How To Train an Older Dog Successfully

You’ve probably heard the phrase, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” Is it actually true? Not exactly — at least not when it comes to literal dogs. 

The truth is, it’s possible to teach older dogs new behaviors and skills. It just takes a little more patience than you’d need with a younger one and the right approach. 

If your furry friend has some behavioral issues, such as jumping on furniture, pulling on the leash or showing unnecessary aggression, it may be time to put your training shoes on. Training could also help improve your little friend’s mobility and memory, making it vital even if they don’t display behavioral problems. 

But, how do you teach an older dog new tricks? Read on to find out. 

Absolutely! While dogs’ memory and executive functions may decline somewhat with age, dogs are lifelong learners. Research supports that dogs remain trainable regardless of their age as long as they’re free from neurodegenerative diseases. The same study suggests that the mental stimulation from training can help improve their quality of life.

But that doesn’t mean that training an older dog is easy. It may be more challenging and take longer than training young dogs because older dogs have established habits and shorter attention spans.

However, they also have the advantage of being calmer, less prone to distractions and more food-motivated. As such, it could be easier to train them than you think — if you’re patient and employ the right strategies.

There’s a misconception that training is only essential for pups and young dogs. But that’s all it is—a misconception. Senior dogs, even the most well-behaved ones, can benefit significantly from training. Some notable benefits include:

•  Mental stimulation:  Training exercises can serve as mental workouts for senior dogs, potentially helping keep them sharp.

•  Stronger human-animal bond: Training your dog every day increases the amount of time you spend with them and the attention you give, which can help strengthen your bond.

•  Better behavior:  Behavior-focused training reinforces good behavior and corrects bad habits, like leash pulling and excessive aggression.

•  Better physical health: Training sessions that incorporate gentle movements can promote joint mobility, which is vital for senior dogs, as they’re more susceptible to conditions like arthritis.

•  Easier grooming and pet visits:  Training dogs to tolerate touch can make it easier for groomers and vets to perform examinations, administer medications, and groom them.

Even refresher training sessions covering basic commands (like Sit, Stay, Leave it, Come, Up and Down) can do a lot of good, as they help create a safer and more comfortable home environment.

For example, when a dog knows how to respond to a “leave it” command, you can use it to stop them from playing with potential swallowing hazards. Similarly, if they know to “stay” when you command it, you can reduce their chances of attacking unfamiliar visitors.

No and yes. No, because dogs typically thrive on routine. Keeping your meal times, training windows, and walk times consistent can reduce their anxiety, improving your chances of having successful training sessions.

However, senior dogs don’t have the same physical ability or energy levels as younger dogs. So, you may need to adjust some aspects as dogs age. You could:

• Include more breaks between training sessions because of bladder control changes and decreased attentiveness.

• Observe when they’re the most active and schedule training sessions for those times.

• Replace high-intensity games with enrichment options like snuffle mats, treat-dispensing balls, and food puzzle toys.

• Use more hand signals in training, especially if your furry friend has hearing difficulties.

Training an older dog can be challenging and frustrating. But it can also be incredibly rewarding if you keep at it.

Remember, older dogs may not be able to process and act on information as quickly as younger ones. The situation may be even worse if they’ve developed vision, hearing or movement issues. Further, some seniors may be set in their ways and unwilling to change.

When dealing with these dogs, patience is your most valuable asset. Don’t shout at them or repeat commands rapidly, hoping for some reaction. Instead:

• Use a calm voice and body language, even when feeling frustrated, to avoid scaring and overwhelming them.

• Gently repeat commands when it seems like they’ve not heard you; however, be sure to give them a few seconds to first process your initial cues.

• Use short, focused sessions to avoid mental fatigue.

• Celebrate small wins, like sitting still for a few seconds when you command them to.

Punishment or harsh corrections don’t work for dogs. All they do is create fear and trust issues. They could be even more problematic for senior dogs, who may already be experiencing cognitive issues and medical conditions like arthritis.

Rather than raising your voice or punishing your furry friend when they do something they’re not supposed to, redirect their behavior to the correct action and reward them with their favorite treats when they get it right. If they jump on your furniture, use the “Down” command and give them a treat when they get down. Accompany this with something as simple as a cheerful “yes,” a clicker push or a soft pat on their heads to let them know that they’ve done well.

