Can my aggressive older dog be trained to stop biting strangers?

It is never too late to take a dog to obedience school (I once had a thirteen-year-old in one of my classes!) I would recommend that you enroll Jake as soon as possible. Be sure to tell the instructor what particular problems you are having with him. Good luck!

Yes, all dogs can be trained. It's important to focus on daily exercise and training. Some dogs will have a very high exercise requirement and may require 1-2 hours a day. A tired dog is generally a better behaved dog. Also, you need to figure out if this is true aggression or simply mouthy play. Some dogs like to play rough and if they are not taught appropriate boundaries, they can accidentally hurt their humans. True aggression is more worrisome. Canine aggression is a complex behavior as it can stem from dominance, possessiveness, fear, anxiety, resource guarding or a combination. Most people are not familiar with reading canine body language and training. Because of this, I recommend to work with a professional trainer. Researching on your own will also be helpful. Familiarizing yourself with canine body language and dog training can help you to recognize what your pet is trying to say. You can find many books written on the topic and there is a trainer named Victoria Stilwell who I think is particularly helpful. Best of luck.

Yes, he can still be trained. I recommend finding a good trainer and getting a few private sessions first, then joining a group obedience class. Learning with other dogs and people around is very helpful when it's in a controlled situation. Dogs gain confidence and respect when they learn obedience and can behave with distractions. They want to please but need guidance and praise to learn. Dogs respond well to a routine, praise, and treats for good behavior. In addition giving plenty of exercise so Hootch is tired every day is important since a tired dog is less reactive. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Hootch.

Poor pup! Lots of dogs have this problem, and it's definitely something that can be improved. The basic treatment plan for this issue involves teaching your dog to associate good things (usually treats!) with seeing people and other dogs. You need to start at a distance where he is able to notice them without immediately reacting - so depending on how severe his problem is, you may need a lot of distance at first! Every time he looks at a person or another dog, praise and reward with a treat. If he's barking or not interested in the treats, this means you're too close - back up a bit to where he's comfortable, and try again. It can be hard to do this on your own at first, so I would strongly recommend making an appointment with a veterinary behaviorist or a good reward-based trainer to work with you in person. He/she can help you set up controlled training situations at first to practice, until you and your dog are both comfortable with how things are going. Punishment of any kind is not recommended for this behavior, as it only makes the dog more anxious and worsens the problem over time - steer clear of any trainer who recommends corrections for this behavior. You can search for a board-certified veterinary behaviorist in your area here (www.dacvb.org) or a qualified trainer here (www.ccpdt.org).

Old dogs can certainly learn new tricks! It may take some time, as often the thing Chester is barking out is probably more interesting and rewarding than any distractions. He is also being rewarded when the item he is barking out "runs away". Looking up YouTube videos on positive reinforcement and barking can give you some good ideas. Distracting him, moving him to a different room when he is triggered by something to bark, rewarding calm and quiet behavior with treats or pets from the person entering the home, and even teaching "speak" so you can then teach "quiet" can all help as well! It is often something that takes a little time or patience, but can be changed.

It is possible, yes. It it will be difficult. But he will likely need to be out in an anti-anxiety medicine like fluoxetine prescribe by your vet to help with the training process. This doesn't work for every dog unfortunately. Once he is on the medicine, you can train him to not bark. You may have to hire a trainer to help teach him. I hope this helps.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Aggression like this is serious. Dogs reach their social/behavioral maturity around 2-3 years of age. This is when a dogs behavior can change. Since he wants to bite and attack I recommend a trainer or a veterinary behaviorist. They may want to start a behavioral modification drug while you start trainer. You will need to put in the effort and also make realistic expectations for how Pablo will be. He may never be a dog that strangers can walk up to and pet. You need to learn his triggers and learn to avoid situations where someone could be hurt or negative behaviors are initiated. I hope this helps and I wish you and Pablo the best!