We’ve all heard the saying ‘You can't teach an old dog new tricks’. You may also have heard that older rescue dogs are ‘untrainable’ or don’t bond well with their new owners. All these ideas are myths, and in fact, senior dogs (generally classed as seven years or older) are just as trainable, and bond just as well as young dogs do.
I have trained many new senior dog owners and a dog will always bond and develop a good relationship with a person as long as you implement the correct training and care. Miracles don't happen so remember that most dogs will go through a period of adjustment with a new family. It can take time, but it will happen.
Recently, I spoke with Lisa Lunghofer, the Executive Director of the Grey Muzzle Organization in The USA. Grey Muzzle supports senior dog rescue groups and charities through grants and education across the entire United States. It’s mission is that every senior old dog thrives and no dog dies alone and afraid. Lisa and I agree that educating people on how to train their dog so that they have a better life in the home, and hopefully prevent surrender, is the ultimate goal.
Senior dogs do get a little bit forgotten. Potential rescue dog owners don’t often think about adopting older dogs but it's something we are working very hard to encourage. As with all rescue dogs, there are pros and cons to consider when adopting a senior. Every breed has its particular traits (Greyhounds are lazy lounge lizards, Labradors will try to eat you out of house and home and need lots of exercise, and so on), and there are some things to take into consideration when adopting older dogs too.
If you have already adopted and some behaviours or traits start to arise that you weren't aware of, visit the Dog Training Lifestyle website and get in touch. We can help answer some of those questions and we have some e-books that will also help you. Lisa told me that the Grey Muzzle Organization has a lot of information that specialises in the area of senior dogs, so visit there too and they will be more than happy to help.
One of the advantages of adopting an older dog is that you bypass the ‘puppy issues’ that can be difficult to deal with, such as toilet training, mouthing and biting, night-time crying, jumping and destructive behaviour. You can always train an older dog; you just need to work with them and not against them. Yes, they can be stuck in their own ways so you need to help transition them out of old habits and create new ones and give your dog a reason to want to change.
Keep in mind that retraining a senior dog is not really about the tricks or teaching a dog a command that they don't necessarily want to do. It's about getting them to bond and be accepted into a family and creating a structured family ‘pack’.
Like all dogs, seniors need to have an incentive behind training. This is really important because if you are looking at adopting a dog and they're stuck in their ways, it's going to take a little bit of coaching to retrain them. If you need some help with this, connect with us via the Dog Training Lifestyle website and we’ll be happy to help you.
Older dogs are definitely not too old to train but they can be a little stubborn, so you’ll need to apply a bit of training, patience and understanding. If you do want a dog that is going to follow your every move, that you can train the way you want to from the very beginning, a younger dog or puppy would be a better fit for you.
Regardless of breed or age, it's perfectly normal that issues will arise, especially with a dog that is getting used to a new environment and home. If you’re not sure how to deal with these issues, I recommend you speak with a DTL behaviourist to get a deeper insight into the dog’s personality. You can also look up the breed and the trait on the internet, so you know what to look out for and whether a particular breed will suit you, your family and your lifestyle. Knowing these things before you adopt, will save you and the dog a lot of potential heartache.
Adopting a senior dog is a very rewarding experience. Older dogs make wonderful companions, they are generally calmer and usually toilet trained. There are some important challenges to think about when owning a senior dog too. The obvious disadvantage is that, because of their age, you won’t have them in your life for as long as you would if you take on a puppy. You need to be prepared to fall in love with a dog that may only be with you for three to five years. Senior dogs develop medical issues; problems such as kidney disease and cancer are more prevalent in older dogs, so you’ll need to take extra vet visits and associated costs into consideration.
There are pros and cons to owning a senior dog but I can definitely tell you it's extremely rewarding to own an older dog who needs your love, care and companionship, so do consider this option when you are adopting.
If you do decide to take on a senior dog, visit the Grey Muzzle website for excellent information, and of course, our trainers at Dog Training Lifestyle are available to help you with any information or training assistance you may need.
