Why is my dog hard to train and reactive? Is he ready to mate?

As an unneutered male, he is starting to feel the effects of male hormones, which can manifest in aggressive behavior. You can try to help him acclimate to other dogs by introducing them in a controlled manner, with both dogs on leashes and through a fence initially until you can see how they will react to one another. Some barking and growling is normal but by reassuring them both without getting too excited can help. The more excited you become, the more he will, and he may feel he needs to be protective of you. Additionally, work with your dog away from other dogs. Play, take him for runs (Huskies are born runners and are very high energy, as I'm sure you are aware.), get him involved in obedience, play fetch, get him involved in dog agility, flyball, anything and everything to keep him well exercised and tied. This will help him be calm and well behaved the rest of the time since a tired dog is a happy dog. And, unless you plan to breed him because he is an exemplary example of his breed, consider getting him neutered. This will remove the primary source of the hormones most responsible for aggression and will also help with other behavioral issues in the future, as well as reducing the urge to roam in search of females. This will keep him safer and less likely to be hit by a car if he does get out on his own.

I strongly recommend enrolling in some solcialisation classes run by a certified trainer or behaviorist in order to improve his interactions with other dogs and his focus on your commands. This will take a lot of time and patience on your behalf given his is fully grown now, I would also consider neutering him as long as there is no fear/anxiety in his behaviors - ask the trainer to fully assess before you schedule this and consider a temporary castration implant initially which will reverse over 6months or so if necessary

Neutering will definitely help, but it won't be an "off switch" for his dominance. A pheromone product, such as the Adaptil collar, may help the behavior. Consider formal training/obedience classes. Make Billy "work" for everything. If he wants to go out, play, eat he has to perform a task (sit, stay, etc). Correct negative behavior immediately. Praise and reward him when he complies. Ant treat or reward he gets should be tiny. If he acts up or gets too wild, place him in a different room or area (not his crate) until he settles down. Be firm and be consistent.

Before resorting to medication, try getting him into an obedience class. This will teach him to look to you for guidance and see you as the leader instead of the other way around. Neutering can help also, but he may be a high energy dog that needs lots of physical activity and mental stimulation to be better behaved. He is young so this is the perfect time to teach him what correct behavior is. Take him for lots of walks, go for runs, play fetch, arrange playdates with other dogs so he can roughhouse, teach him tricks, anything and everything to tire his body and give his mind something to do besides think of ways to get into trouble. A tired dog is a happy dog. It may be a stage that he needs to outgrow and lots of activity will help. If all this doesn't help or not enough, ask your veterinarian what they recommend.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. You’ve already named a few of the problems. Neutering probably won’t help the energy level but may help with the dominance actions. Anxiety is huge and often requires anti-anxiety medication and always requires some form of training. In some instances, training will not be effective until you start some sort of medication so I recommend speaking to your vet. Finally, even though you do much more than many owners in terms of exercise (great work!), it still may not be enough for Stitch, depending on his breed and demeanor. Consider dog parks (once neutered), having him run along a bicycle, etc. Finally, give it time. Many breeds do not settle down until 2-3 years of age, but most eventually do settle down. Best wishes to you and Stitch!

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. Certainly male dogs who are not neutered are more prone to fighting and aggression. Neutering him may help but it will not likely solve all the problems. Best of luck.

This would be an ideal time to enroll Cooper in a beginner dog obedience class. There, you will learn how to get him to behave the way you want him to. He is almost six months old, and may be entering "doggy puberty." If there is a bitch in season anywhere around, he will be distracted by her and not want to listen to you. This would also explain his new burst of energy. You might want to consider having him neutered, too. Good luck with this!