The person who first said "you can't teach an old dog new tricks"...
must have owned a cat.
Dogs can be obedience trained at any age and many older dogs can learn tricks, too, if they are active and healthy.
Adopting an older dog has some real benefits for the owner.
They are well past the chewing stage so your shoes and rugs are safe.
Older dogs are calmer and more settled than young pups and it's easier to judge the behavioral characteristics of a dog who has reached maturity.
The older dog understands pack behavior and is quick to accept you as the leader.
He is able to focus his attention for a longer period of time and retains the lessons learned.
When training an older dog it is critical to understand his personality.
His mannerisms and habits are formed and by knowing your dog well you will find training much easier.
Often older dogs seem to easily pick up obedience training and it may be the dog was trained when young and a refresher course in good manners is all he needs.
Dogs like that make any trainer look good.
Training for an adult dog begins the moment he steps into your home.
Using positive reinforcement of treats and praise works extremely well with older dogs.
Corrections should be done calmly and in a regular voice and only when necessary for the first few days if you have adopted an older dog.
Give him time to become accustomed to the physical location and to various family members and other pets.
Establish a schedule from the first day with regular walks and feeding at the same time each day.
You will be astounded at how quickly an adult dog will adapt to your schedule.
Housebreaking an older dog is often as simple as letting him know you want him to "go" outdoors.
Your disappointment when he has an accident and your praise when he uses the yard will quickly tell him what pleases you.
Provide a dog door or regular trips outside to reinforce the behavior and housebreaking is completed very quickly.
As an adult dog he has more bladder control than a young pooch and is less likely to exhibit nervous or excited behavior that leads to accidents.
If you are training an older dog you have owned for some time you know his background and his personality.
If the dog is new to you pay attention to his reactions as you work with him.
If a raised voice or a hand signal makes the dog cringe, he may have abuse or neglect in his past that needs addressed.
You cannot change what has happened to him but you can build a bond of trust and overcome his fears.
Most dogs like to have a purpose.
Once you have gained an older dog's trust, pleasing you will become his purpose.
Training will be a rewarding experience for you both.
For training older dogs often the only challenge for the trainer is learning how to interact effectively with the animal.
A trainer willing to work with the behavior characteristics of that particular dog and able to communicate in a way the dog understands will have an easy job of training an older dog.
An older dog is often so happy to receive attention that he will do anything in his power to please you.
must have owned a cat.
Dogs can be obedience trained at any age and many older dogs can learn tricks, too, if they are active and healthy.
Adopting an older dog has some real benefits for the owner.
They are well past the chewing stage so your shoes and rugs are safe.
Older dogs are calmer and more settled than young pups and it's easier to judge the behavioral characteristics of a dog who has reached maturity.
The older dog understands pack behavior and is quick to accept you as the leader.
He is able to focus his attention for a longer period of time and retains the lessons learned.
When training an older dog it is critical to understand his personality.
His mannerisms and habits are formed and by knowing your dog well you will find training much easier.
Often older dogs seem to easily pick up obedience training and it may be the dog was trained when young and a refresher course in good manners is all he needs.
Dogs like that make any trainer look good.
Training for an adult dog begins the moment he steps into your home.
Using positive reinforcement of treats and praise works extremely well with older dogs.
Corrections should be done calmly and in a regular voice and only when necessary for the first few days if you have adopted an older dog.
Give him time to become accustomed to the physical location and to various family members and other pets.
Establish a schedule from the first day with regular walks and feeding at the same time each day.
You will be astounded at how quickly an adult dog will adapt to your schedule.
Housebreaking an older dog is often as simple as letting him know you want him to "go" outdoors.
Your disappointment when he has an accident and your praise when he uses the yard will quickly tell him what pleases you.
Provide a dog door or regular trips outside to reinforce the behavior and housebreaking is completed very quickly.
As an adult dog he has more bladder control than a young pooch and is less likely to exhibit nervous or excited behavior that leads to accidents.
If you are training an older dog you have owned for some time you know his background and his personality.
If the dog is new to you pay attention to his reactions as you work with him.
If a raised voice or a hand signal makes the dog cringe, he may have abuse or neglect in his past that needs addressed.
You cannot change what has happened to him but you can build a bond of trust and overcome his fears.
Most dogs like to have a purpose.
Once you have gained an older dog's trust, pleasing you will become his purpose.
Training will be a rewarding experience for you both.
For training older dogs often the only challenge for the trainer is learning how to interact effectively with the animal.
A trainer willing to work with the behavior characteristics of that particular dog and able to communicate in a way the dog understands will have an easy job of training an older dog.
An older dog is often so happy to receive attention that he will do anything in his power to please you.