Can You Teach an Old Dog New Tricks?

We’ve all heard the saying, “You can’t teach an old dog, new tricks.” Is this true?

Absolutely not!

Dogs of any age can be taught just about any trick you want to take the time to teach them. The big difference between teaching a puppy and an older dog comes down to one thing: attention span.

Younger dogs can focus for shorter periods of time and therefore have a hard time paying attention while learning. Teaching your puppy anything can be quite a process. Older dogs, on the other hand, have established longer attention spans and will pick things up a lot quicker.

It’s actually good to consistently teach your dog new things over their life span, especially when you can start with a puppy. Dogs develop their personalities at a very young age and it never really changes, much like an adult. Therefore, learning how to train your dog from day one will help you teach them new skills ten years down the road. Also, without something to keep them busy, dogs of any age can get bored. A bored dog can become an anxious dog, which can lead to excessive barking, chewing and many other behavioral issues.

Teaching your dog throughout his life also enforces the hierarchy of your family that is necessary in their life. You are communicating that he should look to you as the pack leader, or Alpha. A dog who loses sight of this chain of command will, through natural behavior, seek to be Alpha and think that they are leading the household. This can lead to aggression towards you, your children or anyone they meet.

Here are some simple steps that can be applied to teaching dogs throughout their lives:

Never call a dog over to you so you can punish him. This confuses the dog, making him want to run at the sound of you calling for him. This can send a very complicated message for future training.

Always reward positive behavior. In fact, it is better to reward positive behavior than to scold for the negative. Rewarding your dog instantly teaches him that his behavior was correct, and he will continue to strive for that attention. You do not need to use treats to reward your dog. Giving him treats every time he does something right can lead to an overweight animal, not to mention, a big disappointment when he expects one and doesn’t get it. Use treats sparingly. A hearty, “Good boy!” and a pat on the head does a fine job.

Use conditional stimulus. Instruct a dog to a do a simple act using a simple command. If the dog responds, reward him. If he does not, don’t reward him, but no scolding is necessary. Just try again. This works especially well with older dogs who are happy to learn and more than happy to receive your approval.

At the end of a long day of training, make sure to reward your pup with a comfy dog bed! We offer many sizes, colors and types! They are waterproof and virtually indestructible! We offer free shipping on everything we sell and it is all custom made, right here in America! And while you’re looking around, stop by our dog forum and say hi!