TRAINING OLDER DOGS

If you have acquired an older dog, you may be concerned that it it will be impossible to train him. This is not a fact at all! No matter how old your dog may be, it is unlikely that training him will be nearly as difficult or as time-consuming as you may think.

Training an older dog generally does require more patience than training a young puppy. The first reason for this is he has had plenty of time to develop all kinds of attitude problems, behavior problems, and personality quirks which you probably find quite disagreeable. As he did not acquire all of these learned traits in a day, they will not be gone in a day, either. No matter how good you are at training a dog, patience is the key to success; and this is especially true with an older dog.

Another factor which occasionally enters the picture is that an older dog may have developed health conditions. This can prevent him from being able to function as well as a younger dog, and it can also influence his attitudes and behavior. A dog who is not physically fit, weak, or suffering from ailments which make him physically uncomfortable, will require much more patience and understanding from you.

The key is to keep all of these points in mind, because they can have a very strong influence on how your dog responds to your commands and how he reacts to you.

When you have acquired an older dog, you will not be starting from the beginning as you would with a puppy. Training an elderly dog usually means having to “untrain” everything negative which he has already learned. This does not have to be nearly as intimidating or troublesome as you may think; but it does require a great deal of effort on your part to remain calm and consistent.

No matter how advanced in age your older dog may be, it is not difficult to help him to learn new, more appropriate behavior. When you train him in a positive, consistent manner, you will have a dog who will be your good friend for many years to come.