How to Train an Older Dog
Sometimes people hesitate to adopt an older dog, or allow their own dog to go untrained, because they believe older dogs do not learn fast. However, not all old sayings are true --- you can teach an old dog new tricks and new behaviors, assures author and dog trainer Kathy Diamond Davis. Unlike puppies, older dogs often need to unlearn negative behaviors before learning good ones. Often, people want to train a dog to make living with it easier --- such as house, leash and crate training. Training your older dog provides additional benefits by giving you an opportunity to build a better relationship with the dog, and help keep the dog happier and less bored.
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Instructions
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Take your dog to the veterinarian to evaluate any issues that might affect training, including vision, hearing, hip dysplasia and arthritis. Use methods that address problems, such as teaching a dog with arthritis to sit or lay on soft surfaces, using hand signals or a louder voice for hearing problems and avoiding tricks involving jumping for dogs with hip dysplasia.
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Obtain a variety of healthy treats for your dog for use only during training. Cut the treats into small pieces to avoid overfeeding or upsetting the stomach of an older dog.
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Start with basic commands by rewarding behaviors your older dog already performs, such as making eye contact, sit and down, suggests veterinarian and Tufts University professor Nicholas Dodman. Speak one-word cues, such as "sit" or "look," and give the dog a treat. After several times, give the command and treat only when the dog performs on cue. Keep training sessions short, no more than 15 minutes at a time, two to three times each day.
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Make a list of training issues you need the dog to learn. Write down your older dog's current behaviors, such as pulling on a leash, housebreaking issues or barking in the crate. List the behaviors starting with the most important ones and work on one at a time. Make a list of simple tricks to teach your dog.
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Develop a training plan to help your older dog stop the unwanted behaviors. Use methods such as feeding a dog in an open crate to connect crating with a positive event, leashing the dog to you at all times and taking it out hourly to stop house-soiling, and stopping or backing up if the dog pulls on a leash. Work on stopping the unwanted behaviors before beginning to train for the wanted actions, such as crating with the gate shut, heeling and signaling when the dog wants to go outside. Reward your dog for performing any wanted behaviors, such as going in the crate, pottying outside and walking next to you without pulling on the leash.
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Teach your dog a simple trick, such as fetch, shaking hands or turning in a circle. Alternate training sessions between the problem areas and tricks to help keep training interesting and positive for the dog. Work on tricks for approximately five minutes twice a day.
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Tips & Warnings
Ignore unwanted behavior and reward desired behavior to obtain positive results.
Develop realistic training goals for your older dog. Expect an older dog to learn slower and do not expect to change temperament, advises Dodman.
Assume older adopted dogs probably lack house training and treat them like a puppy to avoid letting the dog learn to soil in your house, advises the Champaign County Humane Society.
Do not punish your dog during training, as it may cause your dog to fear you or even bite, warns the Utah State University Cooperative Extension.
References
Resources
- Vetinfo: 5 Best Exercises for Old Dogs
- ASPCA: Feeding Older Dogs
- University of Illinois; Caring for the Canine Senior Citizen; Julie Byron; October 2008
- Mary Woodward's Clicker Training Lessons; Mary Woodward
- The Humane Society of the United States; Dogs-Positive Reinforcement Training; October 2009
- Photo Credit Photos.com/PhotoObjects.net/Getty Images
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Comments
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Betty DeMers
Mar 04, 2009
Thank you so much! Good tips! 5* and a recommend!
