My senior dog is aggressive guarding his items. How can I calm him?

While neutering may be of some help if he is old enough for the surgery, there is no guarantee that it will solve your problem. This sounds more like an imbalance in the relationship between you and your dog. I would have him checked by the vet to be certain that this behavior is not being caused by a medical problem. If Blondi is physically healthy, you can ask for a referral to a behavior specialist (not just a dog trainer!). You are also welcome to click on the prompt to initiate a consult and I can be of assistance, though it is easier to work with the dog on site.

Hi Aaron, I hope I can help you with Taz! I would recommend first neutering him, and then having him seen by a professional behavioral expert. Aggression in dogs can be hormonally related, and having his testicles removed can help reduce that aggression. Having him seen by a professional behavioral experts is also important. Working with aggressive dogs can be dangerous, and I never recommend owners do it on their own. That is a situation that is best left to an expert. I would speak to your vet about a referral to a professional behavior to work with your family and Taz. Hope this helps :-)

Neutering can help with aggression, so I strongly recommend getting that done for Regan. But he also needs behavioral training as soon as possible. He needs an expert to work with him on his aggressive behaviors to prevent him from hurting another person. I never recommend owners work with aggressive dogs on their own, so speak to his vet about a recommendation to a professional behavioral expert. I would do this today. Best of luck.

Hi, it is a tricky and difficult situation. First neutering is not advisable at this stage as it could make the situation precipitate further. My advice is to seek help from a professional before the issues become established and get too difficult to tackle. The best person would be a certified behaviourist to whom your vet can refer you to. I know, I wish I could give you clear instructions on the forum and that everything could get better. The reality is you need someone on the ball, someone who goes through a lot of details and information about your pets and home and people in the household and formulate a personalised plan to tackle this issue. They are going to be there to support you along the way, and trust me it will be worthy ! Please don’t let this slip out of your hand, you can’t do everything on your own. I have witnessed several exasperated owners coming in on Sundays asking to have their pets euthanised because they could not cope with constantly having to monitor them or to keep them separated, there are options out there. It takes some work and commitment but they will pay back, in the interest of everyone involved. Thank you very much for reaching out and let us know how you get on !

Hi, neutering might not be the answer as some dogs get even more aggressive after neutering. I would recommend to find an association that will take him over and is able to work on his behaviour prior to rehoming. Unfortunately it takes a lot of money and time to do this on your own and your risk of getting bitten in the meantime is high. Hopefully you will find a solution that it’s helpful for everyone.

Neutering him would be recommended however, at his age, it may or may not help. I suggest you work with a professional, in-home dog trainer. You need to find a way to actually correct the underlying reason for him trying to attack the smaller dog. You can also put a basket muzzle on him so that if he attacks the smaller dog he can't hurt him. This is not fixing the problem but you could use it as an adjunct to prevent injury. ( https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/dog-muzzles-about-when-why-and-how-to-use-one/ ) If you can't keep them separated then you may have to re-home him.

I would have Harley seen by a professional behavioral expert. Aggressive dogs can be very difficult and dangerous to work with, and I never recommend owners take their training upon themselves. There's too much of a risk the owner could be hurt, especially with a dog as large as him. The trainer can work with you and Harley on his aggressive behaviors. I would speak to your vet about a referral to a behavioral expert.