Can Old Dogs Learn New Tricks?
I am often asked, "Is it too late to train my dog?"
99.9% of the time the answer is "NO, It is never too late to work on training!"
While I am only too happy to make exceptions for dogs who are physically limited (blindness, deafness, incontinence, etc...) I am generally NOT inclined to excuse bad behavior on the basis of age.
This is not to say that old HABITS won't be more difficult to change.
But, for the most part: Training a dog, is training a dog.
There are 3 basic parts.
1) Establishing a GOAL.
2) Breaking your goal into SMALL STEPS that your dog can achieve.
3) Providing encouragement, support and REINFORCING SUCCESS.
However, it can be difficult to focus on training new behaviors when you are busy dealing with the results of older, more annoying behaviors.
A common mistake is to put energy into the wrong end of the behavior equation. My clients are often too focused on "the best way to punish their dogs bad behavior." In their zest for finding the perfect punisher (squirt, pinch, roll, choke, pin, rub, shock, squeeze) the miss the point completely.
I read that I should ...
Somebody told me to ...
I heard that dogs need ...
I was thinking I would try ...
My neighbor used a ...
Focusing on "what to do when your dog messes up" is a terrible plan! Imagine if airline safety focussed 90% of their energy on what to do when the planes crash.
This is not to say that I don't punish bad behavior. The only way to reduce any behavior is to punish it, but punishments are tricky to do well. Most dog owners dole out punishments that are late or too harsh. Or, they don't even punish the dog they just nag it or say something and follow that with no consequences.
When punishments are done badly they ruin relationships and dogs. If you want to successfully teach a dog to DO something BETTER, you must REWARD the things they are doing RIGHT. Sometimes your dog will need help getting there.
Goals help you form a reasonable plan.
Try picturing "Your Perfectly Behaved Dog."
What is she doing?
Here is example:
When my family is eating I would like my dog to lie on her bed quietly. This is a GOAL!
"I don't want my dog to beg." is NOT a goal, it is an unreasonable request for an animal that evolved as a scavenger.
When guests come over, I want my dog to sit in the hallway while I answer the door. This is ALSO A GOAL.
"I'm sick of my dog jumping on people." is NOT a goal, it is a complaint.
In short, your older dog CAN learn new tricks, but you might have to spend some extra time helping them get things right. Remember just KNOWING better is not enough. Your older dog will have a long history of doing things their way. Be patient, set reasonable goals, help them get it right and MOST IMPORTANTLY --REWARD, REWARD, REWARD. In fact, even if you feel like you did most of the work, you MUST still reward your dog. This will give them incentive to try it your way again.
I will make sure my dog has outlets for being a dog
Dogs need THINGS...
to chew, toss, bury and tug!
Dogs need PLACES...
to run, jump, dig, bark, growl, pounce, bark, howl and chase.
Pre dog training, I worked in education. I especially liked the early elementary ages--perhaps second graders are my favorite. No teacher or education professional would dream of designing an all-classroom/no-recess experience school. Kids, especially young kids, need recess. They need to run and scream and shout and sing and kick and hit. I'm not suggesting they do this to each other!
SPORTS! Where do these games come from?
Not the history, the urges to behave this way in the first place?
Games are a nice way to control people's behavior. Imagine an ancient culture full of warriors ready for battle... but with no battle! Does it sound like a recipe for civil disaster? Games are a legal outlet for the human need to swing our arms and hit stuff, to throw stuff, to kick our legs. Some humans have a greater need to do this than others, but we all have it--just watch kids play for proof.
Dogs are canine predators!
They have big sharp teeth, strong jaws, muscular legs and keen senses; they are designed to hunt--a physically complicated activity with random rewards, and better pay for those that are motivated, guarded and work hard.
DOGS NEED TO DO "HUNTING THINGS!"
Food in a bowl is BORING!
Watching things out a window is FRUSTRATING.
Walking slowly and not using speed and agility at all times is INCOMPREHENSIBLE!
Give your dog things to pull apart (non-ingesting dogs only, please)--toys, cloth-wrapped treats, old pieces of rope. This will not teach them to shred your couch. Put all dog toys in one place. Supervise and interrupt your dog if they experiment. If they try again, time them out. Three-strikes and the game ends for that day.
Play tug! It will not MAKE your dog a predator--she is one!
Feed your dog with KONGS! Skip the bowl entirely--really! Go for it. All calories.... in the kong. You work, why shouldn't your dog!
Let your dog dig. Go to the beach, bury a toy, command: "Dig," and cheer your dog on if they do! The reward is the toy appearing :)
Let your dog bark. Make it a trick!
Play fetch, sign-up for a dog class, go to a dog park and play.
