Training Older Dogs: Unlocking Your Senior Pup’s Potential
We’ve all heard the old adage, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks” so you’ve likely felt some defeat when faced with behaviors from your senior pup that you’d like to change. If you’re asking yourself, “Can I train my older dog?” then we’ve got some good news for you! That popular adage, though fun to say, couldn’t be further from the truth. Today we’re exploring the myth surrounding training older dogs and delving into the possibility of transforming your senior pooch into your well-behaved companion.
Understanding the Challenges
Training any age dog can come with its challenges. When it comes to training an older dog, established habits and potential health issues are the obstacles you’ll likely need to overcome. The good news? Patience, reinforcement and the right, balanced approach can make navigating these challenges more than possible.
First, patience is key. The adage “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks” likely comes from the fact that older dogs may take longer to grasp new commands or behaviors. It can be easy to get discouraged when it feels like your pup is taking too long to catch on so folks often throw in the towel. By being patient and aware that your senior dog may need more time to catch on than training a new puppy, you can ensure that you are setting the right expectations and providing your dog with the tools to succeed.
Secondly, it’s important to understand potential health considerations when training your older dog. Often senior dogs will have more health issues, so consider consulting your veterinarian before making any major changes to their diet or schedule when training new behaviors. Additionally, consider the time your senior dog may need to take to rest and recharge.
Training Techniques for Older Dogs
When starting a training regimen with your senior dog, try these techniques:
Short and Engaging Training Sessions. Older dogs may tire more easily, so keeping your sessions short and focused can help them feel successful. Short, engaged sessions can help keep them from getting overwhelmed while maintaining their interest.
Adapt to Individual Needs. Structure your training approach to your individual dog’s needs and personality. Older dogs will have a much more established personality than training a puppy so consider this when building your training. For example, some dogs may have a strong desire to please while others may be more independent and value their alone time, understanding your dog’s characteristics can help you to tailor your approach.
Consistency is Key. In any dog training program, we know that consistency is crucial to success. This becomes even more significant when training an older dog. Because you are likely working to break an established habit, being consistent will help your senior dog to understand new expectations.
At the end of the day, age should not be considered a barrier when it comes to training your dog. Older dogs ARE capable of learning new tricks with the right approach. By understanding your senior dog’s needs, their personalities, their limitations and utilizing key training techniques you can certainly transform your mature dog and grow even closer in your relationship. If all this sounds great, but you don’t know where to start, contact our skilled dog trainers here in Portland and let us help you establish a training program built for success.
