As early as 1721, without certainty on the exact origin the original phrase was, “An old dog will learn no tricks”. Now tracing even further back to the early 1500’s the saying was “it is hard to make an old dog to stoop” in other words referring to teaching a dog to put their nose to the ground to track a scent.
When you talk to a houndsman about their dogs they either got them as a puppy or paid for them at a certain age so they would come trained. Not often do you hear anyone say they had a dog that wasn’t bred for hunting and they put in the work to teach them or even simply have faith that any older dog without previous training would be worth the work. Well I’m here to tell you, you can teach an old dog new tricks and sometimes they even tend to be easier than puppies.
So the question is, you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, can you?
Dogs are programmed to learn from day one from the time they wake up, constantly observing their environment and responding to what they hear, see and smell. Here are a few simple steps you can follow to help get your older dog on its way.
Evaluate your pet: Older dogs tend to be at risk for more health issues than younger ones, as long as you are aware of the health status of your dog and how much they can perform you should be ok in this area. Be aware of your dog and the body language they are giving as they learn. Sometimes behavioral issues can be related to health issues so being aware of this with your dog is important, if you are ever concerned I recommend contacting your vet.
“Never hurts to double check!”
Exercise First: One benefit of an older dog is that they are less distracted as the pups can be and can focus for a longer period of time during this whole training process. This ability to concentrate helps the older dogs to learn new routines more easily. Now for dogs who are still easily distracted regardless of their age, a walk or a quick game or fetch can release that energy. With that said if you are planning on exercising your dog make sure they are in shape for what you have planned, if not simply build up to it.
Reward Them: Giving your dog their favorite treats, or just a simple treat can really go a long way in teaching them. This helps to create a positive association between the command and your desired outcome. If treats are not an option or you prefer not to use them, plenty of praise still goes a long way in helping them understand or even trying clicker training.
Ignore Undesirable Behavior: Counterintuitive you say, but calling attention to your dog if they get distracted, lie down, wonder off or refuse to cooperate will only serve to reinforce that behavior. The best thing, ignore it, start again, and/or reposition.
Take Breaks: Just like training any dog, breaks are necessary. It’s easy to become frustrated when your dog doesn’t seem to be catching on, and trust me they feel the same way. When this happens, stop the training, tomorrow is another day.
Be patient: Remember older dogs may need twice as much time and twice as much exposure than the other dogs but they are worth it.
Practice, Practice, Practice: Just like training any dog, practice is key, or really anything you do. Consistency is key, skipping a day will only make it harder for your older friend to catch on. Keep at it with positive reinforcement and a positive attitude your dog will catch on in no time!
“It’s never too late to adjust a dog’s behavior”
Dogs tend to live in the moment, we could use a lesson or two. They don’t dwell on the past or worry about the future. If you as the owner patiently direct the dog’s behavior, even annoying old habits can be resolved. These mature dogs enjoy bonding with their owners while learning a few new tricks. I speak from experience with all this advice, when we started out we had an older RedBone hound (female, 5 years) named Little Red and her daughter a hound mix (3 years) named Athena, along with an added pup (Moose) started our love for this thing we call hound hunting. Now with our mixed pack of ten we couldn’t see us doing anything different.
