Obedience Training and Older Dogs

Whether you've adopted an older dog or simply decided it was time to teach a little obedience, training a mature animal is different from training a puppy. Although the methods are very much the same, there are certain steps you must take with an older dog, but keep in mind that the old adage is not true. You can in fact teach an old dog new tricks. Here are some tips on obedience training.

      Positive reinforcement is a must. With any pet, you want to let them know you are pleased when they practice good behavior. Do not yell at or hit a dog when it does wrong. Instead, a stern "no" and persistence will pay off. Dogs, no matter what the age, want to please you, so when they perform the training command, enthusiastically praise them. Also, the use of treats works well with grown dogs. When you tell them to sit, and they do so, give them a bit of a treat. Soon, they will associate the word with good things.

 

     Patience is the key. When working with dogs on obedience, the best thing you can do is have plenty of patience. Older dogs may take longer to understand what you want them to do. Just like people, dogs learn the best and the quickest when the are young and in their formative years. So you will need to give the pooch some time to recognize what you mean. 

 

     Keep the training times short. Older dogs may tire quickly or run out of patience with you. Do not push them to learn too much too quickly. Make sure to work at their own pace and in short training times. Thirty minutes a day of obedience training is usually a good rule of thumb when working with an older dog.

 

     Be consistent. Do not confuse the dog by telling them to sit and not making sure they follow through. Whether in the middle of a training session or at some other time of the day, if you give them a command, make sure to take the time to confirm that they followed the command and praise them accordingly.

 

     Unfortunately, many people mistakenly believe that older dogs cannot be trained. This is far from the case. Obedience training an older dogcan be a rewarding experience, and it can create an even stronger pet/owner relationship. Do remember that, no matter what age your animal, hiring qualified professionals to assist you in canine training is always a good idea.