Can You Teach an Old Dog New Tricks?

We’ve all heard the old saying “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks”. This idiom is often used as a commentary on the fact that you can’t change people, but its origin was indeed a reference to actual aged canines. In 1523 an Englishman named Fitzherbert, in his book on animal husbandry, cautioned that dogs must be taught when they are puppies otherwise it will be too late (in so many words…the original phrasing was old-timey English with all sorts of funky spelling, of course).

While people have come to accept this phrase’s truth with regard to both dogs as well as humans, it only took four days of training for Discovery Channel’s “Myth Busters” team Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage to prove Fitzherbert’s theory wrong.  Are we really surprised??

According to certified dog trainer Michelle Mullins, aging may cause older dogs to learn a bit more slowly, but training can help keep their minds sharp and improve their quality of life. Older dogs may even be easier to train than puppies because their attention span is longer and they tend to have more self-control.

Things to Consider When Training an Older Dog

Physical limitations can have an impact on your dog’s training. Muscle or joint problems – such as arthritis (fairly common in mature dogs) – can affect their ability to do tricks that involve running, jumping, or repetitively lying down. That doesn’t mean you can’t train them though! Choose alternative commands like speak, heel, or shake. Some older dogs may also have vision or hearing problems. If your dog’s sight isn’t the greatest, they can still be taught to respond to voice commands, and for the hard of hearing dog, you can convert oral commands to hand signals.

Mental challenges can also pose an obstacle for your pet. Just like humans, old dogs can develop cognitive issues like anxiety or memory problems. In addition, their sleep behaviors may change. These challenges can usually be worked around; just exercise extra patience with your pet and show him lots of love and compassion.

When training your older dog, start by rewarding his response with praise, then a small treat. You want him to eventually obey commands with only praise as a reward (too many treats can cause stomach upset and put extra weight on your beloved pup at a time when his metabolism is already slowing down!). Work with your dog for at least a few minutes every day (consistency is key) and give him about a month to learn his new habits.

Good Tricks to Start With

Where should you begin when training an older dog? Here are some great commands to start out with:

• Speak
• Dance (great for high energy, wriggly dogs!)
• Shake
• Kiss
• Crawl
• Roll over
• Get your leash
• Drop (lie down)
• High five

Training can also be used to discourage destructive behaviors, like digging, chewing non-toy household items, and excessive barking. The same principles apply – command, praise, reward, and patience.

Like any puppy, it will take some time for your dog to learn how to perform these unfamiliar actions. The important thing to remember is that while showing off your sweet pooch’s talents can be a fun part of the process, the real benefit to training your older dog is that you will forge an even stronger bond with him. In addition, he will get valuable brain stimulation and exercise that is great for his overall health.

If you run into roadblocks while trying to train your mature pup, don’t hesitate to consult a professional. Ask your veterinarian for their suggestions on any issues you may encounter. Most of all, have fun!