Older dogs may suffer from age-related health issues, including joint stiffness, arthritis, sensory loss, vision problems and hearing loss. Keep this in mind when preparing training sessions to make sure you don’t overexert or overwhelm them.

Here are some tips to help you when training dogs with physical limitations:

• Use hand cues if their hearing is deteriorating.

• Incorporate scent-based enrichment games for dogs with vision issues.

• Keep commands low-impact. For example, you could replace a “Down” command with “Sit” if your dog has joint issues that cause pain when they lie down.

• Watch their body language for signs of pain or fatigue, and take a break when necessary.

• Offer them plenty of rest to allow for recovery.

Older dogs can benefit from various behavioral and skill training sessions, including:

• Basic obedience training  (includes Sit, Down, and Stay commands):  Can promote safety.

• Recall (“Come”):  Also crucial for safety, especially if you walk your dog without a leash.

• Grooming and vet cues (including Stay and Paw commands):  Can make it easier for professionals to conduct exams and grooming.

• Loose-leash training:  Can help them get used to the leash and also minimize destructive actions like playing with trash.

•  Settling training (creating designated resting zones and teaching them to associate these areas with specific commands):  Can help calm them down and encourage them to go to bed.

•  New commands for household changes (using ramps instead of stairs):  Can help aging dogs adjust quickly to new things or a new home.

•  Hand targeting:  Can help guide visually impaired dogs.

Treats play a major role in senior dog training. After all, most pets respond more to positive reinforcement than they do to negative actions like punishments.

That said, some treats are better than others for seniors. Given the sensitive stomachs and dental issues of some older dogs, some treats may not feel like rewards to them. They may even refuse to eat some.

For the best results, go for soft, easy-to-chew and digestible treats. You can find several senior-dog-approved recipes from The Honest Kitchen:

• Meaty Littles:  Available in Beef & Salmon and Chicken & Salmon varieties, this treat contains high-quality, real ingredients like chickpeas, beef, celery juice, coconut glycerin and most importantly, salmon, a natural source of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). DHA can help promote better brain function, immunity and sight.

• Jerky Harvest Mini Bars:  Contains ingredients like carrots, celery juice, apples, apple cider and beef or chicken.

• Liver Chips:  Also available in beef and chicken varieties, this treat contains liver (can be chicken or beef), cheddar, chickpeas and celery juice.

• Parmesan Pecks:  Available in Beef & Blueberry, Duck & Cherry and Chicken & Cranberry varieties, this treat is made with ingredients such as barley, oats, parmesan cheese and coconut oil, along with fruits like blueberry, cherry and cranberry.

The Honest Kitchen’s treats are free of fillers and artificial preservatives, and contain whole, real ingredients, all of which are thoughtfully sourced and human grade — just like you’d find in your own kitchen.

Training setbacks are normal, especially when training multiple dogs or even when training one that’s too set in their ways for the first time. 

However, while it can be challenging, training your adult dog is possible with the right tips and tricks. Here are some things to do when you hit a rough patch:

• Break down tasks into smaller, simpler actions. For example, you could focus on teaching hand cues before moving to verbal cues. 

• Keep an eye out for physical discomfort during training and adjust your training methods to keep your furry friend comfortable. For example, if you find that jump-based commands cause discomfort, switch to less-intensive tricks. 

• Try out different treats to find what your furry friend loves. 

• Celebrate progress, no matter how small, to motivate future improvements. 

• Consult a professional dog trainer, especially one with experience in training senior dogs. 

It’s also a good idea to keep a training journal that highlights what you do in each session and its results. This can help you (and your trainer) track what works and doesn’t, saving you from making the same mistakes over and over. It can also help you spot patterns in behavior or mood, which is valuable in continually improving training processes. 

Contrary to the popular saying, older dogs can learn new tricks, skills and behaviors. You just need patience, consistency and the right tools for your training program.

Training, even when it involves small efforts like practicing recall and offering enrichment games, can enhance your dog’s safety, support their emotional well-being, promote mental stimulation, and strengthen their bond with you.

The Honest Kitchen can help your dog training efforts by providing high-quality treats for positive reinforcement. Our dog food and treats are made with human grade ingredients in human facilities, and as such, are not only tasty but also healthy for your dog.

Explore our dog treat collection today for high-quality options that can help you reinforce positive behavior and skill development.