Ways To Train An Older Dog
You can still teach new tricks even if your dog is already old but a lot of effort is needed to do that. Training older dog needs enough guts and practice. Older dogs are already through with that stage in their lives where they are shaped and influenced on how they would behave or act. Training older dogs would be a little more difficult because, just like humans, they have already an established behavior. As a trainer or owner, you may be required to show more dominance in schooling an older dog compared with a pup because the older dog has already learned some things throughout his life and they can manipulate the retraining done. There are times that the training of an older dog would be easier because he already has some understanding of the training program. Changing certain habits may be a little harder to change. But your patience and effort will surely pay off. This will be rewarding not only to you but to your dog as well.
There are still more things you need to consider before the start of the training. Older canines and pups are quite different. Be aware that some dogs may have some health issues. Also, you should remember the physical abilities of an older dog compared to the young ones.
You must be sure that your dog is healthy. Due to old age, some dogs may have developed some health problems. They may be a little heavy and out of shape and the training could be affected. The best thing you could do is to go to a veterinarian if you are in doubt. You may find some problems while training your older dog like joint troubles and difficulty in hearing. You are not training a puppy so you don’t expect he will have perfect senses. Some canines may feel some discomfort executing certain exercises. If he does not respond to your commands, try to observe his physical condition. It may be too painful to jump or roll over that’s why he is not doing it.
Something else you may run into is that your dog may not hear very well. Older dogs have poorer hearing abilities and might affect the quality of the training. It is helpful to use more gestures if you encounter this problem. In that way, your dog can understand you even if he can’t hear you very well. Of course, a lot of patience is needed to train dogs with this problem.
Understand that older dogs are not as active as puppies. Their physical abilities may be affected by their age. Do not forget that there are limits to what an older canine is capable of.
Put effort in training your older dog to make it more enjoyable for the two of you.
Techniques used in training old dogs and puppies could be the same but there is difference in the level of effort put into it. Invest in some training tools and join training classes for the dog. This will improve the bond between the two of you. Just like in all training programs, rewards and praises should be used while training an old dog. Give encouragement to your dog and avoid hurting him. Don’t get angry or frustrated when he can’t get what you want him to do. Soon, you will get the result you want with your dog and all you and your dog’s hard work will pay off.
