Training Older Dogs:
Impossible Job or
Does it Just Feel That Way?
Often an older dog may need much more time for training as compared to a younger dog. Some of the dogs that come from a shelter, have been abused or are just stuck in their ways, may have behavioral and trust issues that can surface when in a new environment. Don’t let this discourage you however, because they are still quite teachable. Of course it may take a bit more patience, but the end results are usually worth it. Here are some helpful tips for greater success and less frustration when training an older dog.
General Training Rules For Older Dogs
Visit The Veterinarian. A sick or hurt dog will be distracted and possibly physically unable to obey your commands. Also a veterinarian may have some training tips for your dog’s specific breed.
Get The Dogs Attention.
The first rule for training an older dog is to make sure you have their complete and undivided attention. This is particularly true when dealing with older dogs who have a lot more time to develop undesirable behaviors. Choose a training location that is free from noise and commotion. An environment that is filled with other active people, animals or even traffic should be avoided. Click here for more information.
Use Negative And Positive Reinforcement
Negative reinforcement can be useful to help the dog identify which behavior is incorrect. This type of reinforcement can take the form of withdrawl of your affection and rewards as well as a somber, emphatic, (but not necessarily loud) “No” . Never use negative reinforcement to punish, hurt or frighten during dog training. Besides the obvious ethical considerations, punishment often leads to confusion and a negative association with all training.
Use positive reinforcement to identify the desired behavior. When your dog obeys a command reward him with verbal praise, petting and possibly a treat. This will help him identify which behavior is correct for each command. He will also begin to associate obedience with good things.
Short Training Sessions
Conduct short, but frequent training sessions of no more than three to five minutes each. Any longer and the dog’s attention will tend to wander. Click here for more information.
Never repeat a command unnecessarily
Repeating the word sit over and over again as the dog looks around in bewilderment will only confuse him. He may even begin to ignore your verbal commands altogether. When the dog actually demonstrates what a specific command means, give him praise and a treat.
Consistency is especially important when training older dogs. Settle on one training method and then stick to it. Keep the verbal praises and the type of treat the same. If you give your dog a treat one day for doing something you must do it every time, otherwise he won’t understand what you expect of him. End every training session on a very positive note so that the dog associates his good behavior with fun and praise from you.
Crate Training Older Dogs
A crate is often a plastic or metal wire cage with a lockable door which can serve as a den for you dog. Having a place of his own will give him feelings of comfort and security. A comfortable, secure and confident dog is usually a more trainable dog.
The crate can give you some control over the dog when house training. Closing the door for appropriate periods can teach your dog to eliminate on your schedule.
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A slow, gentle and patient approach is the most effective when it comes to crate training older dogs. Focus on enticing him into the crate as opposed to using brute force and intimidation. Create a comfortable environment by putting a few familiar toys inside along with a blanket, towel or old shirt that carries your scent.
When your dog enters the crate give him a healthy dog treat. It may help the dog to feel safer if the crate is in the corner of a room, or draped with a blanket to give it the appearance of a cozy den. Place the crate in a high traffic area of the house so that your dog will feel more like part of the family. The idea is to teach your dog that the crate is a safe place of comfort, not a jail-like place of confinement or punishment.
Obedience Training Older Dogs
All dogs, no matter what their age, need some type of obedience training in order to be happy, well adjusted members of the family. A dog who is trained and has some sort of set routine complete with plenty of exercise, love, and attention is ultimately more content, confident and calm. At a minimum, all dogs should know the basics such as sit, stay, heel, come, and down.
After they’ve learned all of the essentials and are comfortable, you can then move on to other things such as rolling over, fetching or doing any number of fun tricks.
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House Training Older Dogs
Older (but not elderly), dogs will have better bowel and bladder control than younger dogs. Although your older dog will be able to “hold it” for a longer period of time, he still won’t know where to go, or how to communicate their need until your train him.
Before even bringing the dog indoors for the first time, show him where they are expected to go and patiently wait until it happens. After that, act as you would if it were a puppy by taking the dog out at very frequent intervals, and lavishing him with praise each time he goes. Be sure to take the dog outside the first thing in the morning, right after eating or playing, and right before bedtime. Pay attention to when he eats and drinks as well as how long after meals before your dog needs to eliminate.
Training older dogs may be frustrating and even seem impossible at times. However, the rewards are immense as the bond between you and your older dog will grow stronger while you’re making progress toward a happier life for him.
by Tom Zinovia
