Let me assure you that the old saying “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” is a LIE!. They may need more repetitions than a young puppy, but they can and they will learn new tricks. Training an older dog is sometimes easier because they may be less curious and distracted than a puppy. They may even know some basic commands so with their obedience training you may be able to skip some of them.
Older Dog From A Shelter
Shelly was one of the best dogs we’ve had. We got her from a shelter. When you get an older dog from a shelter there are some things that you didn’t think of when you were looking for a dog. What was her name? Will she learn a new name? How old is she? How will she react to different situations. Was she crate trained? First question most people have is “are they housetrained?” If they are that is great, but if they aren’t, can they learn? Yes they can. Training an older dog may take more patience but they are capable of learning just as if they were young.
Older Dogs Need A Checkup
When you get an older dog, first on the list of things to do is take them to the vet for a thorough checkup. You will need to know if there are any health problems that you will be dealing with. One question you might have is “How old is she?” Your vet can give you their best guess. If they are only a couple years old, they’re just getting into adulthood. If they are in the 6-8 yr range, they are going to be turning into senior citizens fairly soon.
Training An Older Dog
When you decide on training an older dog, you will have to take into consideration any of their physical shortcomings. Is the dog a little hard of hearing? They may have some joint pain that will limit what kind of physical things they can do. If your dog has a little trouble hearing, you can incorporate hand signals into your training. I always thought it was pretty amazing to see someone have their dog follow commands just using hand signals.
Many times an older dog already has learned something from a previous owner. They may know how to sit and stay, give you a paw etc. One fun way to find out what they may already know is to play some games with them. Take them out where you can throw a ball with them. PRECAUTION: If you got your dog from a shelter, they may have been found as a stray. Some dogs will want to run so make sure you have them in a fenced area or a long leash. You can learn a lot about the dog while you’re playing with her, does she come when you call or what is her body language when she has to go potty for example.
Housetraining An Older Dog
If your older dog is not housetrained, that likely will be the first thing you want to train them on. Keep in mind that a dog of any age can have some issues when they are brought into a new environment. They can have some diarrhea at first. Keep them on the food that they have been eating for the first couple weeks until you can wean them off of it to the brand you want to use. Do not yell at them if they have an accident. Give them a stern “NO” and show them where they are to go, just as you would a puppy. When they do what you want them to do, give them plenty of praise. An older dog can put on weight faster than a pup so keep the treats to a minimum.
Conclusion
In conclusion, training an older dog doesn’t need to be difficult. It may take more patience, more repetitions than a puppy but it can also be just as successful. You just need to keep in mind that like us, as a dog ages it can and will develop some physical limitations that you will need to be aware of. If your dog doesn’t seem to be learning housebreaking, make sure there isn’t some physical problem that is causing the problem. Maybe they have a bladder infection or other problem that can be treated with medication.
