Puppies will often misbehave or exhibit behavior problems simply because they don't yet understand the rules. With older dogs, however, it's often a different case. Many dogs develop behavioral changes as they get older, anything from separation anxiety to aggression. While you may see your older dog as 'misbehaving', it's usually not because he doesn't understand the rules like a puppy, but more often because he is unable to follow them for some reason or another.

One of the most common behavior problems to occur in older dogs is separation anxiety. As dogs age, they often have a decreased ability to cope with change and can be more anxious due to vision or hearing loss. There are many things that you can do to help combat separation anxiety. For instance, teaching your dog to relax in a 'stay' for extended periods of time while you're home can help him learn to relax when you're gone. You can also associate your departure with something good by giving him a toy or other treat as you leave. For more tips and information, read our article on Dealing With Separation Anxiety.

Aggression can also occur with older dogs. It's important that you have your older dog checked by your veterinarian if he's showing new signs of aggression. There are many medical problems which can lead to aggression, such as those which cause pain like arthritis, diseases which effect the nervous system, and vision and hearing loss. In addition, stresses like a move or new pet can also lead to irritability and aggression. In these cases, it's important to determine what is triggering the aggression in order to deal with it.

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