Final Word – Can an Old Dog Learn New Tricks?

You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.

The phrase, of course, doesn’t just apply to dog training. In fact, these days it almost never relates to dog training. Instead, it explains why grandma can’t comprehend the newest social app; or why the older guy at work isn’t catching on to the new software program. But after hearing the phrase used so much, it really does beg the question  – can your older dog finally be trained in behaviors he never really mastered? Can he be re-trained in behaviors he has forgotten? We asked the experts to find out the truth, once and for all.

The answer is pretty simple, so we won’t keep you in suspense. Yes, a dog can learn new behaviors at any age, and is capable of learning throughout his life. Still, that doesn’t mean that having to teach a mature dog to act differently than he has his whole life is an easy task.

Like children, puppies are essentially a blank slate when it comes to behaviors. Sure, they all have their own unique and wonderful personalities, and they can have some focus issues. But overall, obedience training is far easier to do when a dog is learning about the world and their place in it.

Mature dogs may not know basic commands for many reasons.

• The dog may come from a background of neglect, where social behaviors and appropriate interaction was never taught nor reinforced. Perhaps they lived outside where common “house rules” were not important nor taught.
• The dog may come from an abusive background, which has warped their ability to understand basic positive reinforcement and behaviors.
• The dog may have experienced a lack of consistency, meaning that they learned the behaviors earlier in life but their humans weren’t consistent in their own rules. (For instance, dogs are often taught to stay off the furniture. But then one member of the family decides they like to snuggle while watching TV and allows them up on the couch. The dog is likely to get confused as to why they are sometimes allowed, but not always. )
• The dog may have had multiple owners, each with their own set of rules.

If you have had your adult dog his whole life yet are experiencing these challenges, chances are life just got busy and you lost the consistency the dog needed. Compassion, understanding and patience will go a long way to reinstalling those behaviors into their life.

Of course, you may literally be looking to teach the dog new tricks, like fetching your mail or being kind to the new puppy. In cases where there never was a learning curve before, you will also be looking at educating an older dog. 

The good news is, no matter what his age, your dog desperately wants your approval and to be in your good graces. Dogs as a species are also pretty bright and fast learners. So start all over again, like you would with a puppy.

First make sure that the basic commands are in place, and then build off of the success of those basics.  Remember that if you are trying to dislodge years of improper behavior, you’ll have to both “unteach” and then “teach”, so go slow.  Use positive reinforcement, and definitely utilize their favorite toys, treats and incentives.

Should you find a lifelong behavior to difficult to overcome, call the experts at Gulf Coast K9 Dog Training. We understand dogs, and we love them as much as you do. We’ll get that old dog acting like a new puppy (without the exhaustion) in no time. Call us today.