You Can’t Teach an Old Dog New Tricks … Or Can You?
Older dogs can be absolutely wonderful. They are calmer and better able to focus than bouncy, energetic puppies. However, if you have adopted an older dog that is exhibiting bad behaviors, can you really retrain it? Will it ever adjust to having a new family?
The answers are ‘yes’ and ‘yes’. Older dogs can be retrained, and they do adjust to living with new families. It will take them longer, because, (just like humans), if they’ve rehearsed a certain behavior a long time, it takes a long time to change it. This is not a reason to be discouraged. At Sit Means Sit in Madison, we have retrained many older dogs. We take a lot of pleasure in working with these animals. Here are some helpful tips to keep in mind:
- Be patient
- Give your dog some time to adjust after it arrives. Remember that it comes with its own past, which is a lot you don’t know about it. Adjustment can take from a few days to a month, but once your dog relaxes, it will be ready to work on training.
- Set rules and boundaries
- If your dog’s previous family allowed it to lay on the furniture or jump on people (or anything you won’t allow), gently make it clear these things aren’t allowed from the minute your dog arrives. Don’t expect results right away, but don’t get discouraged.
- Keep it positive
- No matter your dog’s age, positive reinforcement will give you the most success. Do not punish your dog; keep things upbeat and cheery while being firm.
- Enroll in an obedience class
- An obedience class will give you and your dog common ground – tools you can use to make progress together. These include basic commands. This is also a great place for your dog to meet other dogs in a safe environment.
At Sit Means Sit, our professional trainers are ready to embrace your adult dog and help you understand it. We are passionate about creating happy homes. Call us or come in for a free evaluation today!