Your Older Dog
Mention dog training to most people and they think about a young puppy being taught the basic commands. You may have heard that it is not possible to teach an old dog new tricks or anything for that matter. Many people who have adopted an older dog, will tell you this is not true and in fact could not be further from the truth. Dogs are always learn new things each and every day.
So you teaching your older dog anything at all does not need to be any harder than teaching a young puppy. The problem is that an older dog might never have been trained and could have learnt many bad habits in its lifetime. You need to be very patient, in all your training, and should be full of praise and rewards when your dog he does well. The reward might be food but it might just as easily playing with a toy or just playing with the owner for a short while.
You will find adopting an older dog can be very rewarding, so do not ever give up on him it will pay dividends in the love and affection your dog will give you. Many years of bad habits will take some time to iron out and replace them with behaviours you want your dog to have.
If you are behind your dog and call him and he does not react, either by coming or even looking at you, it may be that he can not hear you and not always because he is not obeying the command. Hearing can become a problem and if you think this may be the case, be sure to pay a visit to the vet to get it checked out. You may also find your dog will have less energy and staying power than one a few years younger. Make sure you allow your older dog time to themselves, as they may want more rest or just peace and quiet.
Also make sure you feed them suitable food that gives them all the correct nutrients they need. There are many foods created especially for the older dog, let him try them and find one your dog enjoys eating. These food are optimised for the older dog.
Training your older dog may be a challenge at times but it will be particularly rewarding. Training your dog correctly will help him to be a polite and happy member of your household.
