Secrets To Training An Older Dog

While it can be a bit more time consuming than training a young puppy, training an older dog is a very attainable achievement. The methods used for an older animal are not very different than standard obedience training for dogs. The most important rule to follow is that you need to make sure you are giving your older dog constant positive reinforcement. You need to consistently making the dog aware of what the desired behavior is - a lack of consistency will do nothing but confuse your pet as to what you expect out of them.

There are plenty of tips for training an older dog. The one thing that almost all experts agree is that you should not use negative reinforcement in your training. Yelling or hitting your dog will be counterproductive. Anything learned from this type of scolding will be overshadowed by the fear it will instill in your pet. This type of fear can lead to aggression problems.

One of the most rewarding things about training an older dog is the bonding time that it gives you and your pet. A lot of times, older dogs aren’t as active as when they were puppies, and thus may not get as much opportunity to play and interact with you. This type of interactive training will provide plenty of enjoyment for your dog.

A common mistake that trainers make is that they don’t take into consideration the age of their dog. It is important to realize while training an older dog that they may not be able to physically handle all of the training a young puppy would. Whether it be their hips, their vision, their hearing, or something else altogether, older dogs can have limitations. By no means does this mean they can’t be trained – you just have to be aware of these disabilities and be understanding.