Training an Older Dog
All dogs, young or old, need good manners, they need to be housetrained, and they need to have good social skills with other dogs and people.
But there are some special considerations to take into account when you're training an older dog.
Depending on his circumstances, a dog may be carrying some emotional baggage that could affect the way you attempt to train him.
For example, there's a big difference between taking in your Aunt Sophie's dog when she dies -- a dog that has been loved and well-cared for all his life, and taking in a dog that may have been abused.
Aunt Sophie's dog may be sad and depressed but, with time, he will adjust to a new life with you.
A more mature dog that has been abused will need a great deal of rehabilitation.
Such a dog may be fearful of certain people and may have problems with separation anxiety, at the very least.
Training for these two dogs will be very different.
So, it's necessary to find out as much as possible about the dog you wish to train.
Depending on their age and condition, a dog that is older may also have some aches and pains.
You will need to make sure they are physically up to training.
Arthritis in their hips or other problems could make things like sitting and some of the other obedience exercises more difficult for them.
Observe the dog and see if they have any difficulty with movement or with getting up and down from a sitting or lying position.
If you're getting an older dog as a new dog it's a good idea to take him to the vet for an exam to see if he has any problems you should know about.
The vet can prescribe any meds that might help him live more comfortably.
Many people give senior dogs supplements like glucosamine-chondroitin to help lubricate their joints.
With all of these provisions, there is no reason why you should let anything stop you from training an older dog.
Old dogs CAN learn new tricks.
They will relish the time and attention you devote to them.
They have a mature attention span instead of the short attention span of a puppy.
You are giving this dog a second chance -- perhaps he's had a bad home previously -- most dogs seem to be aware of their good luck and they try very hard to please their new owner.
Training these dogs is often very easy.
In these cases the dogs have just had some bad luck with their previous owners.
If you're dog has a real behavior problem, your dog may take a lot of special attention and work on your part.
If it's a problem like aggression then your dog has built up this problem over the course of a lifetime and it will not be eliminated easily.
If you have problems training an older dog like this then you may need to consult a professional dog trainer.
It's better to consult a professional than to risk your dog harming someone.
When you have an older dog to train it can be very challenging but also very satisfying.
Dogs that are more mature seem to take pride in their accomplishments and enjoy pleasing their owners.
Consider your dog's background, health and individual needs when you train him and you should both enjoy it immensely.
But there are some special considerations to take into account when you're training an older dog.
Depending on his circumstances, a dog may be carrying some emotional baggage that could affect the way you attempt to train him.
For example, there's a big difference between taking in your Aunt Sophie's dog when she dies -- a dog that has been loved and well-cared for all his life, and taking in a dog that may have been abused.
Aunt Sophie's dog may be sad and depressed but, with time, he will adjust to a new life with you.
A more mature dog that has been abused will need a great deal of rehabilitation.
Such a dog may be fearful of certain people and may have problems with separation anxiety, at the very least.
Training for these two dogs will be very different.
So, it's necessary to find out as much as possible about the dog you wish to train.
Depending on their age and condition, a dog that is older may also have some aches and pains.
You will need to make sure they are physically up to training.
Arthritis in their hips or other problems could make things like sitting and some of the other obedience exercises more difficult for them.
Observe the dog and see if they have any difficulty with movement or with getting up and down from a sitting or lying position.
If you're getting an older dog as a new dog it's a good idea to take him to the vet for an exam to see if he has any problems you should know about.
The vet can prescribe any meds that might help him live more comfortably.
Many people give senior dogs supplements like glucosamine-chondroitin to help lubricate their joints.
With all of these provisions, there is no reason why you should let anything stop you from training an older dog.
Old dogs CAN learn new tricks.
They will relish the time and attention you devote to them.
They have a mature attention span instead of the short attention span of a puppy.
You are giving this dog a second chance -- perhaps he's had a bad home previously -- most dogs seem to be aware of their good luck and they try very hard to please their new owner.
Training these dogs is often very easy.
In these cases the dogs have just had some bad luck with their previous owners.
If you're dog has a real behavior problem, your dog may take a lot of special attention and work on your part.
If it's a problem like aggression then your dog has built up this problem over the course of a lifetime and it will not be eliminated easily.
If you have problems training an older dog like this then you may need to consult a professional dog trainer.
It's better to consult a professional than to risk your dog harming someone.
When you have an older dog to train it can be very challenging but also very satisfying.
Dogs that are more mature seem to take pride in their accomplishments and enjoy pleasing their owners.
Consider your dog's background, health and individual needs when you train him and you should both enjoy it immensely.
