My 7-year-old dog is vicious. Can an older aggressive dog be trained?

The saying that old dogs can't learn new tricks is certainly not true. Dogs can benefit from training at any age and can learn new behaviors, so I think it would be a great idea to get some training for Rusty in your new city. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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).

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.

Hi there! Any age of dog can go through obedience training! Even old dogs can learn new tricks! I would recommend training for Jack as this will help greatly with any bad habits he may have. Thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

I certainly sympathize with your situation. Since Digby is 7 years old and this is a new behavior, I would start by having your veterinarian examine Digby to make sure there isn't a medical condition that is contributing to the change in his behavior. Your veterinarian may recommend trying medication depending on Digby's situation and behavior. If everything is normal on examination, ask your veterinarian for a recommendation for a behaviorist or trainer. You will need to commit to a training regimen to change Digby's behavior when he sees another dog. This can be a long process, but will be worth it. Good luck! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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.

As a dog gets older, it will be harder to train out undesirable behaviors, but Bubby is still young and I don't think it's too late to socialize him. I would speak to your vet about seeing a professional behavioral expert. I'm not sure what undesirable behaviors he is showing, but if it does include aggression, that should be dealt with by a professional. A behavioral expert can work with you and Bubby on training, and can introduce him to controlled and safe situations to work on his socialization.