Some dog owners tend to believe that since their dog is older it is impossible to train them. However, this isn’t true. In fact, a lot of older dogs are completely capable of being trained and learning new things. It might take a little patience, but you in fact can teach an old dog new tricks! Here are some tips below to help you teach your older dog some new commands while reversing some bad habits.

Teaching an Old Dog New Tricks

There are some benefits that come with training an older dog. Of course, this doesn’t mean that you should wait until your dog is older to start training. But it does mean that some tricks and commands may come easier to them since they are older.

• Older dogs have a better attention span than puppies

• Older dogs have more experience learning new things

• Older dogs enjoy pleasing their owner

• Older dogs most likely already know the basic commands

While these are some great benefits of training older dogs, of course, there are some drawbacks as well.

• Older dogs may have a harder time hearing or might be slightly blind

• Older dogs may come across challenges because of arthritis

• Training an older dog could be more exhausting

• Older dogs had a long time to develop bad habits

Understanding the pros and cons of training older dogs can help you know what to expect. It’s important that you try to stay patient and treat your dog with kindness when they are learning new things. While this may be challenging and time-consuming, it will be a great bonding opportunity for you and your dog and they will even learn some new tricks along the way!

Reverse Poor Teachings

Does your dog have some bad habits that they’ve been doing for a while? Luckily, there are ways to reverse these habits. However, it requires a lot of patience and tenacity. Unteaching older dogs’ previous learnings starts with redirecting the action into new behavior. This new behavior should be rewarded so they know it is encouraged. However, punishment is also important during training so that they learn to obey your commands.

Tips for Training an Older Dog

Training any dog, young or old, can be a long and difficult process. There is no easy way to just instantly teach your dog something brand new to them. The training process takes a lot of repetition and rewards. Focus on a few specific things when training your older dog. First, focus on their natural instinct. By understanding your dogs’ instincts you can more easily see what needs to be changed and it will make the process a bit easier.

You should also focus on the types of rewards you offer. Older dogs sometimes take more pleasure in pleasing their owners than most puppies do. A puppy might strive for a small treat but an older dog might want some extra affection and attention. Of course, older dogs love treats too! However, older dogs know the value of positive reinforcement more than puppies usually do.

It’s Never Too Late – Contact Leader of the Pack

If training your dog yourself isn’t something you’re interested in, no worries! Bring your dog to Leader of the Pack Dog Training in Quincy. Our training experts can assist in training dogs of any age to pick up new skills, behaviors, and commands. We have private in-home training available or group training sessions at our location in Quincy. Take a look at the training classes we offer and contact us today! Give us a call at 617-296-1711 or fill out a contact form to get in touch.