that burned can be cleaned up and renovated). Every weekend is spent on this project - we have removed 2ea 30 cuyd dumpsters of yard debris and 3ea 30 cuyd dumpsters of junk and trash from inside the house we're moving her to. (That's 6 tons of crap, for those who are mathematically challenged.) Believe it or not, Nancy has offered to take Tucker into her home after she moves, regardless of the biting issue. Not an option, but just more reinforcement of how my family has come together to save Tucker's life.
I still may submit my case to the Milan folks to see if they are interested in created a show on Tucker, but it's not a priority for me just now as much as working with Tucker to reduce his anxiety and fear. George said that Tucker bites because he feels like he has to. He does not continue his 'attack' once he bites, rather, he acts sorry for losing control. George feels Tucker can be a good dog although still will be required to be isolated around company. He thinks the crate and muzzle will be acceptable to Tucker once he is further along in his training and is more in tune with doing what I want him to do. I have had several breakthoughs while training him, but it's only been a week. I work with him at least three times a day for 15 minute intervals, drilling the lessons into him. I even go home for lunch to work with him since I live 15 minutes from work.
I also contacted both rescue organizations. basenjirescue.org and besenjirescue.us. Keath contacted me immediately and had good advice, he also helped me reach Dr. Dodds. I didn't hear back from Mike at BRAT until I sent him a nasty letter of disappointment regarding his lack of response. He pawned responsibility off on JR, who I will most likely work with on Tucker's training at some point. JR has 6 dogs now including his fosters and simply doesn't have to time to lend ATM.
I just want to say…never give up on your dog. Obviously, people here disagree as to what is best for the dog. Some of you said put him down, some supported my efforts. But what is best for you is also important, and keeping Tucker alive is the best thing for me and I'd like to think Tucker agrees that it's best for him as well. You might think this is selfish, but I would disagree. Killing an animal whom you love, in my opinion, is never 'the best option'. Who says animals don't have feelings and don't have an opinion. Who says they don't know what's coming...when you find a dog that can talk, let me know. Tucker trusts me. I refuse to let him down and my persistance has proven that there are alternatives. It just takes commitment and dedication. If you don't possess these traits, in my opinion, you've got no business having a dog.
Finally, unrelated to Tucker, my mother in law had to put one of her dogs down this past week. Bailey was a 12 yo lab from the Chillbrook line. She loved that dog more than anything, but Bailey was unable to get up when she got home one day last week. After a visit to the emergency vet, Bailey was found to have a malignant tumor in his stomach, and it was bleeding. Surgery would have extended Bailey's life by a maximum of 3 months. The family decided that they would not prolong Bailey's pain and suffering. In the last minutes before Bailey was put to sleep, Bailey got up and went to each family member, in turn, and licked the face of everyone in the family. I can't help but think he knew what was coming and that was his way of telling everyone that he understood and it was his way of saying farewell. Shortly thereafter, they helped Bailey cross the bridge.
