Training an older dog is more often than not a case of changing your dog’s habits where required. Allowances have to be made:
- these are established behaviors for the dog
- things will happen more slowly
- your dog is more likely to only want to pay attention for short periods
- there may be physical constraints involved, e.g. slower limbs, possibly more deafness, etc
As always, consistency is essential and perseverance on your part if trying to modify an embedded pattern of behavior. The type of exercsie need not be overly different, but your approach will need to be. A lot of repetition may well be required which, coupled with the probable necessity for shorter exercises, will mean more time spent than would be the case with a younger dog. It will also be necessary to leave longer rest periods if using physical exercise.
Rewards using food will have to be used more sparingly, not just because your dog will be more prone to putting on weight, but because she will also be getting wiser and more wily with age.
What does this mean? Simply that to be effective a little more thought and preparation is required if time and effort by both you and your dog are not going to be wasted. Ideas that will help are to make the training patterns as regular and consistent as possible so that your dog is more familiar and hence more attuned to what is required. This can be done in terms of both time and place. It will be more routine but probably welcomed by an older dog, as it is in effect less wearing.
Another aspect to bear in mind is to recognise that the dog is older this time around, and play to its strengths; if necessary, recognise from the beginning that some things might not happen but focus on the things that do need to change.
Old dogs will learn new tricks, sometimes it just takes a little more time…