It’s Adopt a Shelter Dog Month in October. Even though you wanted a puppy, maybe you fell in love with an older dog instead. Or maybe you’ve always had a soft spot for older dogs. No matter what, you should be happy about your new furry friend.
You’ll need to spend a lot of time training your new pet if you want to have a good time together. Control and communication are important if you want to make your daily life easier in the long run.
Can an Old Dog Still be Trained?
No matter how old your dog is, he will have to spend some time getting used to his new home and surroundings. Even if you’ve had your dog since he was a puppy, he might need a refresher course in dog training. This is especially true if you’re moving or changing his routine or living situation.
The good news is that you can teach an old dog new tricks at any age. In fact, some people think it’s easier to train Adult Dog than a puppy because they can sit still and pay attention for longer. After all, dogs are born with the ability to learn. Plus, what dog doesn’t like a reason to get praise and treats?
Still, older dogs can be more set in their ways and less willing to change. Your older dog may have picked up bad habits over the years, while a puppy is more like a blank slate. Your dog needs to get rid of his bad habits before he can learn new rules and tricks.
The Pet Initiative Training‘s Premium Hemp Calming Chews are a mix of natural ingredients that can help your dog pay attention. They can also be used as a useful training tool for dogs.
Getting Rid of Bad Habits
Your dog may have learned bad habits for a number of different reasons, depending on his past. For example, maybe he was only allowed to go outside at his last home, so he never had to be potty trained or trained at all.
Your dog may have also been trained to live in a place with different rules. He might have been taught to use paper potty pads instead of going outside, or he might have had a big yard and never gone for walks or needed to learn how to walk on a leash.
Don’t punish your dog when he acts up because that might make things worse. Use lots of dog training treats and positive reinforcement to change his behavior and teach him the rules and limits of your home.
For example, if your dog likes to chew on shoes and furniture, give him plenty of chew toys that he can use. If he gets excited when people come to the door and jump on them, spend some time teaching him that he can get the same positive response by doing simple things like “down.”
Instructional Tips
Talk to your vet before you start training your adult dog to make sure he doesn’t have any health problems that might get in the way.
For example, if your older dog has trouble remembering things, intense training sessions might not help him remember new tricks. If he has a health problem that makes it hard for him to control his bladder or bowels, strict house training won’t stop him from going inside. (The Pet Initiative Training ‘s Digestive Probiotics Chews will help your pet’s digestion!)
Learn as much as you can about your new dog’s past before you bring him home. Was he taught to do things differently? Does anything bad come to mind when you think of things like crates? Does he get along well with other animals?
Don’t push your dog past the limits of his body or mind. Some dogs might do better with shorter training sessions more often than longer, more intense ones. Also, if you push your dog too hard, it might start to think of you in a bad way.
Start with simple commands to build a base, and then build on that. Make sure your dog knows how to “sit” before you teach him how to “stay.” He should know how to “lie down” before you teach him how to “roll over.”
When training an older dog, you need to be patient. Give your new dog a lot of time to get used to his new home and family. Older dogs may take longer to learn, but that doesn’t mean they don’t want to. They just need more time to catch up. Keeping training sessions short can help both you and your dog feel less frustrated.
Of course, don’t forget to give treats and praise as a reward. Have a lot of training treats on hand so you can give them to your older dog right after he does what you ask or goes to the bathroom outside. If you wait too long to give him positive feedback, he might not realize the link. Use small treats for training your dog, since you’ll probably be giving it a lot of them at once.
If you’re having trouble with Adult Dog Training, obedience training from a professional may be a good idea. Also, obedience classes might be a good way for your dog to meet new people.
Even though training is a good way for you and your furry friend to spend time together and get to know each other better, don’t forget to take breaks and have fun. Spend a lot of quality time together that isn’t training, like cuddling on the couch, to build a sense of trust and connection.
