Make Sure Everyone Is On the Same Page
Everyone who interacts with your dog needs to hold them to the same standard of behavior. If jumping is an issue with your dog, and you have taught them to not jump on people or objects, make sure houseguests know that jumping up to give them a slobbery kiss isn’t allowed. It can be very confusing to your dog if certain things are allowed with some people but not with others. Discuss training with your household and make sure that everyone uses the same commands and rewards.
Again, consistency is key. Sometimes your dog will go forward one step and back two, seeming to forget everything you taught him at your last training session. This is normal, and it happens even with puppies. This does not mean that your dog can’t learn the behaviors you are trying to teach him. The key is being extremely consistent. Make sure to work with your dog regularly. This will make it easier for him to learn the desired behaviors.
Even though your adult dog has a longer attention span than a puppy, it is still important to keep training sessions short. A training session should last no longer than 15 or 20 minutes. If you have a younger dog, they should be even shorter than that. The longer a training session, the more likely your dog will lose focus and start to make mistakes. The key is to have short training sessions often. Even for a very busy person, it’s easy to find 15 minutes every day to spend with your dog!
While an older puppy or young adult can go bounding after a ball or catch a frisbee mid air, an older dog may not be able to keep up with that. Older dogs can possibly have stiff joints or other physical changes that make it harder to do agility-type exercises. However, you can still do some agility training with an older dog, even if they aren’t quite as fit and agile as they were in their youth. When it comes to obedience training, an older dog can do most things that a puppy can do. If your dog can’t hear or see as well as he used to, you may need to change your verbal cues to a hand cue, or vice versa.
Especially if you are going to be doing more physically demanding training, it is important to get your veterinarian’s okay before starting a training program. You will want to make sure that your dog is healthy enough to undergo the training. If your dog has limitations, your veterinarian will let you know. You can still train your older dog, even if he has certain health conditions. You just have to accommodate for those conditions and limitations and take it easy.
Can you train an older dog?
Training an older dog is totally possible, and in some cases might even be easier than training a puppy. Dogs are lifelong learners, and generally speaking they love to please their owners and receive attention. You can leverage these characteristics to train any dog, no matter their age or training background.
The approach you take to training an older dog will vary slightly based on the dog’s breed (if known), background and training experience. We’re going to get into that more in the tips below. But in short, every single dog is capable of being trained, some just might take a little more time and patience than others.
If you’re new to this whole dog owning thing, and recently adopted or rescued an adult or senior dog, you can find tons of great info in the Monster K9 Field Guide for Large Dog Owners. It’s the complete reference guide you need on all things dog (including more in-depth training tips!).
You visited the shelter looking for a young dog, but fell in love with an older German shepherd. You can see the intelligence shining out of the dogs eyes, and yet he is by all accounts badly behaved. He is oblivious to any commands and just stands there wagging his tail. The vet has checked him out and there are no physical impairments so it seems his lack of co-operation is purely down to lack of training. You like a challenge, and so despite him being an older dog, you decide to take him on.
Know that old dogs can be taught new tricks, but it takes longer. One advantage puppies have is that they are geared to learn quickly so as to survive. Once over the age of 18 weeks, the ability to learn slows up but doesnt disappear altogether. This means you must be patient and repeat exercises until the older dog has grasped what youre trying to do.
Reward-based training is an ethical and positive way to train dogs. The idea is that when the dog responds correctly he is rewarded. This creates a train of thought in the dogs mind whereby he thinks through what it was he did that got a reward and then tries to repeat it. Once the dog has grasped whats required, you can start putting the action on cue.
An older dog knows his own mind. Hes going to learn more quickly if hes motivated to earn a reward in return for his actions. Work out what presses your older dogs buttons, for example, a really tasty treat or a game of tug with a favorite toy.
Lets say youre teaching an older dog to sit. You lure him into the sitting position. As soon as his butt hits the ground you say “Yes” and reward him. Repeat. With practice, the dog will learn that your hand moving in a certain way means he if he sits hell get a treat. Whats not to like about that?
The First Steps For Training Your Rescue/Rehomed/Adult Dog!
You visited the shelter looking for a young dog, but fell in love with an older German shepherd. You can see the intelligence shining out of the dogs eyes, and yet he is by all accounts badly behaved. He is oblivious to any commands and just stands there wagging his tail. The vet has checked him out and there are no physical impairments so it seems his lack of co-operation is purely down to lack of training. You like a challenge, and so despite him being an older dog, you decide to take him on.
There are many reasons why an older dog might be lacking in training, from lack of interest on the part of a previous owner to having been taught using inappropriate methods that led to bad habits. Training (or retraining ) may be necessary, especially if you have taken on an older dog from a rescue. However, older dogs are just as capable of learning as younger ones, it just takes them more time to cotton on.
Always used reward-based training methods. This technique motivates the dog to learn in return for rewards such as a small tidbit or a game with a toy. Never try to dominate or bully an older dog. Not only is this inappropriate, but with an unknown history it could be they associate harsh treatment with fear and it could make them more likely to become aggressive out of self-defense.
To teach an older dog youll need a distraction-free place in which to work. It can also help if the lighting is good, especially when teaching a deaf dog that relies on hand signals. Make sure the floor is non-slip so that those older bones are comfortable when the dog moves or sits.
Know that old dogs can be taught new tricks, but it takes longer. One advantage puppies have is that they are geared to learn quickly so as to survive. Once over the age of 18 weeks, the ability to learn slows up but doesnt disappear altogether. This means you must be patient and repeat exercises until the older dog has grasped what youre trying to do.
Older dogs cant concentrate for as long as their young counterparts. Get around this by training for short periods of time but more frequently. For example, you could train the dog in two minute bursts during the ad breaks on TV… little but often.
An older dog knows his own mind. Hes going to learn more quickly if hes motivated to earn a reward in return for his actions. Work out what presses your older dogs buttons, for example, a really tasty treat or a game of tug with a favorite toy.
Older dogs may have difficulty hearing, which can make voice commands a hit and miss affair. Get around this by giving both spoken cues and visual ones. For example, say “Sit” while holding your hand palm side up and raising it sharply to your shoulder.
Know what your older dog can and cant do comfortably. Its no good persisting at teaching sit if the dogs hips are so stiff and arthritic that this is really difficult for him. Instead, its reasonable to teach stand and work on stay in the standing position instead.
Reward-based training is an ethical and positive way to train dogs. The idea is that when the dog responds correctly he is rewarded. This creates a train of thought in the dogs mind whereby he thinks through what it was he did that got a reward and then tries to repeat it. Once the dog has grasped whats required, you can start putting the action on cue.