Have you ever heard the expression “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks”? Many people believe that you have to train a dog as a puppy, or they will simply never learn any commands. However, this is actually far from the truth! It is completely possible to train an older dog. So, if you are rescuing a dog from the animal shelter to welcome them into your family, do not be put off if the dog is beyond puppy years.
As she pursues her nursing degree, Lauren Swist is actively training her dog to be a therapy dog and provides dog training services on the side. Today she shares her top tips for training an older dog.
- If you have adopted an older dog, take some time to try and figure out what commands they already know and figure out what they are like in the house, and go from there.
- Try to stick to a daily schedule with your new dog. Take them outside to use the bathroom, feed them, take them on walks, and practice training at similar times every day.
- You don’t actually have to treat training an older dog much differently than training a puppy. Dogs love to learn and please their humans! Continuing to teach older dogs new things is actually a great way to keep them mentally stimulated.
- Use reward-based training by offering them treats or praise when they follow through with a command. If they do something you don’t want them to do, the best approach is to ignore them and not provide them with attention. Eventually, they will understand what they should be doing to get your praise.
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